When the sphere broke, if it did, three billion thirsty human beings would drink with the maddening impatience of Tantalus himself, released from his eternal doom. ... The sphere seemed to quiver. Suddenly it sagged, flattened out without a sound, its sphericity gone. The Speaker uttered a cry, and dashed his hands to his face, gulping in as much of the precious stuff as he could before it dribbled away from his hands. The Japanese and Spanish Governors turned rapidly to faucets, and the water, clear, sparkling, normal, streamed out.... For a short time the three of them were like animals. Then, gradually, they stopped drinking, and stood back, slightly ashamed. The Spanish Governor said, suggestively, "We'd better get that ship fished out before the Martians realize they are not going to get water after all. Otherwise--" The Speaker nodded. He turned away, to go into his study, when he stumbled over the prone body of Olduk, the Martian. A twinge of guilt assailed him. He stooped and turned Olduk over. Olduk's double-lidded eyes were open. Olduk's skin was as dry as his native sands. Olduk was either dead or dying. The Speaker troubledly called a doctor. The doctor made a brief examination, handling the body distastefully. Suddenly he stifled an exclamation. "I can't believe this!" he said hoarsely. He got to his feet, stared first at the Speaker, then at Olduk again. "Do you know what he died from?" he stammered. "Do you know, gentlemen!" And the Speaker knew. * * * * * The Master Conclave was again assembled, for the fourth and last day, its members well-watered, and well satisfied with themselves. The Speaker said, standing on the rostrum where Olduk had stood four days before, "I want to make a short talk, and call for a standing vote. "Earth has water again. We acquired it by a simple trick, that of dishonesty. I was fully to blame. Men are now at work in the Maracot Deep, in super-tension ships raising the Martian ship to the surface. There is no reason to doubt that a means to destroy the mechanism that caused so much trouble will be found. We won't have to keep our agreement with the Martians. I want to know if this action of mine meets with your approval." The entire body stood to its feet. "We were forced to it," the Japanese Governor said to the assembly at large. The Speaker waved them to their seats again. "I did not call for a standing vote, yet. I have more to say before I ask for your filial decision." He resumed carefully, giving each word its proper significance. "The Old Duck was a Martian--but in body he was not a Martian. He told us that. He had been changed with 'sundry operations,' so that he could live in this climate, so different from that of Mars. Air pressure, oxygen content, moisture, content gravity. To each he was acclimated by surgical operations.