"Yes. But he took her north into the snow. She did not know where she was. Father sent out an expedition, but they couldn't find her. The Noths attacked them and they came back. They were going to start out again when Loto returned her to us." "Oh," said George. He thought a moment. "I wonder what your father would have done--what he would do now if Toroh holds Azeela and offers her life against the war. Would your father let Toroh kill her?" She hesitated. "I think he would," she said at last. "It would be a nation against one life. He would sacrifice himself, I know. And I think he would even sacrifice Azeela." George met her earnest dark eyes, so sparkling, usually, but now so sombre. "Would you, Dee?" "No," she said impulsively. "Neither would I," he declared. "I wouldn't let harm come to Azeela for all the Anglese,--or harm to--to you, either." She did not answer. Presently he said: "I was thinking about that Aran Festival, Dee. You know you oughtn't to go to affairs like that. _Do_ you know it?" Her gaze met his again, questioningly. "It is part of life," she said. "My father thinks Azeela and I should know what life is. In your time-world was it wrong?" George felt himself flushing. "Wrong? What, the festival?" "No. I mean my going there--a girl of the Scientists, who is not like the Aran women?" "Yes," George said stoutly. "_I_ didn't want you to be there." His hand impulsively touched hers. "I didn't like it, Dee. You're too nice a girl. And I don't think Loto liked Azeela being there, either." Instead of answering, she gave a sudden cry. "What is it?" George demanded in alarm. She had no opportunity to reply. Through the side window the other plane showed less than a thousand feet away; a shimmering ghost that was gone as soon as they had seen it! George leaped to the proton switch, but Dee checked him. "Wait! Wait till Azeela tells me what happened." In the absorption of their conversation, Azeela's messages had been ignored. Toroh had slackened his time-flight; he was preparing to land. It was an unfortunate occurrence, for Toroh had seen the other plane. He still did not guess that Azeela herself was guiding the pursuit. Again, without warning, the other plane appeared. This time it was flying, coming directly toward them. George held his breath. Toroh's plane was so close he had no opportunity even to move from his seat. It was running level with them in time; _it was charging them! Had Toroh gone mad? He would kill them all!_ It was no more than a second or two. Through the window George caught a brief glimpse of the shimmering thing rushing at them. Then it swerved upward. "_He's going to fire a thunderbolt!_" Dee gasped. George was aware of a flash; but he had not seen it, only imagined it. The attacking plane swept overhead and vanished-dissolved into nothingness!