"We want you to come out and be killed. I'm going to pay you back for all the trouble you caused me. I couldn't wreck your airship that you stole from me, but I'll have my revenge now. These little fellows will do whatever I say, and I want you to come out and be killed." "Suppose we refuse?" "Then we'll make you! Oh, they've got the power to, all right. I'm going to be their king next week, and they'll do anything I say. Come on out!" "I'm afraid we shall have to decline," answered the professor. The machinist began a rambling talk, and the scarlet-cloaked figure stepped forward. He spoke slowly, using simple words in the Martian tongue, such as he knew the travelers could understand. "My name is Zun Flor," he began. "I am the keeper of the Cardite, and I am told by one of my assistants that you have taken some." "Well?" asked Mr. Roumann. "You must return it at once. It is against our laws for strangers to have any of the Cardite." "But we came here to get it. We only took a little, and you have so much." "That makes no difference. You must return it at once, and then you must go away. We do not want you here." "Suppose we refuse?" "Then you will perish! Be warned in time. Give up the Cardite, and take your departure." "What will happen if we do not?" "You and your machine shall vanish from this planet and never more be seen. We cannot have any of our precious Cardite taken away to another world." "We have only taken a little," repeated Mr. Roumann. "We desire it for scientific purposes, and as you are so fond of science, you ought to let us keep it." "Give it back!" exclaimed Zun Flor, and he seemed to be very angry. His big, bulging eyes flashed. "Return it to me, and all will be forgiven." "We will not!" declared Mr. Roumann firmly. "Then we shall attack you!" "And we shall defend ourselves. Now, let me warn you. We have powerful forces within this projectile. We will use them against you and your men." "You cannot harm us," insisted the Martian in the red cloak. "Your machines of war will be powerless against those we have. Be warned in time. You must choose between the Cardite and death!" "We will keep the Cardite, and we will also keep our lives!" retorted the German. He slammed the glass window shut with a bang, and locked it. Then he closed an inner shutter of steel over it. "We, can't see what's going on, and what they do," objected Jack. "Yes, we can," said Mr. Roumann. He pressed a lever, and a shutter made of strong steel slats, that was on the plate-glass window of the projectile, opened. This gave a view all about the Annihilator. This done, the ports covering the muzzles of the electric cannons were let down, and four guns, two on either side, were aimed at the throng of Martians. "They are going to fire, or something!" exclaimed Jack, as he looked outside. "They are pointing those sticks at us!"