And now the sea was gone from our world up here. But still, she could have a river. I met her eyes. The sea was gone from them now as it was from our world. Its dancing light; the sparkle that Arturo had described as she swam for him those first nights in the pool of the island cave. Her eyes were worn and dark now with trouble, sorrow, apprehension. “I’ll tell him, Nereid. But it’s nonsense, because you’ll tell him yourself.” I pictured, while she clung to me, our beautiful world of stars and moonlight for her and Arturo. “You shall live by a river, little Nereid--sparkling silver water with the moonlight on it. You and Arturo.” And the wistful thought was in my mind: “And you, Jeff Grant, with Polly!” * * * * * I have read of those ancient times when a party of explorers often was stranded and lost in the unknown polar wastes. Two or three of its members, sometimes, would leave the others, and try, desperately to reach civilization. So it was with Tad and Arturo, there in the Middge camp after Nereid and I had so mysteriously disappeared in the night. They waited for a time, hoping for our return. But we did not come. Food and water were giving out. The Middge soon would be in desperate plight. With Nereid out there as interpreter, Arturo and Tad had difficulty talking with the Middge leaders. And soon they began feeling like outsiders, aliens. The Middge were busy with their activities, but Arturo and Tad were made to feel that they were not wanted in that grotto where the war equipment was being assembled. “They seem resentful of us,” said Arturo. “I don’t understand it.” Resentful, almost suspicious. But Tad thought it perhaps natural enough. Their desperate position in this inhospitable world of the Lowlands. “And don’t forget,” said Tad, “the first thing that happened here. Down comes a bomb and kills a dozen or so of them. Our people did that to them, Arturo. How would you feel?” With the recurring daily periods of blinding daylight the Middge seemed disinclined to venture from the caves. But Tad and Arturo were aware that they had sent an exploring party back underground. There came a day, while the camp was sleeping, that Arturo and Tad decided to leave it. If they could reach civilization, they would send help back. They made packs of a few belongings; a supply of food and water. They slipped quietly away; out to the mouth of their cave; clambered down the slope into the desolate barren wastes. * * * * * “Tad, look! Look up there!”