[Illustration: _Vanning sprinted forward, scooped up the girl, swerved back, and fired the full blast of his gun into the screaming face of the first Swamja._] He flung himself toward it. Through a crimson mist the masked face of Callahan swam into view. The man leaped out of the ship, caught up Lysla from Vanning's arms, and scrambled with her back through the port. As Vanning tried to follow, he saw Callahan crouching on the threshold of the valve, an odd hesitancy in his manner. One of Callahan's hands was on the lever that would close and seal the ship. For a brief eternity the eyes of the two men met and clashed. * * * * * Vanning read what was clear to read. If Callahan closed the port now, leaving Vanning outside--he would be safe from the law. No doubt the man knew how to pilot a space-ship-- A shout roared out from behind Vanning. Callahan snarled an oath, seized the detective's hand, and yanked him into the ship. As a Swamja tried to scramble through the valve, Callahan's foot drove viciously into the monster's hideous face, sending him reeling back among his fellows. Then the port clanged shut! The port clanged shut, and the sudden silence of the ship was nerve-shattering in its instant cessation of sound. Vanning managed to get to his feet. He didn't look at Callahan. Lysla, he saw, was still motionless. Hobbs was kneeling beside her. "Lysla--she all right?" the detective rasped. "Yes." Hobbs managed a weak grin. "She got in the way of a paralyzing charge--but she'll be all right." "Okay." Vanning turned to the controls. They were archaic--in fact, the whole design of the ship was strange to him. It had been built a century ago, and rust and yellow corrosion was everywhere. "Think it'll blast off?" Callahan asked as Vanning dropped into the pilot's seat. "We'll pray! Let's see how much fuel--" He touched a button, his gaze riveted on a gauge. The needle quivered slightly--that was all. Callahan didn't say anything. Vanning's face went gray. "No fuel," he got out. There was a clanging tumult at the port, resounding from the outer hull. "They can't get in," Callahan said slowly. "We can't raise the ship," Vanning countered. "When we've used up all the air in here, we'll suffocate. Unless we surrender to the Swamja." Hobbs gave a croaking laugh. "Not likely. There aren't any weapons here. The ship's been stripped clean." Callahan said, "If we could break through the dome--" "There might be enough fuel for that--if it hasn't deteriorated. But then what? We'd crash. Certain death. You know that." Vanning clicked another button into its socket. "Let's see if the visi-plate works."