The three condemned prisoners were isolated, but on asking permission to talk the matter over together, the reasonable request was not refused. They concocted a plan which was put into instant execution, and the Martians were delighted when, a few hours later, the three captives agreed to enter the vessel with several Martian scientists and demonstrate its power, stipulating that their companion should be well treated. This promise was readily given and they were well guarded and brought near the vessel. Although all eyes were on them none saw what they did, but they walked up the ladder safely and entered the ship, followed by the three chosen scientists, and the door was closed. Dennis asked the Martians to stand in a certain place, so that they should have a clear view of all that was done; Ross, from the switchboard, telepathed: “Notice this switch carefully, it controls great force. I move it ever so little and—you are rigid, in a powerful electric field, unable to move hand or limb.” Whilst he was doing this, Dennis and Gilbert had insulated themselves and quickly corded the three Martians like mummies, Ross protecting the outside of the vessel as before, and then raising it from the ground about fifty feet, the people below thinking it was merely a matter of demonstration before their scientists. Then the current was broken and the three men were carried to the window, when Dennis and Gilbert lifted one up to throw him out. At sight of their companions bound and helpless, the men below howled with rage and an electric pellet struck the _Regina’s_ side close by Gilbert’s head, just as the man was balanced on the frame. Stopping the figure from falling, he telepathed that if any further hostility was shown, he would kill all three of their captives. His determined manner had its effect and the man was thrown out of the window, but instead of falling he floated about unable to drop. This caused great consternation below, especially when Dennis was seen, not carrying, but almost wafting Number Two out of the window, where he also floated alongside his companion, and then their gravity was altered and they gradually sank. While they were watching these the third Martian, whom they were intending to retain as their interpreter on Jupiter, and whom they had not bound very securely, seeing the opening in the side through which anything could be let down or drawn up, and that it had beside it a coil of flexible wire rope, one end of which was permanently fastened, determined not to be thrown outside and killed like his companions, as he thought, so he suddenly flung aside the door, threw the coil outside, and himself slid down the rope as it fell—all this happening so quickly that he reached the ground before any one had realised what had happened.