’Depend upon it, Tom would not be likely to make a mistake in such a matter,’ Jack agreed. ’He is an old sailor, and is as sharp as a needle in a case of emergency like that. My own opinion—strictly, of course, between ourselves—is that that imp of evil we call the Ogre was there, and that he deliberately tried to run us down and to kill us all, including the king’s son. You will remember my saying I believed that some understanding existed between the Ogre and Zuanstroom. I am still positive that I was right, and that there is some sinister mischief brewing. Mr Monck may disbelieve it and laugh at the idea if he chooses to, but don’t you feel sore, old chap. I am afraid he will wish by-and-by that he had treated our hints more seriously.’ Gerald shivered. ’I would rather it should turn out that it is Monck who is right and we who are wrong,’ he returned. ’It’s horrible to think that we have come all this way, and incurred so many risks, only to meet with plots and murderous attempts. It used not to be so in my dreams,’ he added moodily. ’I wonder why it should be so now? Mr Monck gave us to understand that we were coming to a place where there were no more wars, where King Ivanta reigned in peace and security, beloved by all his subjects. Why does it not seem to be as he led us to believe? Are we the cause? Is it due simply to the fact that the Zuanstrooms don’t like us—that they are angry because we came, or jealous because the king shows more favour to you than he does to Silas?’ ’No; I don’t think it is our fault,’ said Jack, with decision. ’Zuanstroom has brought with him the biggest cargo of diamonds ever seen; and, as Mr Armeath said, trouble was sure to follow. Now, dismiss it from your thoughts, old chap, and go to sleep.’ ’I will; and perhaps some of the old dreams about the stars will come back to me,’ Gerald finished, with a sigh. ’I hope, if they do, there will be no diamonds there!’ *CHAPTER XV.* *HUNTING THE GREAT MARS EAGLE.* The time that followed upon their arrival on Mars was a period of great enjoyment for the two chums. The gloomy feeling which had been caused by their narrow escape upon that first day quickly passed away and was now almost forgotten. Agrando and the Ogre stayed at home in their own country, and the chums saw and heard nothing of them. Zuanstroom and his son went their own way, for the most part making friends with the nobles and the chief citizens, and seemingly bent only upon the acquisition of useful knowledge concerning the country they were in and its inhabitants. Gerald and Jack, on the other hand, became the daily companions of the young prince; and the three grew more friendly and intimate as the weeks passed by.