But he had little to tell us. He had heard a step. Saw nothing--and then had been struck on the head, by some invisible assailant. * * * * * We left him nursing his head, sitting belligerent at his post. Armed now with my heat-ray cylinder which I loaned him. "Strange doings this voyage," he told us. "All the crew knows it--all been talkin' about it. I stick it out now, but when we get back home I'm done with this star travelin'. I belong on the sea anyway. A good old freighter is all right for me." We hurried back to the upper level. We would indeed have to plan something at this chart-room conference. This was the first tangible attack our adversaries had made. We were on the passenger deck headed for the chart-room when all three of us stopped short, frozen with horror. Through the silent passenger quarters a scream rang out! A girl's shuddering, gasping scream. Terror in it. Horror. Or a scream of agony. In the silence of the dully vibrating ship it was utterly horrible. It lasted an instant--a single long scream; then was abruptly stilled. And with blood pounding my temples and rushing like ice through my veins, I recognized it. Anita! CHAPTER IX _The Murder in A 22_ "Good God, what was that?" Dr. Frank's face had gone white in the starlight. Snap stood like a statue of horror. The deck here was patched as always, silver radiance from the deck ports. The empty deck chairs stood about. The scream was stilled, but now we heard a commotion inside--the rasp of opening cabin doors; questions from frightened passengers; the scurry of feet. I found my voice. "Anita! Anita Prince!" "Come on!" shouted Snap. "Was it the Prince girl? I thought so too! In her stateroom, A 22!" He was dashing for the lounge archway. Dr. Frank and I followed. I realized that we passed the deck door and window of A 22. But they were dark, and evidently sealed on the inside. The dim lounge was in a turmoil; passengers standing at their cabin doors. I heard Sir Arthur Coniston: "I say, what was that?" "Over there," said another man. "Come back inside, Martha." He shoved his wife back. "Mr. Haljan!" He plucked at me as I went past. I shouted, "Go back to your rooms! We want order here--keep back!" We came to the twin doors of A 22 and A 20. Both were closed. Dr. Frank was in advance of Snap and me. He paused at the sound of Captain Carter's voice behind us. "Was it from in there? Wait a moment!" Carter dashed up; he had a large heat-ray projector in his hand. He shoved us aside. "Let me in first. Is the door sealed? Gregg, keep those passengers back!" * * * * * The door was not sealed. Carter burst into the room. I heard him gasp, "Good God!" Snap and I shoved back three or four crowding passengers, and in that instant Dr. Frank had been in the room and out again. "There's been an accident! Get back, Gregg! Snap, help him keep the crowd away." He shoved me forcibly.