He threw on the helicopter switch and the plane rose swiftly into the air, the myriad other flying craft which were circling nearby keeping at a safe distance from it. "Land on the grand terrace," Fragoni directed. The flight was short and rapid and it was only a matter of seconds before Dirk brought the plane down on the landing stage which they had left only a scant half-hour before. He opened the cabin door and stepped out of the plane and the others filed out after him. * * * * * Fragoni led the way along the stage, walking and chatting with Teuxical, and Dirk, following after the others, was the last to turn a corner that brought him a sweeping view of the magnificent terrace that fronted the private apartments of the banker and his daughter. And, when he did, he saw that Inga was standing there, superbly beautiful, with Stanton a few paces behind her. Her lovely eyes were alive with awe and wonder and her slender white hands were crossed over her heart. And Dirk saw, too, that Zitlan, son of Teuxical, had paused and was standing quite still, with his unwavering and insolent eyes fixed on the girl. Resentment, and a touch of apprehension, agitated Dirk when he saw the expression on the face of the young Lodorian. There was admiration in that disagreeable countenance, but it was blended with arrogance, haughtiness and ill-concealed desire. Dirk went quickly to Inga, standing between the girl and the one from Lodore who was staring at her so brazenly. "What does it all mean, Dirk?" she asked in a low voice. "Those strange people, where are they from?" Stanton had come quickly forward and had joined Inga and Dirk. "They are from some far-off world, Inga," he explained, "that we know nothing about as yet." "But what do they want?" she persisted. "What do they intend to do? I saw those horrible creatures through the magnascope when they came swarming out of the inside of that thing on the water and I thought, at first, that they were going to kill you all." "No, they seem to come in peace," Dirk replied. "Teuxical, their leader, seems to be gracious and kindly." * * * * * "We are all doomed," asserted Stanton, "unless something happens. They can crumble our cities with heat and bury us under the ruins of them." "Keep your silence!" breathed Dirk, quietly but tensely. "We will find a way to destroy those creatures if it becomes necessary." "That man who keeps staring at me, who is he?" asked Inga in a voice that betrayed her nervousness. Dirk turned and saw that Zitlan was still standing where he had paused and that he still was looking with searching eyes in the direction of the girl.