"One in your position," snarled the invader, "should learn not to insult his betters! Now, lead the way, Captain. There is much to be done, and no time to waste." Thus began our painful journey through the conquered _Leo_. As Ras Thuul had said, there was much to be done by his forces--nor had they delayed in getting about their task. A laboring crew was busily engaged in stripping the food-stuffs from our supply bins, other workmen were dismantling all hypo and radio equipment, verifying our belief that the O.P.A. was desperately in need of such material. Grim-faced Jovians had herded our marksmen from the gun embrasures, and were quickly dismantling every piece of ordnance the _Leo_ boasted. From room to room we went, from passage to sector to cabin. Nothing escaped the eagle eye of our foeman. By word and sign he designated to his henchmen those items which were to be removed, those which were to be destroyed. Only in the control-room was everything left untouched. It was here that Ras Thuul volunteered the explanation which proved the depths of his infamy. With a grin of sheer savagery he explained: "I find it needless to waste energy in smashing this equipment, Captain. I am sure the rocky fragments of the Bog will do that most efficiently." The Old Man stared at him uncomprehendingly. "You--you mean you're going to wreck the _Leo_ in the Bog? Just turn it loose and let the grindstone smash it?" Ras Thuul shrugged. "It is the easiest way." "But--" puzzled the skipper confusedly--"how about us? I mean, are you going to take us aboard your ship, or do we get camped on one of the asteroids, or--" The half-breed shrugged negligently. "Why, Captain, you wouldn't want to desert your ship? I've always heard you Earthmen made it a point of honor to stand by your decks. Of course I would not think of forbidding you this signal honor." The skipper's face turned white, but it was not fear that drained his cheeks of color; it was righteous rage. His words exploded like a fused hypatomic. "_What!_ You _dare_ do a thing like this, Colonel! You accepted my surrender under military covenant--" "That will do, Captain!" rapped Ras Thuul. "It will do you no good to prate of technicalities. I acknowledge but one rule of war--destroy your enemy! When this vessel has been stripped of its fuel and supplies, I shall turn it loose in the Bog. What happens then to it--or you--is none of my concern. Your pleas are vain, sir! "And now, have we seen the entire ship?" It was his selection of the word "pleas" that ended the Old Man's protestations. O'Hara needed no microscope to read our adversary's character; he knew that Ras Thuul would enjoy nothing more than listening to pleas for mercy. If we had to die, we could at least die like men. His jaw clamped forever on argument. "We have," he said. "We are now where we started." * * * * *