"The ratty lizard!" yelled Bull Mike, clenching a mammoth fist. "He sees that we're not armed for space-fighting!" "What's he doing here, with Mars so far out of travel-shot, anyway?" demanded Neil. Nobody answered, for another bomb exploded at that moment, seemingly just outside. It was soundless in the vacuum of space, but the force of the detonation shook the ship like a leaf in a gust of wind. "No chance for escape," said Sukune. He tapped the combination for a halt and rose from his seat. "Now he'll think he hit us," he told the others. "Let's play dead." "Why?" asked Bull Mike. "It's our only hope. Another bomb will do the business if we try to run. But he'll want to capture our ship. If he sees it idling, he'll figure that we're washed out. He'll come on board, and then----" "And then!" repeated the giant, grinning. "Then we'll have a fair shake with him!" Quickly the three threw themselves down in attitudes of unconsciousness. Neil flung himself on the sill of the port nearest the Martian, in such a position that he could keep a cautious lookout. Closer and closer came the enemy. Slowing down, he almost scraped against their side. Peeping out, Neil could see a port directly opposite. A Martian face, swarthy and skeleton-lean, was looking into the interior. What the fellow discovered evidently reassured him. He could be seen pulling on a heavy space-suit over his scrawny limbs and clasping a helmet into place. Then a long jointed arm of metal extended from his ship to grapple and hold the supposedly disabled Terrestrial. A moment later a lock-panel opened and the Martian emerged to jump lightly across the few feet of intervening space. They heard him working at their own entrance panel, evidently with some sort of ray apparatus. Soon he had negotiated the lock and entered. Fastening the panel behind him, he stepped over to where Bull Mike lay. He did not even trouble to draw his automatic pistol from its holster as he bent down to examine the silent form. Easily, effortlessly, Bull Mike shot out his big hand and yanked the Martian's feet out from under him. Down crashed the Martian. His gloved hand fumbled with the butt of his pistol, but Sukune was there first and snatched the weapon away. Bull Mike sat up quickly, cradling the struggling enemy in his arms as though he were a baby. "Got him!" snorted the big fellow. "Let's appoint me as a committee of one to break him in two across my knee." "Wait a minute," said Sukune, flinging out a restraining hand. "I want to question him first." "What about?" asked Bull Mike. "Lots of things. About where he came from, for instance." "That's an easy one. He came from Mars," said Bull Mike. "Hi, you, lie still or I'll do your legs in a braid!" This last to the prisoner.