"You wouldn't dare!" he whispered softly. "In fact," he added, smiling as the thought gave him reassurance, "in fact, you couldn't!" He tried to smile again, but this time found little weakness in Cobber's eyes. "The whole future of Kama's contact with the Earth depends upon me now," Cobber told him, stepping back a foot and then drawing his ancient revolver from his hip pocket. Wilson looked at the gun calmly. "You're a fool, Cobber--a doddering old fool!" he said. "If you had done your work as captain without interfering with me I could have made you a rich man." As he talked he gestured with his hand. With a swift, sudden movement he slapped the gun from Cobber's grip, grasped the old man by his neck and turned quickly, flinging Cobber against the wall. There was a dull thud as Cobber collapsed in a crumpled heap. Wilson switched on the call board. "Attention! All officers please report to my quarters immediately. Wilson speaking. That is all." Turning it off he came back again to the slowly rising Cobber. "You're finished," he said. "Finished!" The men drifted in one by one. When all had assembled, facing Wilson and Cobber, the younger man spoke. "In view of the critical situation now facing us and the imminence of an attack by the savage Kamae, I have deemed it advisable to make some changes in the commanding personnel of my ship. With due respect for his splendid accomplishments in the past, I now relieve Cobber of his duties as commanding captain of this ship. He will henceforth function as second assistant navigator. Commanding Captain Jina, you will carry on." Cobber ripped off the single star that emblazoned his sleeve and gave it to Jina. He walked past the stunned officers and men, past them all, into the corridor, down the steps and to the airlock. * * * * * The raging storm above had died. At times a lonely star peered through crimson clouds and then, as if frightened at the sight, disappeared from view. White flakes, so reminiscent of snow on Earth, settled softly upon the planet. From time to time he would brush the windows of his tankbox and peer out to watch for the approach of his friend. He saw him, a white globule-like mass, slithering over the rolling hill and coming towards him. He raised one of the arms of the car in recognition. Instantly a gray finger extended from the bulbous mass in answer. The strange being was standing beside the tankbox that enclosed Cobber. No message came from its brain as it waited for the thoughts to form in Cobber's mind. _I am ashamed_, Cobber thought. There was no answer, but a wave of pained bewilderment flooded upon him. Then the accusing words, _You failed_. _Yes, I failed_, Cobber said, the bitterness of complete defeat rankling in his heart. _The man your people want for revenge is my chief. I cannot deliver him. I cannot!_