That was on the eve of Mitkey's departure. Originally, Bemj had suggested awaiting the moment when Prxl's eccentric orbit would again take it within a hundred and fifty thousand miles of Earth. But, as Klarloth pointed out, that would be fifty-five Earth-years ahead, and Mitkey wouldn't last that long. Not unless they--And Bemj agreed that they had better not risk sending a secret like that back to Earth. "Bright red bants mitt two big yellow buttons in frondt und two in back, und yellow shoes for der back feet und a pair of yellow gloves for der vront. A hole in der seat of der bants to aggomodate der tail." [Illustration: MOUSE --WARNING-- FINE OF 500 BUCKS 6 MO. IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH TO ANY PERSON CAUGHT TYING KNOTS IN OR PLUCKING HAIRS OUT OF CREATURE'S TAIL--_POLICE DEPT._ HOT FRANKS TOURS ALL POINTS OF INTEREST EVERY HOUR ] [Illustration: "A HOLE IN DER SEAT OF DER BANTS TO AGGOMODATE DER TAIL." ] "Ogay, Mitkey. Such shall be ready for you in fife minutes." So they compromised by refueling Mitkey's rocket with something that would cancel out the million and a quarter odd miles he would have to travel. That secret they didn't have to worry about, because the fuel would be gone by the time the rocket landed. Day of departure. "Ve haff done our best, Mitkey, to set und time der rocket so it vill land on or near der spot from vhich you left Earth. But you gannot eggspect agguracy in a voyach so long as this. But you vill land near. The rest iss up to you. Ve haff equvipped the rocket ship for effery contingency." "Thank you, Herr Klarloth, Herr Bemj. Gootbye." "Gootbye, Mitkey. Ve hate to loose you." "Gootbye, Mitkey." "Gootbye, gootbye...." VI For a million and a quarter miles, the aim was really excellent. The rocket landed in Long Island Sound, ten miles out from Bridgeport, about sixty miles from the house of Professor Oberburger near Hartford. They had prepared for a water landing, of course. The rocket went down to the bottom, but before it was more than a few dozen feet under the surface, Mitkey opened the door--especially re-equipped to open from the inside--and stepped out. Over his regular clothes he wore a neat little diving suit that would have protected him at any reasonable depth, and which, being lighter than water, brought him to the surface quickly where he was able to open his helmet. He had enough synthetic food to last him for a week, but it wasn't necessary, as things turned out. The night-boat from Boston carried him in to Bridgeport on its anchor chain, and once in sight of land he was able to divest himself of the diving suit and let it sink to the bottom after he'd punctured the tiny compartments that made it float, as he'd promised Klarloth he would do.