"Hope you're right." A moment later Janus exclaimed, "Hey, some of these babies have electric rifles! Good Lord, I see--one, two, three--at least half a dozen of 'em! Wait a minute, though--they're only using them as clubs. The metal parts are corroded. Why, those are the old-type electric rifles popular on Earth two hundred years ago!" "You must be having delusions," came from Ferris. "No, I'm not. I've seen that type of rifle in the museums. Now how do you suppose they got 'way out here?" For a few minutes there was silence, broken only by a faint ringing sound as the clubs beat against the thick crystyte. Then Janus announced: "Here come more of 'em out of the forest. They're bringing up the reserves. Hey, this might be serious! They have a new kind of weapon." He peered for a moment into the grayness. "It's a huge thing, seems to be a sort of combination catapult and cross-bow. I don't like the looks of it." A minute later the first shot came. It struck the spaceship very close to the window. There was a muffled explosion, and a flashing blue flame. "By all that's holy--explosives! Powerful stuff, too. These babies aren't as barbarian as they look!" "We've got to get away from here some way." Brownell was really worried now. "Janus, do you think you could make it to the controls? Perhaps by dragging yourself--" "I'm sure gonna try it! Wait a minute, though--they're not going to bother us any more. They're scared!" "Scared of what?" "Damned if I know. They're staring off to the right, jabbering and pointing. Hah! There they go, they're running away!" Driscoll said, "What did you do, Janus, make a face at 'em? That red beard of yours is enough to scare anybody!" "Something's coming." Janus was straining his neck now, his face flat against the glass. "I think I can make it out ... yes ... holy blazing comets! What kind of a world is this? Get away from there, you! Hey--cut that out!" Janus' voice had risen to an excited pitch. "Get set, men--I think we're leaving here!" The ship gave a sudden lurch and Janus rolled backward. His head hit the floor hard--enough to stun him a little. And now their ship was moving! Not upward. It seemed to be dragging forward over rough terrain. In this tremendous gravity, every slightest jolt bruised them horribly. They could only lie there and take it. After five minutes of this their muscles seemed pounded to a pulp, despite the inflated suits still encasing them. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the movement stopped. There was ominous quiet. Mark, on the brink of unconsciousness, thought he was dreaming when he saw Professor Brownell leap to his feet! Now the other men were stirring. They rose dazedly. Gravity was normal! They crowded excitedly around the windows. Outside was bright daylight, no longer the twilight haze. The barbarian horde wasn't to be seen, nor was--that _other_. Whatever it was Janus had glimpsed.