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played music; the running creatures performed an eccentric and rather lewd dance in which the space-men joined. The dance became a bacchanalian frenzy.
    The music stopped short. A portentous silence gripped the stage. The music resumed, now heavy, dark and ominous. A huge being appeared: half-animal, half-ogre. With a whip of a dozen thongs it forced the running half-human creatures to acts of abasement. The space-men watched aghast, and presently killed the beast. The music erupted into horrid discords; the half-men leapt high in paroxysms of fury; they tore the space-men to bits; then, to eery slow music, performed a hectic pavane around the corpse of the beast-ogre, and the curtain fell.
    From the outboard side of the ship came the sound of a thud, a series of hoarse yells and a splashing sound. Zamp went to investigate and Bonko explained the new disturbance. “Three men in a rowboat attempted to fasten an explosive object to our waterline. I dropped a large stone into their boat and they drifted away on the current.”
    “Ashgale has not been idle,” said Zamp. “To no avail; our performance is close upon its end. But do not relax.”
    Zamp took up a position where he could inspect the audience; among them was the emissary from Mornune: which? No indications existed; the incognito was effective.
    The curtains parted on Zamp’s traditionally rousing grand finale. The orchestra played at crescendo, the players marched, pranced and cake-walked; jugglers twirled flaming hoops; magicians discharged rockets.
    Zamp stepped on the stage and as the curtain fell, performed a modest bow. “We hope that you have enjoyed our efforts to entertain you. Next time we pass our acquaintance will certainly be renewed. All aboard Miraldra’s Enchantment wish you good evening.”

Chapter IV
    All night long Zamp was kept awake by the sounds of pumps and curses from Fironzelle’s Golden Conceit. In the morning the vessel still sagged by the stern.
    Zamp enjoyed an early breakfast in his cabin, then dressed with his usual care in dark gray breeches, a green jacket frogged with loops of crimson cord, a crimson and green cap. Zamp then disposed himself to await the announcement of the Mornune envoy.
    Half an hour passed. Zamp strolled forward to observe the raising of Fironzelle’s Golden Conceit. Water surged from hoses emerging through portholes. Ashgale was nowhere to be seen.
    As Zamp sauntered back amidships, a young man in the ordinary costume of Lanteen mounted the gang-plank. Zamp paused, and the young man approached. “You are Apollon Zamp, ship-master?”
    “I claim that distinction.”
    “In such case, I carry a message which I must deliver into your hands.” The young man brought forth a black plush case which he delivered to Zamp, and immediately departed the ship.
    Zamp pursed his lips reflectively. He put the black plush case down upon a bench and looked at it from a safe distance.
    Bonko came past and gazed wonderingly at Zamp. “What troubles you?”
    “The case yonder. It might contain almost anything.”
    Bonko considered the case. “Well, we shall soon discover the truth. A moment while I fetch a pair of clamps.”
    Bonko went forward and returned with clamps and lengths of cord. He clamped the bottom of the case to the table, attached a second clamp to the lid and tied one end of the cord to this second clamp. The other end of the cord he took to the shrouds and carried aloft to the crow’s-nest.
    Zamp went to stand behind the deck-house.
    “Ready?” called Bonko.
    “Ready,” replied Zamp.
    Bonko pulled the cord, but the clamp fell off the case and the strategy failed.
    Behind Zamp stood Garth Ashgale who had boarded the vessel unnoticed and now stood watching with raised eyebrows. “What in the world are you doing?”
    Zamp cleared his throat and gave the bill of his cap a tug. “We are attempting to open the black case yonder.”
    Garth Ashgale frowned in puzzlement. “Surely there is an easier