“Are we to storm the place?” thinking of the fight MacPherson had predicted.

“Yes, my lord.  Many shall die; but it cannot be helped.  We must free the Jarados, although we commit sacrilege.”

“But—­the Senestro?”

“That depends, my lord.  We know not just what may be done.”  He gave no explanation.

They had climbed to a tremendous height.  The indicator showed that they were bearing east.  The darkness was modified only by the faint glow from that star-dusted sky.  Looking down, Chick could see nothing whatever.  His companions kept silence; only the Aradna, sitting forward by the side of Jan Lucar showed any perturbation.  They climbed higher and higher still, until it seemed that they must leave the Thomahlia altogether.  Always the course was eastward.  At last the Jan said to the Geos: 

“We are now over the Region of Carbon, sir.  Shall I risk the light?  His lordship might like to see.”

“Follow your own judgment.”

“Oh,” exclaimed the Aradna; “do it by all means!  There is nothing so wonderful as that!”

The Jan touched a small lever.  Instantly a shaft of light cut down through the blackness.  Far, far below it ended in a patch on the ground.  Watson eagerly followed its movements as it searched from side to side, seeking he knew not what.  And then—­

There was a flash of inverted lightning, a flame of white fire, a blinding, stabbing scintillation of a million coruscations.  Watson clapped a hand to his eyes, to cut off the sight.  It was stunning.

“What is it?” he cried.

“Carbon,” answered the Geos, calmly.

“Carbon!  You mean—­diamond?”

“Yes, my lord.  So it interests you?  I did not know.  Later you shall see it under more favourable conditions.”  Then, to the Jan:  “Enough.”

Once again they were in darkness.  For some minutes silence was again the rule.  Watson watched the red dot moving across the indicator, noting its approach to a three cornered figure on one edge.  Suddenly there appeared another dot; then another, and another.  Some came from below, others from above; presently there were a score moving in close formation.

“They are all here,” said the Jan to the Geos.

The other nodded, and explained to Chick:  “It’s the Rhamdas and the Crimson guards.  The MacPherson is just ahead.  We shall arrive in three minutes.”

And after a pause he stated that the ensuing combat would mark the first spilling of blood between the Bars and the Rhamdas.  At a pinch the Senestro might even kill the Jarados, to gain his ends.  “His wish is his only law, my lord.”

The red dots began to descend toward the three-cornered figure.  One minute passed, and another; then one more, and the June Bug landed.

With scarcely a sound the Lucar brought the craft to a full stop.  In a moment he was assisting the Aradna to alight.  As for the Geos, he took from the machine two objects, which he held out to the Aradna and to Chick.