_But let us look at the other side of the matter: It is quite possible that I shall fail. It is quite possible that we would all be destroyed in the starless vastnesses of space. I can offer you no proof of my competence except your repaired radio and your repaired vessel. And those were simple tasks._ _I am very tired, Mr. Simms. I can run no longer. I must let you out. Tell Mr. Bailey what I have told you. I pray that you may decide to help me. I pray, but I do not hope. I am sorry that I hurt you; please forgive me for hurting you, if you do nothing else._ _When I see Mr. Bailey descend and talk to you, I shall cease running. I shall remain where I ceased running. You and Mr. Bailey will decide what you must do. If you will not help me, then I must ask one other favor: Fly to where I am sitting and shoot your weapon at me. I shall not move. I believe that it is capable of destroying me._ * * * * * Ed Bailey pressed the button again and the purple sphere swerved aside. "Lousy purple punk," he shouted. The purple sphere stopped in its tracks and the rocket shot past it. Ed swore and swung about. He looked down. A man's body lay stretched on the sand and the purple sphere hurried away. Ed dropped down and rushed to the side of the prostrate figure. "I made it drop you," he sobbed over the body, "I made it drop you. My God!--you look half-digested!" He felt Archie Simms' body. "Your arm's broke!" Archie's lips moved feverishly. "Got to--got to help it--or kill it," he groaned. "Come on," said Ed. He lifted the wounded man to his shoulders. "You're okay now. Don't talk. I'll get you aboard." "It saved us--got to help it--or kill it." "I'll make hash of it," said Ed, placing Archie on his bunk. He procured a hypodermic needle from a wall cabinet. "Sorry, Arch, I'm putting you under till we get back. I can't help you. See you in a month." He plunged the needle into Archie's arm. "Got to--help it ... or kill it," sobbed Archie weakly. "Got to ... help ... it...." He slept. Ed slipped behind the controls of the rocket. He pressed a button and the little boat whirled up into the sky. It vanished rapidly into the empty distances. On a distant hilltop sat the purple sphere. He followed the path of the retreating rocket with sad eyes. He waited for many hours. The sun set and he glowed dimly against the stars. He watched the stars sadly. Then he cried. He cried for seven days and seven nights. * * * * * Eight years passed. The rocket whirled down from the sky and crashed into the hillside. A cloud of dust rose lazily from the spot and mingled with the fumes escaping from the vessel. Straightway the escape hatch opened and Archie Simms jumped down to the surface of the planet. "Here he is, Ed!" he shouted back into the ship. Ed's face appeared in the doorway. "Fido," he remarked pleasantly.