“A prisoner from Du Gong? Your humble servant craves indulgence, for he fails to understand, O King of the Age.” “It does not matter,” replied P’an-ku. “We will attend to the prisoner before us. Your report can wait, although I observe that you have been wounded, and that two of the other observer globes have not returned. Let us dispose of this prisoner, first. Who is he?” “The miserable microbe, who calls himself Am-Er-I-Khan, fell on the bridge of our globe from a ship of Du Gong which we destroyed, and was taken captive by one of my men. When we had reached the capital of the land of the descendants of your illustrious ancestor, he dropped a message to someone in the crowd below the craft. Shortly thereafter, when we were in conference with the powers of that land, a revolt broke out in which eleven of our men were slain. Your humble slave barely escaped with his life, having been left for dead. “A man of that land who remains loyal to Your Majesty, and who calls himself ‘Dr. Wu,’ was also left for dead, but being less badly wounded than your servant, assisted him in getting back to the craft. After taking vengeance on the revolting city, we departed for the other side of Du Gong, where—” “That part of your story can wait, Kwan Tsu Khan,” interrupted P’an-ku. “I take it that you suspect this Am-Er-I-Khan of having fomented the revolution in the land of our former allies.” “Your wisdom, O Sole Vicar of the Great Lord Sun, is as brilliant and as penetrating as His rays.” P’an-ku glared down at the professor. “What have you to say for yourself, Am-Er-I-Khan?” he asked. “Nothing,” replied the professor. “You see, O Light of Knowledge, this vile father of many crawling maggots admits his guilt.” “I see,” replied P’an-ku. “Ho, Tzien Khan. Take the prisoner to the torture rooms and give him the death of the many water drops.” The Lunite designated as Tzien Khan stepped forth and took the professor’s chain from the hand of Kwan Tsu Khan. Although the grizzled hairs of his long, stringy moustache and the many wrinkles of his parchment like countenance betokened great age, he seemed sprightly and quite muscular. His sadistic grin, as he jerked the prisoner away to execute the order of the monarch, revealed a single, fang-like tooth in the upper jaw, and but two below. Upon hearing his sentence, Professor Ederson had expected the slow, torturing death of having water dripped on his forehead. He was surprised, therefore, when he learned the true nature of the Lunite death of the many water drops.