It was late the following morning before I had an opportunity to speak with the old inventor when I immediately broached the subject that was uppermost in my mind. "Phor Tak," I said, "you are handicapped by lack of knowledge of conditions existing in Jahar and the size and location of the fleet. Nur An and I will go to Jahar for you and obtain the information that you must have if your plans are to be successful. In this way, Nur An and I will also be striking a blow at Tul Axtar while we will be in a position to attend to those matters which require our presence in Jahar." "But how will you get to Jahar?" demanded Phor Tak. "Could not you let us take a flier?" I asked. "I have none," replied Phor Tak. "I know nothing about them. I am not interested in them, I could not even build one." To say that I was both surprised and shocked would be putting it mildly, but if I had previously entertained any doubts that Phor Tak's brain was abnormally developed, it would have vanished with his admission that he knew nothing about fliers, for it seemed to me that there was scarcely a man, woman or child in any of the flying nations of Barsoom but could have constructed some sort of a flier. "But how without fliers did you expect to transport The Flying Death to the vicinity of the Jaharian fleet? How did you expect to demolish the palace of Tul Axtar, or reduce the city of Jahar to ruins?" "Now that you and Nur An are here to help me, I can set my slaves to work under you and easily turn out a dozen torpedoes a day. As these are completed they will immediately be launched and eventually they will find their way to Jahar and the fleet. Of that there is no doubt, even if it takes a year they will eventually find their prey." "If nothing chances to get in their way," I suggested; "but even so what pleasure will you derive from your revenge if you are unable to witness any part of it?" "Heigh-oo! I have thought of that," replied Phor Tak, "but one may not have everything." "You may have that," I told him. "And how?" he demanded. "By taking your torpedoes aboard a ship and flying to Jahar," I replied. "No," he exclaimed stubbornly, "I shall do it my own way. What right have you to interfere with my plans?" "I merely want to help you," I said, attempting to mollify him by a conciliatory tone and attitude. "And there is another thought," said Nur An, "that suggests that it might be expedient to follow Hadron's plans." "You are both against me," said Phor Tak. "By no means," Nur An assured him. "It is our keen desire to aid you that prompts the suggestion." "Well, what is yours then?" asked the old man.