She said, "Here," and led the way down a brick paved passage to a small house, almost a hut, that lay beyond. Homer Crawford looked about him critically before entering. He said, "I suppose this has been scouted out adequately. Where's the back entrance?" He scowled. "Haven't the boys posted a sentry?" A voice next to his ear said pleasantly, "Stick 'em up, stranger. Where'd you get that zoot suit?" He jerked his head about. There was a very small opening in the wooden wall next to him. It was Kenny Ballalou's voice. "Zoot suit, yet!" Homer snorted. "I haven't heard that term since I was in rompers." "You in rompers I'd like to see," Kenny snorted in his turn. "Come on in, everybody's here." The aged, unpainted, warped, wooden house consisted of two rooms, the one three times as large as the second. The furniture was minimal, but there was sitting room on chair, stool and bed for the seven of them. "Hail, O El Hassan!" Elmer Allen called sourly, as Homer entered. "And the hail with you," Homer called back, then, "Oops, sorry, Isobel." Isobel put her hands on her hips, greatly widened by the stuffing she'd placed beneath her skirts. "Look," she said. "Thus far, the El Hassan organization, which claims rule of all North Africa, consists of six men and one dame ... ah, that is, one lady. Just so the lady won't continually feel that she's being a drag on the conversation, you are hereby allowed in moments of stress such shocking profanity as an occasional damn or hell. But only if said lady is also allowed such expletives during periods of similar stress." Everyone laughed, and found chairs. "I'm in love with Isobel Cunningham," Bey announced definitely. "Second the motion," Elmer said. The rest of them called, "Aye." "O.K.," Homer Crawford said glumly, "I can see that this is going to be one tight knit organization. Six men in love with the one dame ... ah, that is, lady. Kind of a reverse harem deal. Oh, this is going to lead to great co-operation." * * * * * They laughed again and then Jake said, "Well, what's the story, Homer? How does the El Hassan project sound to Zetterberg and the Reunited Nations?" Cliff Jackson laughed bitterly. "Why do you think we're in hiding?" Only he and Jake Armstrong wore western clothing. Kenny Ballalou, Bey-ag-Akhamouk and Elmer Allen were in native dress, similar to that of Homer Crawford. Elmer Allen even bore a pilgrim's staff. [Illustration] Crawford, glad that the edge of tenseness had been taken off the group by the banter with Isobel, turned serious now. He said, "This is where we each take our stand. You can turn back at this point, any one of you, and things will undoubtedly go on as before. You'll keep your jobs, have no marks against you. Beyond this point, and there's no turning back. I want you all to think it over, before coming to any snap decisions." Elmer Allen said, his face wearing its usual all but sullen expression. "How about you?"