"You are my prisoner, King Bommelsmeth," said Don, coming to the point at once.
CHAPTER IX
The Return
BOOMMELSMETH stared in open-mouthed amazement at the tiny Earthling.
"You, you little worm?" he gasped.
Then Wimpolo entered. Two deathrays menaced Bommelsmeth.
"I see," Bommelsmeth said, quietly. "Me, Emperor of Mars, beaten by a tiny man from Earth and a woman.'
He laughed a cracked sort of laugh.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Return us in safety to where we came from."
"I seem to have no choice," said Bommelsmeth, with a resigned shrug. "I'll tell you what I'll do. A party of your people from Selketh are marching here now in mass formation. They escaped from my prison camp, and they are fighting their way here. It has been magnificent to watch. They have nothing but stones and a few threadray guns they have picked up on the way. Whenever they meet any of my soldiers or apemen they all throw their stones and fire the rays they have together.
"By standing solidly together they have overcome all opposition so far. But as they reach the dock gates my big shielded ray machines will mop them up. I will give orders that they are to be allowed on board this sub, and that the distribution of searchlight is to go on from other subs. Then the Selketh people can take charge of the sub, and return home safely in it."
"With you as our prisoner?"
"If you insist."
"Very well then," Wimpolo said.
Bommelsmeth operated his television.
Alert for trickery, Don and Wimpolo watched. Bommelsmeth gave the orders. In the television they saw Bommelsmeth's men leave the sub. Wimpolo and the zekolo went to the control tower to direct Vans and his little company when they appeared.
Don was left guarding Bommelsmeth.
"You needn't keep that thing pointing at me," Bommelsmeth said, nodding at the deathray box. "It's not pleasant, from this side."
"You promise not to start anything?" Don asked.
"I promise."
Don turned the box away. At once Bommelsmeth's hand shot out and threw a small lever in the wall. There was a sort of fizzing noise, and Don knew that his deathray was useless. The blanketing ray had discharged it.
Bommelsmeth leaped to his feet and threw himself at the little man.
DON just managed to twist out of the way of the fallen table.
"Now we'll see who's who, little Earth rat," Bommelsmeth snarled.
Don snatched out his sword.
Bommelsmeth backed to the door and locked it. He picked up a heavy chair and hurled it at the Earthling. On its way through the air the chair struck the hanging lamp that lit the cabin. The lamp broke. The cabin was in darkness.
Don managed to avoid the flying chair, but bruised his legs against the fallen table. He did not know where Bommelsmeth was, or he would have attacked. He could hear the giant's heavy breathing, and tried to locate it. Bommelsmeth, trying to walk silently, blundered into more furniture and knocked it over. Don tried to creep in the direction of the sound, but more fallen furniture was in his way. There always seems to be four times as much furni-
