They followed the direction of his hand, and saw, standing rigid against a tree-trunk ahead, the figure of a man little more than half as tall as themselves, his grayish body very nearly the color of the blue-gray tree behind him. The three adventurers stood motionless, staring in amazement. As the Big Business Man spoke, the little figure, which had evidently been watching them for some time, turned irresolutely as though about to run. Then with gathering courage it began walking slowly towards them, holding out its arms with the palm up. "He's friendly," whispered the Very Young Man; and they waited, silent, as the man approached. As he came closer, they could see he was hardly more than a boy, perhaps twenty years of age. His lean, gray body was nearly naked. Around his waist he wore a drab-colored tunic, of a substance they could not identify. His feet and legs were bare. On his chest were strapped a thin stone plate, slightly convex. His thick, wavy, black hair, cut at the base of his neck, hung close about his ears. His head was uncovered. His features were regular and pleasing; his smile showed an even row of very white teeth. The three men did not speak or move until, in a moment, more, he stood directly before them, still holding out his hands palm up. Then abruptly he spoke. "The Master welcomes his friends," he said in a soft musical voice. He gave the words a most curious accent and inflexion, yet they were quite understandable to his listeners. "The Master welcomes his friends," he repeated, dropping his arms to his sides and smiling in a most friendly manner. The Very Young Man caught his breath. "He's been sent to meet us; he's from Rogers. What do you think of that? We're all right now!" he exclaimed excitedly. The Doctor held out his hand, and the Oroid, hesitating a moment in doubt, finally reached up and grasped it. "Are you from Rogers?" asked the Doctor. The Oroid looked puzzled. Then he turned and flung out his arm in a sweeping gesture towards the deeper woods before them. "Rogers--Master," he said. "You were waiting for us?" persisted the Doctor; but the other only shook his head and smiled his lack of comprehension. "He only knows the first words he said," the Big Business Man suggested. "He must be from Rogers," the Very Young Man put in. "See, he wants us to go with him." The Oroid was motioning them forward, holding out his hand as though to lead them. The Very Young Man started forward, but the Big Business Man held him back. "Wait a moment," he said. "I don't think we ought to go among these people as large as we are. Rogers is evidently alive and waiting for us. Why wouldn't it be better to be about his size, instead of ten-foot giants as we would look now?" "How do you know how big Rogers is?" asked the Very Young Man. "I think that a good idea," agreed the Doctor. "Rogers described these Oroid men as being some six inches shorter than himself, on the average."