Venus Calling

Bodle, Frank H.

Venus Calling

Item

Title of Story: Venus Calling
Attributed Author: Bodle, Frank H.
Year For Sorting: 1934
Future Year Set: Contemporary
Story Summary: Alvin Lister invents a spaceship called "The Venus" which uses his discovery of repelling gravity to push the ship into space. He takes on all his builders, mechanics and engineers, two female friends, one of them the investor, and a worldly adventurous friend called Ulysses, for a test run. On the trial run, four criminals stowaway on board and take over the ship, but Lister's security guard had also made it aboard at the last minute and, in the fighting, the controls are damaged and the trial run becomes the journey to Venus. Over the ensuring weeks the criminals are given limited freedom. The complement of 17 eventually make it to Venus, navigate the thick atmosphere and land on a mountain side, immediately believing that it is a dead world. While the rest explored, three of the antagonists take the opportunity to steal the ship with the intention of going back to Earth but Lister had expected that to happen so had locked all the exit cells (airlocks) open, so they could never leave Venus. The fourth antagonist had already shifted to their side and was helping the crew, earning respect from everyone. The crew then need to find food and shelter and soon find a hidden area where a venus-cavewoman riding a four-winged pteradactyl-like creature invites them for lunch. It turns out that her ulterior motive was to claim Ulysses as her husband-slave and an amusing scene ensures as Ulysses can't comprehend that her offer to give him a flight on the Plodja would end with him being taken to a village of women and beaten and dragged across the ground to a hut where he is trapped with his kidnapper who quickly disrobes.

Various adventures ensue as Lister keeps the team together, Ulysses travels Venus, works out the system of the world and quickly breaks it by punching the queen in the face, who laughs and finally treats him as equal; and Ingerfeldt, the leading villain, attempts to kidnap Lister to get him to unlock the exits, even eventually capturing Ulysses and stringing him up for hanging if Lister didn't comply.

Eventually, with the antagonists having given away much of the supplies to bribe the inhabitants to help capture Lister, when the protoganists finally win, not all of them can return to Earth.
Critical Introduction: While Frank H. Bodle is well known for writing The Te Kooti Trail, which was one of New Zealand's first movies in 1927, he is less known for writing a science fiction story a little later. Venus Calling is written in a different style to other science fiction stories in that it is dialogue heavy, perhaps due to it being written by a script writer / producer.

The space opera story in a newspaper is unique for the time as it features two initially strong female characters, characters who speak about science in a colloquial language (showing a consideration for democratising science), and consideration for not only the heat of re-entry through an atmosphere (not something scientists were paying too much attention to at the time), but also describing the currently known atmospheric conditions of Venus.

The evolutionary theory of the 19th century in regards to life on other planets proposed that Venus was still young so probably had cavemen and Mars was old so probably had advanced civilisations. This idea is reflected in the characters' encounter with venus-cavemen, though they soon find out that they are man-like cavewomen, and the cavemen are mere slaves to the matriarchy.

Bodle's deep knowledge of the strength and equality of Maori women is reflected in some of the scenes with the venus-cavewomen and there are also passages that describe the need for equality of the sexes. The two woman characters from Earth also repeatedly stand up for themselves, perhaps reflecting Bodle's encouragement for the same in society.

This story also stands out by having 17 characters from Earth and a myriad of characters from Venus, something that many other writers would baulk at due to the difficulty in not only writing for all those characters but also remembering to include specific aspects of their individual personalities. As it happens Bodle took the option of focussing on the four protagonists and the four antagonists, with the others barely having a line or a role besides in the descriptions of helping or accompanying.

The author had already lived through World War I, losing one of his staff to the war, and worked for a newspaper, so had a heightened awareness of the world. This story, while published during the Great Depression years, leading to anxieties of a future war, is written with a problem-solution focus that avoids history completely. With New Zealand being so far away from the rest of the world, and much of the early part of the story set in New Zealand, there is a refreshing innocence at the beginning of an excited inventor wishing to show off his space ship and get money from it, harking back to stories from the early 1900s. i.e. It is escapist fiction to delight readers of the day, taking them away from the stresses of the contemporary world.

With science, evolution, freedom and equality the main four themes, as well as fleets of flying reptiles, villages of tough cavewomen, various gunfights, and even the appearance of a (fake) robot-like goddess, this is a fun yet grounded adventure that would have looked great on the big screen. Enjoy!
Science: gravitation; electromagnetism; meteorology; astronomy; chemistry; aeronautics; biology; evolutionary theory; terraforming
Inventions: Force chargers that attract or repel gravitational pull; Protype floating 'air cruiser' that looks like an elongated dinner dish; Air sampling and testing system; Oxygen plant that also gets rid of waste gases; Exit Cells (Airlocks); Large main ship called 'The Venus' capable of comfortably housing 17 people with many having their own room. Rectangular in shape with a heavy glass dome on top.
Science Fiction Subgenres: space opera; space fiction; space western; planetary
Related Newspaper Fiction: The World's Last Wonder; An Aerial Adventure, or The Secret of a Scientist; The Dark Planet
Historical Context: The Great Depression, a rise of nationalistic and authoritarian governments, and murmurings of the possibility of another World War.
Additional Information: From The Lithgow Mercury 2 May 1934:
Our new serial "Venus Calling," will be commenced in tomorrow's issue. The author is Frank H. Bodle who wrote "The Te Korti Trail" and several other interesting stories. The reader's interest is captured from the
start by a good plot well woven by this talented Australian author.
For the most part the setting is in New Zealand, and the story deals with the adventures of Ulysses Anderson, a journalist, who, having lost his position, forsakes the city and takes a chance railway-ticket to a little-heard of and obscure town, seeking whatever adventures Fate might have in store for him. He meets a scientist whose car' has developed engine trouble, repairs the slight defect, is offered a lift, and to gether they launch out on many thrilling escapades.
Other Works by the Author Listed in the Newspaper: The Te Kooti Trail
How this Story was Identified: Using a keycloud against the original exported copy of the database in early 2023.
KeyClouds: scientist experiment electricity scientific science engine mechanical earth world telescope
Date Details Added to IA: March 2023
Author Gender: Male
Nationality: Australian; New Zealander
Biographical and Other Sources: Frank H. Bodle Venus Calling Advertisement; There is limited information on Frank H. Bodle but it seems that he spent most of his time near Auckland, wrote to the local papers about a variety of subjects, and owned a printing company. The following is listed in Northland Military Records which shows that Private Aubrey Horotiu Black had worked as a printer for Bodle before the Great War:

12/962 Private BLACK, Aubrey Horotiu single Devonport MB 6th Hauraki Coy, Auckland Infantry Battalion
Stanley Black (br) Dargaville Sailed 16/10/14 “Waimana”
KILLED IN ACTION Chunuk Bair, ANZAC Sector Sunday 8th August 1915, aged 22
Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial
P/N 9.
Son of Alfred and Tuhi Black of Dargaville
1914 Kaipara Roll, Black, Alfred Charles, Dargaville, Journalist.
Attested 19/8/14,
Born 10/12/92, Maunganui Bluff, Kaihu, Northern Wairoa
Occupation Printer
Residence 12 Roslyn Terrace, Devonport
Employee Frank H Bodle, 52 Shortland St, Auckland
Brother 25/1670 Rfm BLACK, Stanley Rongo, 11th Rf, 3rd Bn G Coy NZRB

F. H. Bodle is listed as first managing the Whakatane County Press newspaper in 1915 and with the Ngaruawahia Advocate and Counties Gazette in 1922: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/books/ALMA1958-9917504343502836-Newspapers-in-New-Zealand It's possible Bodle moved to Australia in the 1930s as a Frank Bodle is the established editor of The Forbe's Advocate in Forbes, NSW in the 1950s: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220728445 This might explain why Venus Calling is noted as having been written by an Australian.
Single or Serialised: Serialised
First Published Date of Last Installment: 1934-08-17
Date Range: 1934-05-02-1934-08-17
Number of Installments: 24 chapters plus epilogue, with some chapters divided across multiple issues.
Complete or Supplemented: Complete
Estimated Word Count: 54000
Length: Novel
Links in To Be Continued: Venus Calling
Links to Trove: Venus Calling Chapter 1
Newspaper Publisher Citation: The Lithgow Mercury
Newspaper Name Location Years: The Lithgow Mercury NSW 1989-1954
Location Town City: Lithgow
Location State Territory: NSW
Provincial or Metro: Provincial
Also Published in: The Young Chronicle NSW 1934; The Northern Herald Cairns QLD 1935
Language: English
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Content Advisory: These items are historical texts digitised from their original publication, and reflects the social attitudes, cultural values, and language of the time in which they were created. Some content may include depictions or references that are racist, sexist, ableist, colonialist, or otherwise offensive by contemporary standards. This material is presented uncensored for scholarly, archival, and educational purposes. It serves as a record of past cultural attitudes and is preserved here to support critical engagement, historical reflection, and the advancement of inclusive scholarship. Reader discretion is advised.
OCR from TBC and Trove: Lithgow Mercury (NSW : 1898 - 1954), Thursday 3 May 1934, page 4
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OUR SERIAL ' |
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
CHAPTER I. ulysses sets forth
"And that's that!" Ulysses Anderson muttered, as he walked from the offices of the Wairiki Argus for the last time. His head wasn't bloody but unbowed. He walked erect, but he whistled as, hands deep in pockets, he strolled cheerfully down the main street. He might just have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. instead of the freedom of all outdoors — -for the permanency. Some of the girls he passed smiled at him. Girls had the habit of smiling when they looked on the fair, curly mop and the seablue eyes of Ulysses Anderson. Usually he smiled hack. This morning he didn't. He was too occupied with' his recent presentation and its implications. So r much indeed that he saw neither girls nor men. His thoughts were very far away — three thousand years, at least. Not for nothing had he been named I Ulysses, the Wanderer, so long ago it seemed that he could hardly remember the name that had come at his christening. Mechanically, un-, seeingly, he dodged the traffic on the footpath. Outside Bleeker's store, where the morning traffic was brisk-, est fortune deserted him. He can-' noned into a thick-set, anxious-eyed young man of about his own age — and the wandering thoughts jumped thirty centuries. "Sorry!" he began. "My .... Why .... Hullo, Tuppy!" ' / "Where are' you ' going?" the thick-set one demanded soberly. "Heard you were to be flred to-day. I'm mighty sorry, Andy, old man. About that six pounds you lent me . last week . ." . . " "That's enough from you, Tup Lewis," Ulysses spoke briskly, as one with no cares in the world. "Forget it. You and the" little wife have been having a bad spin lately. But not me." He' thrust out his chest and smiled at all he 'could see of the wide, wide world. "But' not yours affectionately, Tuppy. ' Me — I'm Ulysses Anderson, setting out on his wanderings. Bound for Circe's Island, Kal-ypso Kraal, the Cyclops country, and intermediate stations on the grand tour. Remember all that college stuff, Tuppy?" "I' get you," Tuppy agreed briefly, but with no lightening of gloom. " "Only difference is' I haven't got any Penelope keeping the home fires . i burning for" me." Anderson's grin j | was cheerful. "And there's one other .thing, too— there's no old man Homer going to sing my travelogue. My ' portable and a ream or so o' clean ipapryus travels in the rucksack. And since, as you'll ' admit, news, has a 'trick of breaking my way, some glad day you're going to read Ulysses! wanderings hot from his own fingertips. G'bye. My love to the little woipan — and keep on smiling, sonny." "Here, wait a bit," Lewis called, unhappily. !!' Where are you going?" "Can't," Anderson turned, still grinning. "I'm in a hurry, Tuppy. The tide's on the turn, and I must launch my swift boat. I told you where I was going, but you didn't seem to hear. I!lLsay it again. I'm starting on the Charybdis. Going to hear the Songs of Charybdis. Going to hear the songs of the Sirens — and that!s something that doesn't come out of Hollywood, sonny. On your way: — and goo'-bye." His long strides took him swiftly away, though his cheerful whistling lingered long in the watcher's ears. "Nutty!" Tup Lewis muttered, regretfully. "Being fired in the sacred name" of economy seems to have touched him." His eyes softened as he went on. "He's a good chap, too. With Dolly so poorly, it'ud have been darned hard if he'd talked about that loan." Meanwhile,' the good chap was still entirely cheerful. He looked at his waich and put on speed. He'd haye to hurry to make the noon train. Followed a hasty packing — rather a hurried 'heaping into his loose kit-bag, a brief financial transaction with a regretful landlady, and a scramble for the station. Before he left what for three years he had called "home," Anderson counted his worldly wealth "Nine pounds eleven 'n six," he tallied. "With my well-known luck — more than enough." At the station he was three minutes ahead of schedule — and twenty ahead of the train. He strolled to the ticket window. "Where to?" the clerk demanded acidly. He hadn't slept well the night before, and his early eggs and coffee still tasted like dust and ashes. "I'm easy," Ulysses declared, iarge-ly. "Give me, let's see, fifteen bob's worth of transportation." "Don't you know where you want to go?" the clerk asked sharply. He was new to Wairiki, didn't know the ex-journalist, didn't like the place, and these country humorists made him more sick even than their coffee. "Anywhere does me to kick off from," Anderson spoke easily. "AH you've got jo worry about is to givo me a pasteboard worth fifteen hob. Can't you figure that out?" "One way that's . . . . " The clerk consulted ' a sheet. ' " . . . . Troy Creek. Forsaken hole it is,( too. But if vou . . . . " "i surely do." Ulysses slapped his knee delightedly. "Pardon my break, won't you. I had you all wrong. You're one big classical scholar. Troy Creek's the neatest, nattiest jumping-off place for little old Ulysses'. And I thought you a low-brown Who didn't know his Homer. You can have a certificate from me any tunc at a slap-up pilot of the Levant. Wish I could take you along." "Not for me," the clerk said sourly, and added, as his customer turned away, "certainly not with a batty chap' like that." (To be continued)
OUlt SERIAL .
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti. Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter I. continued)
Troy Creek, when seen hear sundown, or at any other time for that matter, did not present a Homeric appearance at all. There was a pub-lic hall, which was also church, in rotation, for four separate denominations, a petrol station, a store, and a dozen wooden houses. The hills behind hemmed the place in, seemed to brood over it. There were no horses in the main street. If there had ever been a wooden one, it' had probably be chopped up for firewood. "The Greeks have gone!" .quoth Ulysses, as he strode the empty street. "They sacked It good and plenty — and . that's not perhaps. I'll be on my way, too." He walked into the store, bought some food and a couple of straps, harnessed the kit-bag to his shoulders and set out for the hill-road, back of the township. At the petrol station a battered car of an almost forgotten vintage was refuelling. Its driver, a very long, very thin individual, stumbjed to his seat and pressed the starter as Ulysses walked up. .The wanderer caught a fleeting glimpse of an earnest face, tensely concentrated, though half -hidden behind very large thick lenses, peering anxiously ahead. He -saw the long, tapering fingers pluck nervously, unfamiliarly, at levers, then with a grind of , gears the relic was away. "If that man's a native, he's certainly no Paris," Anderson muttered. He turned to "-e man at the pump. "Queer-lookir bird," Ulysses offered. '"Shell, hereabouts?" "No. Strp.".'; jr." The other snorted. "D'jeve ee anythink like the architecture that— that cehariot?" "Chariot'.' . ;ht," Ulysses chortled. "And it re ds me.. I- know him. He's a wis ae. Name of Nestor. Comes from- where the heck is it ? — : Mycenae, that's the burg." "Never heard of it," the man said shortly: He remembered that he had a wife who believed that dinner should be eaten on schedule time. "Well, g'bye. Look here," he added, as an afterthought. "If you knew him, why didn't you ask him for a ride?" "Because," the traveller declared lightly, "I'm looking for Circe — not the cold wisdom of that Nestorian dome." "Why, I don't . . ... " "Don't you?" Ulysses swung into his stride again. "But can't you see a wise boy like that never would find Circe? And if he did, he'd just as likely scoot right by her." For the third time that day the traveller's sanity was called in question. "Nutty as a squirrel's crop," the garage man muttered, as he trudged towards -the scent of frying pork. Ulysses didn't care. He had no trouble but for an early hint that hill-climbing with a shoulder load was going to test leg muscles before long. And even . that fleeting thought soon passed. Two miles or so along, just below a sharp pinch in the hill road, he came upon the chariot resting with quiet determination by the roadside. The long man of the powerful lenses was head-first in the bonnet, muttering exotic oaths and tapping hopelessly at everything in sight. He looked up with relief as the sound of unhurried footfalls came to him. "Do you .... I mean, can you?" he stuttered, savaging a smudge of grease and oil below his glasses and thereby smearing one whole side of his face. "I can," Anderson asserted blithely. "Now that Troy is taken, I'm free to do anything on earth. And you bank on me for doing it, brother. Name's Ulysses, and any old-timer will tell you I'm a sack of strategems." The tall man eyed the newcomer puriously. There was still sufficient light to read the frank boyish face, to note the clean athletic figure and the smiling deep-blue eyes. Slowly a-smile crept to the corner Qf "Nestor's" mouth."Welcome,' "Welcome,' far wanderer," he chanted. The eyes behind the thick lenses twinkled. "I'm no Helen-hunter — but I catch your drift. Science is my trade. Name, Alvin Lister, from Detroit, U.S.A., and— this blazing junk-heap won't budge. Know anything of .... ?" "Chariots," Anderson 'finished. "Mc-thinks I do. Stand aside, Aristotle." He bent over the stubborn engine; felt here; tightened there; unloosed a nut and searched. ' "Petrol line blocked," he stated finally. "Clear now. She'll buzz. On your way, stranger. The steeds strain/ at the chariot joke." "Much obliged," Lister smiled .again. He had watched the amateur mechanic's competent work closely. "Hop in. I imagine we're going the same way. You're bound for . . . . " "Sycalla, Circe, and the Land of the Lotus-eaters," Ulysses affirmed cheer-Cully. ! "And I for Venus, Mars an'd tlio Rings of Saturn," the disciple of science declared happily. "We're well met, wanderer, you and I. Our paths lie side by side." "And that's a fact," Ulysses agreed, as he climbed in. But to himself he added an accusation that thrice before that day had been hurled at his own head: "This bird's as batty as a bull-frog," was the word that camo almost to the tip of Ulysses tongue. The chariot grunted, jumped, then, complaining like a soul in torment, bore the pair uphill.
CHAPTER II. Daeia Hatrick jumped out of her . rough bunk, raised her hands, thumbs -locked, high -above her head, then lightly, without effort, bent thrice to touch her toes. Dacia was twenty-two and an odd month or so, which is still- young enough to realise that pink silk pyjamas . are the ideal costume for a sunny morning in the wilds. She strolled briskly to the door of their hut, flung it wide open, and stood staring at the dancing waters of the lake below. Framed in the doorway, feet bare, coils of bronze hair flowing loosely about her shoulders, grey eyes sparkling like sunshine on the waters at which she looked, Dafiia Hatrick ; wbuld have compelled the admiration ; of. any man — had there been one in sight. There were none, or Dacia wouldn't have been' where, and ' she was. Not, of course, that she had deep-seated objection to man ov y scanning her night garments, .en when she stood inside them. Not at all. She knew quite well they did her ample justice. At the moment she merely objected to men in general. As you've probably guessed, Dacia was the sole heiress of that eccentric but lamentable figure, J. J. Hatrick. With his considerable fortune as a lode-stone, the hunting had become so tiresomely exacting that Dacia had Sought some'sanctuary where no man ever came. She was recuperating from a strenuous season of society and suitors in a sylvan security, where no pants ever defiled the landscape. At least, that is how she felt and how she thought. "Wake up, Esther," Dacia _ called over : her shoulder. "We're going swimming." Gurgles and groans from the interior of the hut trailed closely by a very slow, very loud yawn. Dacia waited patiently for the full peroration of a night's sound slumber. Then: "Shake a leg, darling," she called back into the gloom. A shuddering pause, then: "What_ did you say we're doing, Dacia?" in" sleepy, yet mildly horrified accents. "Swim." "Via. not." Esther stumbled -into the doorway. She was short and pleasantly plump; maybe twenty-seven — though it's quite difficult to be accurate with the pleasantly plump. In her own placid way she was just as easy to look on as Dacia, though a't the moment there was a glint of determination in her dark eyes. They snapped, then as they rested on the large expanse of distinctly wet water she shuddered slightly. "For one thing," she ended with a show of firmness, "I didn't bring a bathing costume." "Neither did I," Dacia said evenly. "But we'll swim, just the same. Like the Greeks did — in our original bathing suits. I've always wanted to do just that, but everywhere has always been so crowded." Esther Hamilton . gasped. "My dearest Dacia, you simply can't," she gasped distractedly. "Supposing . . " "We won't," Dacia stated definitely. She slipped off hfer pyjama coat and stretched luxuriously. "You know perfectly well, there's not . a man within fifty miles. That was the one thing that made me buy this shack and the island from Sylvia Latimer before she and her husband rushed off to Japan.. If there'd been even a left-over pair of trousers from last season, I'd not have bought this place." "But there's that place at the other end of the lake." . (To be continued!
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter II continued)
"Belonging to that Lister man, tho chemist." Dacia completed her disrobing and stood unashamed, glorying in the kiss of sunshine, letting tho warm oreatn or tne morning seep m every pore. "From all I've heard : from Sylvia, he's scarcely human, and, anyway, he's never come up hero yet, she said. He's five hundred miles away at the present moment, my darling Essie. Take off that naughty tittle nighty and. I'll race you to tho beach." "But . . . . " Esther looked admiringly at the other's lithe figure, completely revealed. "But, I couldn't. It might . . . . " "Take off tifat — bauble!" Dacia commanded remorselessly. "If you don't . . . . " Esther shivered again. Gingerly she drew out one arm, then the other. "You're perfectly capable of tearing it ' off, I know," she agreed, without enthusiasm. "You've guessed it first time." "When I agreed to corrie with you on this freak holiday in the wilds, I didn't expect to be bullied." Esther dropped the ridiculously frilly thing around her toes and glowered at her friend, half-vexed, half-shy. "But then "It's for your own good, dear." Dacia gently prodded a well-padded rib. "You're getting atrociously adipose." Esther skipped free of the little pile of lace and ribbon, and, as runs a startled deer, raced downhill for the water. She reached the grassy edgo of it just half-a-second before Dacia. The splashes of their arrival were, in fact, almost simultaneous. The water was delicious. Long hot days had followed on the heels of days of equal heat; the waters of shallow Lake Kototapu, cradled from cooling airs by their circlet of wooded hills, had grown almost tepid. The pair settled down to a steady, swinging stroke that carried them well out from their island sanctuary. Dacia turned over and lay luxuriously on her back, resting on the lake's warm breast, staring into the far blue depths of the cloudless sky. "This does me," she observed contentedly, wriggling her toes in the sunshine. "This is my world, Essie. As it was in the beginning — with no men around to make trouble." -"There had to he men," Esther observed placidly. "She, too, was comfortably on her back. "Even in the beginning there were. At least, I've always understood so. If there hadn't been, don't you see . . . . " "No; I don't," Dacia snapped. Her eyes were very bright. "That's ail biological bunk! In the beginning there were beasts— and glorious young gods. I've no objection to glorious young gods, Essie. In fact, I'vo always rather wanted to meet one. But I never have. There aren't any left in the whoie round world. Tho beasts have survived. They wear pants and pretty collars now— but there are" no more gods." "Listen!" Esther called insistently. "What's that noise?" From far off, down the length of the lake, came a faint buzzing, as of a wasp in the distance. The volume of it deepened; clearly the wasp was winging in their direction. "It sounds," Esther began anxiously- like a motor," Dacia finished, but did not move. A frown crept over her pretty face. "That means . . " Esther listened again. Quite definitely it was the noise of a motor they heard. They could catch its splutter as the engine gathered speed. "That means men." She turned swiftly and struck out for shore. (To be Continued)
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING i
BY FRANK H. B0DLE l — . i (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," » etc., etc.)
, (Chapter II. continued)
. "Not- necessarily." Dacia lay perfectly still, save for the lazy wiggl-j.ing of. her toes. A smile chased her frown away as the sun displaces a I cloud. "Not absolutely necessarily, darling. There is always the ten thousandth chance that a god out of the old, old days may have survived." "There it is," Esther called excitedly. "At the far end of the lake." She struck out savagely for home and clothing — even the frilly nightie. "It's an aeroplane. No it isn't. It's not like any 'plane, but . it flies. Hurry, Dacia, the wretched thing's coming this way." "Let it," Dacia called easily, and continued her toe exercises. But as the drone of the engine grew nearer and louder, even Dacia I-Iat-rick, who despised all men as beasts, made some light concessions to convention. She turned over gently, and, with no trace of hurry, slipped steadily towards shore. Half-way there she dropped down, trod water, and for the first time surveyed the mechanical intrusion upon their peaceful solitude. -"Esther's right. That's the queerest sort of plane I ever saw," she muttered resentfully. She faced round to note what had become of her companion, and her: resentment died in a deep chuckle. That young person, huddled near the water's edge, stared first at the curious thing above the lake, then , with clearly visible yearning at the hill path to the cabin — and clothes. "'fraid to make the dash au natu-rel," Dacia soliloquised, delightedly. "And just as 'fraid to stay where she is." Watching the problem work out on the beach, she forgot altogether her own position. "Wonder what she'll do?" Esther provided the solution without delay. Panic-stricken, she dashed for a low clump of scrub a dozen yards from shore and cowered in its green, shelter. She was about fifty per cent, as well hidden as if she remained under water — but, at least, her blushes were hidden. "Good for you,, Essie, long as you'ro satisfied," Dacia murmured joyfully. "Me — I'm no ostrich, so I'll just stand pat and see what happens." She focussed all her attention on the curious craft above, and its uncanny evolutions. For uncanny they seemed to her. The thing was quite small — like an elongated dinner dish — silver-colored, about as long, sho guessed, as, a small rowboat. It had no wings and none of the usual aeroplane trappings. , In fact, beyond two squatting men And the motor that had first attracted the swimmers' attention, there seemed nothing but an aerial swimming.; dish. "By the great. three-eyed Tuatara!" she ejaculated, borrowing an expression of her lamented parent. "Thin is a' new one on me — and everybody else, too, I guess." The queer thing v/as flying low, pot twenty feet above water-level, and coming steadily closer to where; sunk to the chin; Dacia watched, fascinated. Suddenly the engine spluttered and was silent. The silver dish moved slowly, more slowly, towards her, and, astonishingly, maintained . height. As she watched, very gently it settled down, near' and nearer to the water, till without splash or any fuss at all it rested lightly on thci surface of the lake, a dozen feet from Dacia's head. One of the men stood up — the tall, thin one with the heavy glasses. "It works!" he exulted. "By Jupiter, it works!" "Certainly does," the other man agreed with enthusiasm. "When you shut off the. engine she could have hovered for a year, but 1 eased her ' down. Hello, who tho dev He leaned forward, pointing to the head beside their craft. "Hello, yourself!" Dacia called back, all her indignation against these intruders evaporated in the wonder oi their coming. "Who arc you, anyway? I'm"My "My godfather's great-aunt!" Tho other man, the fair-haired one, stood up and stared at all that was visible of the lady who, fifteen minutes earlier, had set out from the shore in Grecian costume. "It's Circe!"
CHAPTER III. "Have you had anything to cat thvi morning?" Dacia inquired gravely, disregarding the classical allusion foi the time being. "No." The tall man spoke for tho pair on The Dish. "As a matter of fact, wc haven't, but ... . " "Then, please go away; right away, for fifteen minutes. Then come and join us at. breakfast — on the island there." Dacia looked the pair over crit'cally. They did not look altogether— beasts, and beyond all .doubt their contrivance was marvel- ( lous. "You can, I suppose, rise from j the water?" ( "Like lAphrodite from the foam!" j The eyes behind the thick glasses j twinkled. "But . . . . " j "Well," Dacia went1 on evenly, "a certain amount of explanation seems necessary1 on both sides. If these take so long as I expect, there's always the chance I may find this water turning cold, perhaps even get cramps." "Won't you come aboard?" The younger man bent forward eagerly. "We could lapd you just where you wanted on the island." "Thank you." Dacia hesitated, as if considering the proposal from all angles. "I think, perhaps not. No. Not for the moment. If you come, back in fifteen minutes . . . . " "Very good." The tall man stoop-' ed and touched something on' the floor' of his craft. Astonishingly, with the engine silent, The Dish swayed, hesi-tated, then rose in a single vertical leap thirty feet into the air. "We'll be back in a quarter of an hour." Blue Eyes leaned over the i side of the boat and waved au revoir. I "We'll run down the other end and i try for some fish." He spun the wheel. The engine coughed, caught stop, and The Dish swung round for the far end of the lake. I Dacia remained discreetly submerged for some time, .then sprinted for tho shore. Esther had emerged from her none too leafy retreat, and, glancing neither to right nor left, dashed frantically for the cahia. Her burst of speed on that hill-path, though unfortunately lacking an official timekeeper, was superhuman. It must' Mfc? shattered endless records. She was, fully dressed and dabbing at her coiffure when Dacia ran briskly in. "They're coming to breakfast," Dacia announced, towelling vigorously. She tossed the towel on her bunk and snatched up her garments. "W-what's that?" Esther's mouth sagged, wide open. "I thought you said ....." "They'll be here in fifteen, no ten,1 minutes." Dacia went on with her high-voltage dressing. "Light the fire, darling, while I toss on these remaining rags. And brew some of your notorious coffee — I do love to hear it and you boil over." 'But, my gracious, Dacia, didn't 1 hear you say that all men were beasts, and if so much as even a single pair of .... " "I did not. Entirely your mistake, darling," Dacia twisted her damp hair into a knob. "What I suggested, if you'll cast your memory back, is that one in ten thousand might not he. That's quite different, isn't it? I'll set the table. And Essie, dear, I take back all the nasty things I said about— adipose. Deerfoot has. nothing on you." Don't, Dacia, please." Esther's face was fiery. "It was terrible. I felt "Never mind, Essie, you looked lovely." Dacia patted her friend's shoulder. "I never knew what the poetry of motion looked like before. My only regret about the whole business is that the kodak is out of action. You get the idea: 'Make a living record of your happy holidays.' " Esther stamped her foot, angrily. "If you don't . . . . " "Very well, darling. I will," Dacia spread the cloth on their small table. "I promise to do the best I can. I'll make a realistic memory sketch of that — divine dash of ours. We'll call it 'Flight,' shall we ? And if you contract the bonds of matrimony, why, I'll present it to your husband as a wedding gift." "Now you listen to mo a moment,; Dacia Hatrick. If you mention that — disgraceful thing to me or anyone else again, I'll toil these men, when they, come, that you stayed behind to talk to them with not a sitich of a rag to your back." "Why embitter their young lives, dear one?" Daeia. set out cups, sauc- j ers, knives and forks. "They asked me to come aboard, you know. . After careful thought, I declined. They'd ' regret that all their days, wouldn't they?" (To be continued!

dun SERIAL
1 VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To ICooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter III continued)
Esther collapsed into a chair. "That you declined — or that they asked you?" she demanded, chokingly. Dacia Considered. "I mean .the lat-ter, really," she explained easily. "But since you drag in the other aspect, well I'll agree they might suffer remorse on both counts. Not to cloud their horizon, we'll change the subject. I'll merely mention, in passing, that should you, by. mistake, mention my bathing costume, I might be compelled to ask, in a spirit of purely scientific inquiry, whether they noticed bold gleams of whiteness in the scrub near the shore. Because I did." "I believe that's their engine now," Esther said hurriedly. The girls ran to the door. The drone of the motor came clearly to them over the water of the lake. The Dish swung out from the far shci-and headed for the island. "My gracious! There's that wretched coffee boiling over," A cyclonic sizzling from the interior of the cabin distracted. Esther's attention temporarily. When she ran back to the door The Dish was right overhead. Power had been shut off; it hung there motionless. "Are we too soon?" The tali man looked down smiling. -"You see." Blue Eyes took up the tale. "The fish bite like bulldogs. Wo came back when we hauled in four. ' That should fill the early morning platters." : "Come down, by all -means," Dacia invited. "My gracious, there's that wretch- 1 ed coffee again." Esther darted inside and emerged with the coffee pot in her hands. "Set it right back, but it had to — oh, my!" She stared open-mouthed at the easy dropping aircraft. Perhaps in sympathy with her jmouth, her fingers gently opened. As iThe Dish sank easily to earth, a stream of steaming coffee and the clatter of a falling pot greeted its arrival. I " 'Fraid that coffee has boiled over again," Blue Eyes said gravely, and picked up the empty coffee pot. j "Never mind, Essie. 'All in tho day's work," Dacia smiled. "We've' got to fry the fish yet, anyway, so' there's plenty of time for. a second cooking. We'll start them going and have the introductions later .... Well, I'm Dacia Hatrick; I bought this island from the Latimers. This is my friend, Esther Hamilton. By the Grace of God, both spinsters. Wo came here for solitude . : . . I suppose you sought that, too?" .."Well, yes, Miss Hatrick." The spectacled . man : bowed . awkwardly. "I'm Alvin Lister. Own the shack down the other end of the lake. Heard the Latimers were abroad. Came along to experiment"— he waved his hand towards The Dish — "with that. My friend, Ulysses' here," Lister frowned and turned to his companion. "Do you know, old fellow," he said perplexedly, "I've . clean forgotten your other name.'-' "Never mind that," Dacia ordered. "Ulysses is just right as it is. Anything else would spoil it." "Well, he set out on his wanderings, and we joined forces. We have 1 — er— somethirfg rather new in the I line of flight. You noticed?" | "Yes, I did." Dacia glanced wickedly at Esther. "I'll say I saw some- 1 thing — novel in flight this morning.',' . "I must watch that coffee," Esther declared hurriedly, and withdrew from the circle. , "We were, I think, each surprised | this morning," Lister went on. I "Surprised is not an exaggeration," Dacia conceded. "Naturally I was anxious that no word of this should get out." .Lister took off his thick glass.es and polished them, nervously. . "We happen to have exactly Uic same views, Esther especially," Dacia agreed. "She feels, .quite strongly, we should say — nothing about it. Don't you, Essie." "Ye-es, yes, of course." "That's fine," Lister expanded. He was not usually at ease in feminine aociety, but these New Zealand girls were -so sensible and so darned easy to get on with. Reasonable, too. "That's mighty good of yoh. You see," he pointed once more to his craft. "This thing is immature. It has proved the absolute soundness of the principle on which I was working — but it isn't the finished article." "It's marvellous," Dacia declared with enthusiasm. "Don't you think so — Ulysses ?" "Beats tlie whole wide world, Miss — Circe." 'Ulysses smiled happily. "I've seen most of the modern models of aircraft, but this little bit of scarp has got them all ditched. Why, you can do anything with i it." "And go anywhere." Lister cut in quietly. "And when I say 'anywhere' I mean just that — with no limitations." "It seems -so simple and so safe," Dncia stated soberly. "Of course, I know there must always be the visit of accident, but . . . . " "Not with this Tin Dish of mine," Lister broke in eagerly. "The engine might stall, of course, hut that would make no difference. There could never be . an accident. And weichl makes no difference to it. You shal' come and see for yourselves — after breakfast." They did — and marvelled. With four passengers, accommodation was somewhat crowded, but The Dish rose without effort from the island; climbed almost vertically to 1,000 feet; then in perfect control dropped again almost to lake level,. With power shut off, they swung in the lower air, drifting slowly in the light breeze. "Doesn't this beat everything, Circe?" Ulysses whispered reverently. (To be continued;.

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Trio To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter III. continued)
"D'you see what this will do? It's the absolute revolution in transport. Trains. Pah! Steamers. Pouff! Aeroplanes. Tcha! They're as out-of-date as a Roman galley, or a dug1 out canoe. We've got grandstand seats of the birth of a new era." Dacia swung round. "What did you mean, exactly, by no limitations, Mr. Lister?" "Just that very thing. Miss Hat-rick. And all of it." "You mean?" "With a properly designed craft, using this principle of mine, you could go anywhere." "The moon, for instance?" "Anywhere!" Lister spoke reverently. His face lighted in a smile. "In this particular case, the sky isn't the limit." "Please." Esther Hamilton was breathing heavily. "I think I should like | to land. Now." "We're not going to the moon in this tin platter, Miss Hamilton." Lister smiled reassuringly. "But we'll go down, just the same. Start the motor, Ulysses. We'll wander down tc our shack and pick up some more gas." They skimmed above the lake and dropped down on the clearing before Lister's rude hut. The long man picked up a squat leather case from the metal floor and slung it over his shoulders, like a haversack. His eyes siiddenly dilated. "By the way," he said, quickly, snapping open the catch of the case. "I've a few early apples here. Will you try some, ladies?" . Dacia reached forward, but licr hand dropped suddenly to her side. From opposite ends of the shack two men stepped forward. They carried I a gun in each hand. | "Stick 'em up!" the shorter man called sharply. He was a weasel-faced runt of a man with fish-like eyes. "It's business!" Ulysses jumped forward, but Dacia's fingers gripped his shoulder. "Don't be a fool, Ulysses," she whispered. "Use your grey matter. That's a bad boy there." "Up with them quick," the bad boy j ordered again. "Got a itch in my| trigger finger. That's better. Right. You get busy, Gus." Gus, beefy, puffy-eyed, yet obviously another gentleman who meant business, slipped behind the cabin and shortly returned with the ancient chariot. "You, there, with the tow-head," the little man barked. "He means you. Ulysses," Dacia explained gently."Pick "Pick up one side of that aircraft. \Gus, you take 'tother .and lift it into that — junk-box." "I'm damned . . . . " "You'd better do it, Ulysses," Lister advised with tragic calm. "Tho' it breaks my heart to let it go, our friends here, to some extent, seem to me to dominate the situation." "You're dead right, Four-eyes," Weasel-face agreed heartily. "Hop to it, sonny. Don't want Gus there to bust, a blood-vessel, do you?" "Nothing like that," Lister said sombrely. "We'll be peaceable. Tho' if you take my plane and the car, too, we'll be in a mighty awkward fix, don't you see. Fifty miles from anywhere." "You'll be in a worse fix if you try any monkey business. Four-eyes. | Keep 'em up. And the dames, too." The cold eyes bored into the trio as Weasel-face sidled towards the plane and added a scrawny shoulder to the lift. "All right!" Gus called. "Hop in, Skinny. We'll hit the highway." The ancient chariot coughed and ground as it roiled off down the rough trail. The castaways watched it t'lj it rounded a bend. Lister was the first to emerge from the general stupor. "I'm sorry I can't offer you that apple, Miss Hatrick," he said. There was a curious grin on his long face. "You see, I didn't really have any. I've only got in this case all that really matters of the Tin Dish. Just in case those boys should stage a trial and find that they have merely a sheet of metal and a low-powered engine, we'd better leave this neighborhood as fast as you like. Get the guns from the shack, Ulysses, and we'll scoot."
CHAPTER IV. i It would be unkind to suggest that Miss Dacia Hatrick's mouth dropped open, but beyond question she was astonished. "Do you mean to tell me you knew?" she began, her cheeks flushing. "I'll tell you what I mean and what I know when we get away from here." Lister spoke hurriedly. He was obviously worried. "Got to get this leather bag to safety. My secret, and all it means, is in that little bag." Ulysses, with a short gun under one arm and a rifle in the other hand, marched out of the cabin. "First job of all," he stated soberly, "is to get the ladies back to their island. Or, maybe, after recent happenings, they'd prefer a rather less lonely vicinity." "I shouldn't call this place lonely." Dacia looked thoughtfully along the trail. "I did onee, but I see that was all a mistake. Ju'-'t the same t0' " , , „ "There are too many men about, Esther declared with complete finality. "I mean." she added hastily, noting the smile on Dacia's face, "too many men with guns, of course. J "That is intended for Ulysses, of course." Dacia grimaced at their heavily munitioned guard. "There's something in that idea of yours, Essie. We'd better move on somewhere where things are not so— so crowded." Lister shepherded them down the beach. Ho cast a final anxious glance 1 -. 1. down tho empty trail before speaking. | "Get into my rowboat," he directed. f" ... . That's right. Park the guns, I Ulysses, and grab an oar .... I'm mighty sorry about this, ladies. Had no thought of dragging you into a ; mess like this." He drove in his oar ' savagely. "Y'scc, when I stepped ashore a few minutes back, too late to jump back, I caught the edge of Skimpy's Dritzen's face. Too late to jump back, so I had . to turn his thoughts away from my hag right off. Apples were all I could thing of in the rush." "Then you knew that — thug?" Dacia demanded dangerously. Now that it was all over, she felt the humiliation rather than the danger of their recent position. | "Not to 3ay 'know.' " Lister missed a stroke and considered. He shook his head with emphasis. "No, couldn't call it that. Before to-day we've never met officially. But he was once pointed out to me as the — er — gentleman who had grabbed a previous Invention of mine. -Didn't know he was wise to this big thing, though." He shook his head slowly, apologetically. "If I'd had the faintest suspicion, of course, you ladies should never have been led into this trouble." Dacia's pique fled as rapidly as it had come. After all, one can't try to touch the ceiling while staring into the business end of a cold blue tube Without being drawn a little closer to one's fellow sufferers. "I suppose," she suggested mildly, "his interest rather complicates matters for you. Especially when he finds that for flying purposes he has piuk-J up something rather less valuable than a tooth-pick. Or is that putting it too strongly?" "Certainly it does, and you're none too strenuous in stating it." The long man rubbed his chin reflectively with his free hand. "Skimp's bound to trail me after what he must have seen. Especially, as you say, when he deduces he has bought a gold-brick. Seems to me, Miss Hatrick, 'complicates' is rather a mild way of putting it." "So I thought. Well .... Take it easy, Ulys3cs, you're pulling the boat round .... Seems to me you've got to let me stand in on this game. Esther and I were partners in the first two acts. Don't you believe you owe it to us to let us share in the finale, and the curtain calls?" "You mean .... Just exactly what?" Lister ceased to row and leaned towards the girl in the stern. "Put it this way. We'll form a syndicate. 'Flight — to be Incorporated' and build on air cruiser for you. t see Essie's quite determined . . . . " "I simply will not go to the moon," Esther said, with extraordinary fervor. "I will not. Under no circumstances, Dacia.""If "If I've heard Skimp Dritzen's character analysed correctly, and recent events seem to confirm it, there's going to be a deal of — er — unpleasantness before I'm through." Lister spoke very earnestly. "If you take my advice, you'll keep right out of this mess." "It's your own idea, isn't it? And you've got the goods, haven't you?" Dacia demanded warmly. "You know it Circe," Ulysses broke in quickly. "We all saw it. and we all know he's got something, with e capital 'S.' Simply it puts all other forms of moving in the junk c'ass." "I believe you," Dacia nodded her complete agreement. "Now you've got to listen to me, Mr. Lister, while I state the facts as I see them. First, you can't stay around Rototapu. Esther and I could, perhaps, but, speaking for both, we don't want to. Second, if you move on you must find some secure place where you can build a skyship. Essie and I are determined . . . . " "Dacia, once and for all, I will not go to the moon," Esther declared firmly. "I've made up my mind. Simply, I won't go!" "Quite right, Miss Hamilton," L's-ter agreed equably. "It's not worth the trip. One side of it, the one always turned to the sun, is a sort of cross between the Sahara desert, the warmest part of the hereafter, and a nest of dead Vesuviuses. T'other side never sees the light, and ma bye it has some few chunks of air frozen solid, but nothing fit to breathe." (To be continued.)
OUIt SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BV FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "The Te Ifooti Trail," etc., ot-c.)
(Chapter IV. continued)
"There Dacia!" Esther looked ;ad-miringly triumphant. "It's ' wprse even than I expected. Now perhajjs you'll give up your mad idea."
"All' right, Essie. We'll rub the moon out of our calling list. Ariy-thingZ for a . peaceful life." Dacia smiled at her plump friend's flushed face.'' "Never was very anxious to go there anyway. There must be far more interesting places for a. weekend visit." She became swiftly serious. "Let's get back to our list of facts. You need a secure place and money to build yqrir ship. Got either, or both, in . view, Mr. Lister.1?," "N-no. Not exactly." Lister considered. "Frankly, . I haven't. My idea has worked out well in the lab. We came here to try it out in rough j working conditions. If', it succeeded, I proposed' to stage a .demonstration for some capitalist." "And have him gobble you and your idea right up." Dacia . . sniffed . disgustedly. "If you were so set on dealing with a hold-up man, why didn't , you band everything over to Thug Dritze.n, and get it over with?" "Well, you see— er — what you don't realise ' is that it will cost Sam Hill' to build the sort of craft y.ou talk about. Reai money, Miss Hatrick.' Hold hard ; for a moment, Ulysses." Lister removed his glasses and rub-' bod them carefully.- '-'Lots of fixings needed. Oh, I've thought them all out, make no mistake about, that. But : you can take it from me, all that will simply ' eat money. Now d'you see why I must interview High Finance?" "No. Can't say I do." Dacia looked thoughtfully at' -the long man. "Let's get down to business. What do you mean by money? How much, for instance?" "Well, at a shot, say between fifteen and twenty thousand." Dacia's face cleared. "That's all right then. You scared me for a moment. You can have my cheque whenever you feel like starting in on your building programme. Then, for security, there's my place in the Marlborough Hills. There .are sheer cliffs round the valley, and where Nature had left gaps my dad built ten-foot walls at a time "when he. had a fad for privacy. If we scattered a few guards round, nothing less than an army corps could get in if we said 'No'J" '."Gosh!" In his exciteriient Ulysses missed a stroke arid fell backwards. He scrambled, sizzling, to an upright position once more. "Now I place you —Circe. Your dad was the one and only J.J. Why In thunder didn't I see that before. Why, I wrote an article once about the Marlborough place of yours. Called it — let. me see . . . . 'An Antipodean Bastille.' " . "Quite descriptive." Dacia . nodded her appreciation. "Except, of course, that at my place folk can't get in, while in the original, I gather, the speciality was not letting them out. Still, the sense of security implied may help in the present instance. How about it, Mr. Lister?" "Well! Well! Well!" Lister recovered a little from his first daze. "That certainly, is a wonderful offer. Miss Hatrick. Solves all my remaining problems. It is mighty generous of you." "Steady on.!. . We're right near the shore." / Dacia stood up.. "You're quite wrong about that generosity stuff. Ever hear anyone say rny dad was a sof.t mark for the confidence man? No. Well, neither am I. And while I'm perfectly clear neither of you are in that hard-working profession, this is a cold, hard business deal, so- far as I'm concerned. -You and your friend Ulysses retain a half interest, split it as you fix between yourselves. Esther and I take the other half. I supply- the cash and the safe place for building. You have to dig up men you can trust for the construction. If I didn't believe I was getting in cheaply on a big thing, I wouldn't put . up a penny. Steady! Back water. Well, do you accept .my terms?" ' "Why, yes, yes." , Freed from the demands of the oar, Lister dragged off his glasses and gave vent to his emotions in a gust of furious polishing. "This is beyond belief; provi-detial. Well build such a flying boat as was never even imagined before." High lights of enthusiasm, ir-ridated his face and his .speech. "We'll go .... " "Please. Remember what you said." Esther touched the tall man's arm timidly. "No — not to the moon, Mr. Lister.'.'. "No, ma'am, not to the moon, nor within 'a. hundred thousand miles of it," Lister agreed happily. "We'll just say anywhere else in the solar system, you'd like, to visit." "And as a start, Essie and , I will gather up our things." Dacia set off up. the hill-path. "You men come along to carry them.down. We'vc.got to get -across to the mainland, where I garage my" car! Then,, the other trail out, .quick as you like for Marlborough Hills."I I "Can't be too quick for me," Ulysses told the party. "I said to myself J was gqing to wander some — but great, goshness!, I never reckoned to 'explore the -starry heavens." "Be quiet, Essie!"' Dacia warned as her plump, friend showed evidence of explosive emotions. She turned to Lister, who was some half-dozen yards down -the slope. "When the boat is built and ready, just where would you like to go, Mr. Lister? And why?" (To he continued.)
OUK SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE i (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," j etc., etc.)
(Chapter IV. continued)
1 "You pack and I'll talk." Lister followed them into the cabin and sat down in the rocker. "There's only one place.- really. The moon's ruled out.isn't it? It's dead anyway. So is Mars, or so near you can't tell the difference. In spite of the popular novelists, there's mighty little chance of people being left on it. You see, its best patches of atmosphere are about a quarter as dense as that on top of Mount Everest — and that's much too thin for real folk. And seventy below is quite a mild temperature for Mars. Then, there's Jupiter. He's big enough, but 'tisn't clear whether he's just a core of rock surrounded by ice, or still too hot to havp a proper crust." ' "Speaking of which reminds me to get something for us to eat before we' go," Dacia observed, "Go on, Mr. Lister." ' "There's only Venus left at all close." Hands' clasped behind his head, Lister swung the rocker to and fro. "She's the nearest planet, anyway. Got an atmosphere so thick at the top her surfaces can't ever be seen, but everything seems to point to conditions there being quite like those on this earth. If there are people anywhere in the solar system, outside our own show here, why Venus is the place for them. Personally, I prefer folk plus scenery to scenery alone. That's why I plump for the Evening Star, Miss Hatrick." "M'm, yes." Dacia paused a sec-, ond in her packing. "I'd like to take a peep at Venus, too. How about you, Ulysses?" "I'm all for Venus, Circe," Ulysses grinned widely. "Sounds mighty attractive to me. But, honestly, I j wouldn't dare to write home to my uncle, the minister, and say I was going off to take a peep at Venus. By the way, how's the air there, Al? Breathable?" "That, of course, remains to 'be seen." Lister continued his placid rocking. "I don't know. Nobody does. Believe its days are about quarter,- longer and its years about two-thirds of ours. Outside that, it's just plain and fancy guessing. : Esther dragged a battered leather suitcase into the centre of the room. She was very red. Her breath came jerkily, hut her jaw was set hard. "And do you mean to tell me," her voice rose almost to a shriek, "we're to. go to a place where we may not be able to breathe?' No .... what's the stuff? . . . . No vitamins,. . . . No, I don't believe that's it. No ..." ' "Ozone," Dacia offered. "Yes." Do you plan to take us to I a pldce where there's no ozone in the air? Because I won't take chances!"
"We won't take chances, Miss Hamilton." Lister spoke very gravely. "I think far too much of you ladiei, hot to mention my own considerable amount of skin, to take such risks. I'll have a fixing rigged for sampling that air, so we can test 't before we leave the ship." His eyelids flickered the merest fraction. "We'll not leave our boat except in rl'ving suits until we're dead certain there's sufficient ozone. Does that satisfy you?" "All ready," Dacia interrupted. "Better not stay to eat. Always the chance Mr. Lister's friends may come back and scout around till they find my car. When we're hungry, we'll eat in transit. Ready, Essie? Let's start then— for Venus. Quite looking forward to the trip, aren't you?" I "Not that altogether, Dacia." Es-j ther led the way down the hill. "But now I really understand all about it, I don't hate Venus like I did the moon idea. Haven't I read somewhere they have— what-d'ye-call-thems — gondolas there?"
CHAPTER V. The fa'nt heat haze that shimmered over bushy hill, browned uplands and narrow valley floor did not destroy the wideness of the panorama. The ribbon of Waituna Creek that entered the Hatrick demense on its northern flank and swept out, after manv windings, through its narrow southern angle, was visible tar beyond the Hatrick boundaries. Indeed, Observation Hill, whereon the party sat, not only dominated the inner realm, but looked out over far spaces of hill and stream, gullies and timbered slopes. The Syndicate had ridden to its summit. Lister looked and felt completely tired out after a week of planning, 'phoning orders/and a complete overhaul of the defences. He had got into touch, by long distance, with a former assistant, and had secured a dozen men known personally to the latter. They and the materials and all necessary supplies were now on the way. In the breathing space that followed, the Syndicate had taken time off to discuss the position and once more look over the defences. "They'll never |ind us here, will they?" Dacia sprang from her pony, and with a riding crop traced a line of sheer cliffs and occasional stretches of high wall in the less rugged sections. "And if they did, with the guards we've placed, connected up by 'phone, there is little chance of anyone getting in." "Dcn't believe. they'll find us." Lister tossed the reins over his horse's head and dropped down to relax. "I'll admit they're a pretty rough gang. I thought I'd shaken them off when I I came here from the States, but I don't believe they'll find us here. After J what they must have seen, they'll try I mighty hard, of course. Even if they 'didn't know before, they must realise we've hit on something big, but I guess they're not liable to trail us. IAnd even if they did, as you say, Miss Dacia, they've got a slim chance ol getting in. Why the big snort, Ulys (To be continued.)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tlio Te Koofci Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter v. continued)
"Purest admiration, Al. Just wishing I had some of your simple faith that's more than newspaper training." "Then ypu don't tli|nk . " "Great Land of Love and Liberty, man. in the language of your ovvn West, the thing's a hard-boiled cinch." Ulysses lit his richly colored briar. "Of course they'll find us." "But how?" Dacia demanded incredulously. "Why in all places in New Zealand will they pick on this ?". "Didn't have to.". Ulysses tied his horse to a branch, of a stunted tree and sought a comfortable resting place. "It's like this. Those chaps know Al., and ..have someone backing them, or they wouldn't have come all this long way from the United States of America. They'll probably figure enough to know that Al. isn't financier enough to run this show off his own hat. What they'll want to know" — Ulysses grinned — "in their own words, is who are his friends, 'the tow-haired guy and the two skirts.' Bound to try for the answer first at the Lake, find your ware, Circe, used recently, the garage, and perhaps fresh tyre marks on the trail. Obviously we went out t'other track." "Quite bright this morning, aren't you, Ulysses?" Dacia sat down beside the self-confessed lacker of simple faith. "But, even so, I don't see how those tyre marks point directly to this place. New Zealand isn't a big country perhaps, but to me there seems enough room to hide." "Ever hear of land titles being registered?" Ulysses asked slowly. "If that pair's half as smart as crooks and newspaper m.en have to be to keep up with the procession, they'll visit the D.eebs Office and find that one island in Rototapu Lake, with a slice of shore, .was recently transferred from .Sylvia Latimer... to. one, Dacia Hatrick. After that it's only a question of time before they find out, who the party of .the second part actually is. That's so far, and the. rest's as easy as eating pie. You, and this place of yours here, are too well known for them to miss it long. Fact is, I'll certainly be surprised if we don't hear, from our little friends within the next week." : "You make it all seem dead easy," Lister grumbled. "S'pose you think' they'll get inside, too?" "Why, yes; bound to." Ulysses sprawled full length on the grass. "They'll get in all right. What's a ten-foot ;\yall in their young lives?
On a dark night. But what good will that do 'om — if we're all set for visitors?" "As how?" Dacia spoke acidly. She was distinctly ruffled by this easy toppling of her castle of security. "Well, first of all, we'd better stick together. They're hound to try to get hold of Al. qr you girls. Fake messages, calls, and so on. If they miss on that, they'll try for what Al. is building. If he will be guided by Uncle Ulysses, he'll run a stout wire fence round his construction-shed and have it tuned up with high-voltage juice. If I'm any judge, that pair won't stick at much, but I believe they're still capable of being shocked." "We'll do just that." Dacia swept the peaceful scene with powerful glasses. A big car, running up the incline to the gates of their strong, hold, drew her attention. "What do you make of that, Ulysses. See any link between that — a Rolls, isn't it — and our Rototapu friends?" "Shouldn't wonder." Ulysses took the glasses and focussed carefully. 'Never under-estimate a crook's thinking box. He's got to live by. it. don't believe tliosp hold-up men are working alone. The thing's too big for that type. There's a guiding lianfl and purse somewhere behind this. Someone, perhaps, who stand to lose a lot of money if Al's invention gets into other hands. The old retainer won't open the family portcullis to them, I s'pose. Didn't you say there was a 'phone at the lookout here? Right. You stay with Miss Hamilton, Al. You must keep in the background in this campaign. Circe and I will handle things." (To be continued).
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CAEE5NG j
BY FRANK H. BODLE ' (Author of "Tho Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter V. continued)'
. The pair scampered' to' the "post 'arid raced up the steps to- the platform. ! "Get me the gate, -"will -you, Willis?" Dacia called. "Thank ' vou! Gate?
This, is"Miss; Hatrick. : But don't men- ' tion my >name. What seems .to be the trouble? Who? 'Roger J. Iriger-feldt?" Ulysses whistled spftly. "Al.- tbld me "about him," he whispered. "Shady-customer, from the fringe of Wall Street, with plenty of money. He was at the back of the previous sneak froni Al., but nothing could be proved. He's the- skunk- behind' the guns at the Lake, the brains of the enemy/' "Tell him," Dacia spoke slowly into the instrument, "that all letters for Miss Hatrick tare being forwarded- to the Hotel Australia, Sydney. He: may probably be able to get in touch with her that way. Got that correctly? No, don't let him in. Absolutely no-one without orders. Whom- does he want? Lister? Just say you don't know Lister, and wouldn't let him in if he did come along. That's all." From their distant vantage point the pair watched proceedings at the gate. Apparently the visitors were not easily convinced, for it was some 1 ten minutes before the big car swung round and swept downhill again. I 'They'll bear watching"' Ulysses stated with conviction, and borrowed the extra glasses from Willis. "The road down: the' valley- runs quite" close to the outlet of the stream. They may try ,to do a little fancy scouting, they are. Roger J.' means business." Beyond a clump of trees the car swung to the rradside and halted. It was hidden by the trees and the bend of the stream from any watchers on the wall, but Observation Hill com-.mandeda clear view of the entire proceedings. I "Shall ' I 'phone Dicking?" ' Willis, the guard asked. He's on duty down I there." I "Yes do." Ulysses chuckled,. "Tell Ihim to let them show their hand first, then warn 'em off. He'd better say isomething like: "When Mr.' Ingerfeldt land his' friends are wanted inside i they'll be invited. Otherwise they stay out. That'll "have them guessing." - "Right! I' -get you." Willis ' spoke briefly into' the /phone in his Shelter. "There they are." Dacia' laughed happily. "Three of ' them. A big man "Roger' J., "Ulysses interposed. "Not seen his picture, but from : Lister's description I'd know him, even ! at' this range." "And a little One. Can't see 'his face." "It's our old friend, Skimpy/ Know his slouch and that yellow ensemble that looks like a notification of the plague. The other one's a stranger: They're planning to get by the stream; I reckon." "Iron stakes, six inches apart," Dacia explained' easily. She was thoroughly enjoying this plunge from the social round, the common task, into the whirlpool of alarms and excursions. "Mosquito might get through. But not Roger ' J. Not even Skimpy. They've ' found that out, see." But let us get down a little closer to the centre of interest — from G.H. Q. to the firing line, so to speak. At close quarters it was obvious that Roger J. was in an unpleasant temper, ; He was1 not used to being told that |he could not go where' he wanted to j.go. He was a stranger to the. intimat-! ion that a person he wanted to see (did not want to see him. Under nor-Jmal conditions in his own country iwhen he said "Go!" people went! (When he said "come!" they came, in a hurry. Long experience led him to j accept as scientific fact the hypothesis that when he desired to djscuss the weather or the crops with another (that other immediately: felt a similar urge. So now his . plumage was ruffled, his brow was lowering. The dark and bushy eyebrows seemed to project at right angles from the line of his forehead. "Don't be a fool, Dritzon," he grunted sourly. "There's nothing doing." He surveyed the row of heavy iron spikes witli strong dislike. "Those rods go down' to bed-rock; Old man, Hatrick,- I heard, never did do. things by halves." He whirled round sharply. "What's that coming along the pike?" "Bunha four-five trucks along the road, sir," the chauffeur reported from the trees. "Heavy freight, by its looks." ' Ingerfeldt stamped in vexation. "Get away. Can't be caught here like a hunch of kids' hooking apples. That Hatrick girl means business, Sim. Wonder if' we could . . . ?" "I wouldn't, Mr. Ingerfeldt." A shock -haired man with his rifle across his: knee appeared astride the wall. I reckon your cue's the graceful- fade-,out. And say, better not sacrifice speed for grace,- either. Furthermore, -speaking as one friend to another— leave them trucks be. You're too well and unfavorably- known to go butting into needless trouble." "You ... You ..." "All that! I know it, digger." The cool drawl dripped with sympathy. "You gonna have -my light -an' liver cut an' boiled, in oil for eight o'olock dinnev.- Oh. I know. Why, -i felt the same irresistable impulse right often in France. But just: like ! was, you're up -against the immovable— hey, keep your hands : healthier, weasel-face: Never did like to sec a feller spoil' the set of his pockets with his liands; G'bye, Mr. Ingerfeldt. Here's a final hot one1 from- the"- Health Department! This estate ain't a sanatorium for tired business men, nor yet for broker! down crooks. In fact, it's permanently unsalubrious' for a'U such/' . The - guard i'-had : to ' raise his -, voice to make his later observations heard by his audience. What with the rc-| treat of his audience and the noise of the truck flotilla's advance repartee became increasingly ' diiliciilt. The trucks sped by and took the grade for the gates. ' ' 't On his side, the great Roger J. Ingerfeldt departed with An unusual and unwelcome sense , of frustation. Also with the determination that j someone -was -going- to pay pretty I fully. They couldri't' make A monkey of Roger Ingerfeldt— arid get away' with it. | I' '
CHATTER, VI. '( I "No good, Mr. Ingerfeldt," the | -Square- jawed man announced'sadly. i ("They trimmed- -me' good and prdper." J His' face twitched' in: -painful 'memory of ' unpleasant things. "Skirripy'n me got through all right. -That was dead -easy, But then ..." i "What then?" Ingerfeldt at' his desk, even thought it was only a temporary one in a far country, was . still more dominating' than Ingerfield engaged -in field operations. He 'was at his own headquarters,' surrounded by a small' but efficient staff, ready to jump in any given direction at' tho first hint of a suggestion. "What happened this time, Sim?" "' 'lectrocuted!" Sim's 'cadaverous face was despondent. "Not- enough to bump me off. Jcs' enough to hold me so I couldn't move till they unhitched me. Pretty limp, too, but they frogmarched me out at daylight. Skimp didn't stay so long. ' He missed the glad hand I got." Ingerfeldt frowned; his face darkened. His fingers drummed on the desk —th'en sought the buzzer. I I "I want Aldeen," he cojnmanded I sharply. "We're going to get this hunch; Sim, and the machine too." Aldeen was a small man with -a-big head and the general appearance of an apology, the one- who furnished his pay envelope and the one who spent it being responsible in fairly equal parts for this latter. 'He stood silent, waiting the. big man's pleasure. "If you had to deal with an electrically charged barrier, how would you handle it, Aldeen?" the big man barked. "Rubber gloves, Mr.' Ingerfeldt." "If you wanted to .- get over that fence without damage, how then?" -"Rubber suit, Mr. Ingerfeldt." ' "Get four made at once. Have -'em ready by seven to-night." "But . . . " "Don't bother to say they can't be ready in the time. Get 'em! Get 'em! Do you- hear me ? Get 'em -good. Try 'em on -yourself against something high-powered to -know they're safe. One' big enough for- me and another for Sim here. Get to it!" "Attack in force?" Sim suggested," when 'Aldeen had -apologetically re-? tired. "Nope. -Inspection -in force, if you like. We'll get inside arid nose oiit what's what. If they're nearly ready, as I think, by the supplies that went in yesterday, -we'll try to hide aboard) Take charge after they get up and land the crowd in some isolated, place, island perhaps." "if you can get away with it . . . " "I will," Ingerfeldt snapped. "We'll get six months' start and laugh at them — if thej' get back. Have the other boys meet me at the usual place seven-thirty, to-night, Now, get oiit. I'm busy." (To be Continued)
(ouil SERIAL
VENUS GALLING
(Chapter VI. continued) ' I
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Xlio To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
"She's done," Lister said quietly. He sagged down on a box outside the shed door. The man was empty of all elation. The weariness of complete
exhaustion had drained him of every other emotion. "And so are you, Alvin," Esther Hamilton declared. "You must sleep at once — hut, oh, I do wish you hadn't let that man go the other night." "So do I," Dacia agreed sombrely. Reaction after many weeks of strain was upon them all. The feeling that the cup might be dashed from their lips in the very moment of triumph was strong in each of them. "We'll take no chances," Ulysses took charge of the flagging company. "Al's certainly got to have his sleep, or he'll blow up. So must we all, for that matter. Everyone's been working overtime. And, too, I do believe this is our time of greatest danger. So we'll go aloft — and sleep in the air. We'll go 'way up and just float." "That's it." Dacia's face lit up. "We'll have a last meal in the house now, and then get up. Tell the men to watch closely till we come hack." Ulysses stepped inside the wide construction shed where the . dozen mechanics stood in a bunch surveying their completed labors. "Going up in lialf-an-hour, boys. Anyone for a sky-ride?" "Sure!" Oakley, the foreman, stepped forward from the cluster. "We all know Al. Lister. If he says she's all right, that's good enough." . Lister staggered dr.unkenly in. He had pulled himself together for the explanation that was due. Will-power triumphed over physical exhaustion and for a few moments he talked almost jauntily. "She's safe, boys — and she'll work," he stated positively. "You've seen the models do it. Well, so will this one. I'll tell you something, too. Never did believe this gravitation that's supposed to. keep the sun, moon and stars in business with the whole works. Everything seems to run in pairs. Like electricity, with its attraction and repulsion. Gravitation's the attraction side of the story. I've got hold of the other half, repulsion, and harnessed it." He stumbled across to the shining hull and pounded it with his fist. "I can charge this so that it rises to any height I like — so the earth kicks it off altogether, if I want. And getting down to tin-tacks, that's just what I want. You know the hull is absolutely tight, and there's an oxygen plant aboard and that fixing for getting rid of the waste gases. We're leaving this planet for a while to visit Venus. Like to come?" The stubby foreman stepped forward again. "If you say it's right, Al., it's a bet with me," he asserted, and' glared aggressively at his companions. "Think it over, boys," Lister finished. "We're going to eat- now. I'll- see your meal's sent over' because I want you to be here and' watch, out while we're away. Then we'll go up, but only on a trial trip. We'll come 1 down again before we make the big start, so you'll have time' enough to make out your plans." Ulysses took Lister's arm and the pair, poined outside by- the two girls, hurried down the slope and over the stream to the house. The meal infused new vigor into the' party and when they returned, though still desperately tired, all were in high spirits. So were the men, for "We're all going up," was the announcement that greeted the party on its return to the construction shed. "Good business, boys." Lister climbed the short flight of steps built into the side of the boat. He walked along-the wide flat deck, turned and spoke again before diving below. fTo be continued)

OUR SERIAL
! VENUS CALLING
j BY FRANK H. BODLE I (Author or "Tho Tc Kooti Trail," I etc., etc.)
(Chapter VI. continued)
j "You'll- he able to see, through the glass of the pilot-house," he explained (briefly, "Going to charge the hull , lightly. Just enough to take the weight off. When I wave, push her outside. You'll find it quite easy." He disappeared below. There was an atmosphere of tenseness when he became visible again in the glass cupola that was the only break, in the metal deck. Then, suddenly, the hull, that seemed like a long metal box, fiat above and flat below, began to quiver. It rose slowly from its construction bed, then hung stationery a dozen inches from ground level. Inside the heavy glass dome Lister had switched on an electric light, and in its brightness every movement of the man could he noted. At last he turned from the instrument board to wave to the watchers. Deckling, the guard, who had been brought from the outer wall, joined the mechanics. Ulysses and the girls in the rush to get behind the ungainly craft and push. Most of them were not heeded. The gleaming hull, some 90 feet long and nearly 40 feet broad and 9 feet in depth, moved out as easily as floats a feather in the wind. Dacia of a sudden remembered the duty with which she had been charged. She had to run to reach the doorway before the wide bow. "I christen you Venus," She' called triumphantly, flinging a small bottle of wine from the Hatrick cellar against the blunt metal' nose. That was the only formality. Outside in the open space before the shed, Lister dropped the Venus lightly to ! the ground, then ran out on deck. "All aboard," he called exultantly. The excitement of this crowing moment had, temporarily, overcome his exhaustion. "We'll go up right off." Ulysses was the last man of the official party to go below deck. "All aboard, skipper," he called cheerily. "Whole sixteen present and accounted for. Turn it. on." There was, in reality, more than, the official number aboard, though Ulysses did not know it then. Tim Dockling, for the first time in his career, had abandoned his post. As Ulysses dropped below, the guard slung his -rifle and seized the lower rung of the ladder. He wasn't going to miss this experience if it meant the loss of a year's pay, even the job itself, j The hull trembled again. — then rose 'steeply. When Dockling's head reached the deck level, he looked down. The solid ground was jumping away from tliom at a prodigious pace. They were 100 — 500 feet up. "Gee!" he mut-ttered dazedly. "Some sky-bus, I'll say." Carefully he reached for the lew metal rail that ran round the deck, threw one leg over and then the other. With a sigh of relief he dropped to the deck and for a space lay there breathless. Then, cautiously, he looked overside once more. The lights of the big house were very far and faint below: There were other lights, more distant and far towards the horizon, a glare that could come only from, some large town." . "Some bus, Timothy, he murmured again. Some bus, surely. Me, I'll just lie doggo here an' see what happens." Down in the' saloon, passengers and crew clustered round the four glass ports in the floor of the hull.' Even the three who had had experience of the marvel were pop-eyed with amazement. j Lister stepped out of the pilot room. His face was drawn, but there was in it the flush of great joy. "Eight 1 , thousand feet up," he announced a re- ! 'pressed quiver of the voice telling | something of his emotions. "She'll i Iride at that. I'm going to roost." Hestumbled to a cabin off the saloon. "You arrange watches, Ulysses — but for the love of Mike, don't touch anything. Call me if you ..." He sagged through the doorway. "Played right out,". Oakley, the foreman, diagnosed. "And I'll say, if anyone has a right to sleep, that's the lad. " Worked like four men all this week. I'll stand first watch. What have I to do, Mr. Anderson?" "Just keep an eye on the height gauge. If it shows any l'ise or drop, call Lister at once. And though it's not likely you'll see or hear any, Iceep a watch for any. plane. Don't want to be run down." Ulysses turned to the girls. "You're all wrought up, .too. A good night's sleep will suit us all. You know your rooms, of course . . . and you boys know your quarters. I'll stand next watch." Inside ten minutes sheer exhaustion had taken its toll of fifteen members of the ship's company. Oakley was alone in the pilot room. Dockling brooded silently on deck. And there were four others hidden below, among a sliyycr of stores, who; at no time ip their , lives, had ever been so wide awake.
CHAPTER VII. Skimpy Dritzen crawled out from behind a heap of bags in' the storeroom -and very cautiously felt his way to the door. There had been no sound of engine-driving, but the occasional lift of' the vessel to changing air drift told him, as it had his friends that, without doubt, they were aloft. With an expertness born of much night practice, Skimpy found the door. Silently, little by little, he opened it till it was possible for him to peer along the passage. There was utter silence; the dimly lit corridor was empty. Without sound he" stepped out, every nerve taunt, listening in- j tently. He heard no voice, no trace | of movement, no whisper of any mech- I anism at all. ' "j (To Be Continued) j

VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," ; etc., etc.)
> (Chapter VII continued)
Skimpy stepped back into the storeroom to report. The gliminer of light that had come with 'the opening' of tile door had been the signal for others. The party stood just clear of
the entrance, waiting tensely. "All right," the little man muttered, and led the others outside. They trod warily. guns held ready for an enierg'-ericy. Even Ingerfeldt was uneasy. Dimly through the walls of the saloon he had caught the edge of Lister's announcement of the height. Obviously, though the exact figpre was uncertain, they were some distance up — yet neither man nor machinery seemed stirring. He could not understand it and, primitive that lie was where A ocene from "Only Yesterday"- (with the screen's new star- Mnrgarcl : Sullavan, and John Boles) which commences an-cxtendcd season at the Iradc Hall on Saturday. rhe could not understand, he feared. But the big man was no coward and his plans had been well thought out. "The men first!" he muttered, Ipulling himself together. Teeth set, he raced after Skimpy, hoping for the distraction that some resistance would bring. There was none. The four men stirred at first, but they were dazed with weariness and their grains functioned sloyvly. The surprise was complete. Before the men realised what was happening they were, one by one, handcuffed and gagged. Skimpy.'s persuasive .45 arid a muttered: "Shut up or I'll crack you!" proved effective silencers. After the initial success the quartette took it easy, yet achieved results with surprising speed. There was' only one mischance. A sleepy mechanic struck out half-heartedly, but his cry was smothered and the butt of Blan-ey's gun reduced the man to impotence. In less than five minutes thn eleven occupants of the crew's quart-
ers lay securely handcuffed in their berths, their tongues scientifically silenced by Skimpy's deft fingers. "Good work!" Breathing heavily Ingerfeldt led the way back into the corridor. The cadaverous Sam latched the outer staple ' on the door, thus nqaking the prisoners doubly secure. ' "No risks," the leader muttered, as his party worked cautiously towards tlie saloon, A muffled, unmusical whistling drifted down to them, "There's someone on watch up there! Hook up. all these doors until ye get that watchman." Two to a side they worked down the saloon, joining forces again, with all the doors latched, at the foot of the pilot-room steps. Oakley's thoughts were a long way below his present level in the world. He sat back in a low chair, whistling lazily. Occasionally his glance roved to the instrument-board, to note the uniform steadiness of their height then strayed back . to the obser- ' vation port at Ins feet. The iob on ! hand demanded so little mental overt 1 ion that he found it difficult to keep 1— — " M mm awake. He- yavvried prodigiously, then was suddenljr -very wide awake. A scr.aping- sound behind him challenged I attention' arid he' swung round briskly | in his chair. ' j "Up with 'em," Skimpy insisted, coldly. The others had closed the ' (door behind them; "And keep yer face shut — or " -I "Keep away from that instrument i board," Oakley croaked hoarsely, "If you touch anything he'll drop like a I stone, or else go up like a rocket. And if you search" me i dunno which it'll be." ; Blaney slipped the handcuffs on before the dumbfounded watcher fully realised what was happening. "What the . : ? Oakley began furiously. <"Shut "Shut up!" Skimpy emphasised his order by poking trie point of tiie.qun i in Oakley's ribs. "This is our boat f now, see. You open your trap 'all, plug you." (pouajinoo oq oj,) I
OUR SERIAL
! VENUS CALLING
(Chapter VII. continued)
I BY FRANK H. BODLE ! (Author of "The To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
It was at this moment the other I non-sleeper, came into the game. The unofficial member of the crew of the Venus realised, suddenlv that he was
an unseen spectator of grand larcency in the upper air. As a matter of fact the bright light inside the glass pilot house revealed to him the well remembered figure of Roger J. Ingrefeldt. Then, too, there could be' no mistake as to Skimpy, or to his provocative attitude. "Gee! They got it after all," Dock-ling muttered, feeling for his automatic. "Taken all objectives 'cording to plan, haven't they? " He spat disgustedly over the side and speculated for a moment. "Well, well! Gotta call up the reserves. Everything's up to Timothy." He slipped off his. boots. "Here goes for the counter-attack." Dockling crawled to the companion way. Cautiously, step by step , he worked down to the floor of the saloon, then nearer and nearer to .the (pilot room door. At the top of the pilot room steps he inspected the cartridges in the magazine of his gun, then made certain that another clip was handy. He had to decide on an immediate frontal attack without preliminary manouvering or any search for reinforcements. He must lose no time in trumping Ingerfeldt's trick. The only possible: strategy was that employed by all great generals,. surprise and straight shooting. Dockling had decided merely to fire as quickly and as straight as possible, and to ask any necessary questions jvhen the smoke had cleared away., . The guard listened for a moment at the top of the steps. "Tell you, I don't know,"- Oakley. 3tated defiantly. "If I 'touched one of those switches, we'd probably crash like ..." i . "Don't take, us for suckers," Inger-feldt said disgustedly. "You're lying. For the last time, set her going." It was Dockling's cue. He flung the door open and let drive four times in rapid succession into the thick" of the bunch. Oakley might be damaged —but ' that risk had to be taken. The surprise was as complete as the , original capture of the vessel. Dock-' ling bounded back , and to one side, pistol poised to deal with any exit from the pilot house. He waited | tensely, taking no note of the blood where the single shot fired in return had furrowed his cheek. Crouched , behind the long table, he waited, but no one camc. Instead, there was a gasping, choking, half-stifled ,curs!ng and a clamour of blows and shouting from the cabins round the saloon. Dockling hacked to the wall of the saloon and, his eyes glued on the pilot room door, unfastened the staples, one by one. Ulysses, Lister and Racia, very scantily ' clad, burst ,out. There was silence in Esther's room. "Ingerfeldt's gang — in the pilot house," Dockling announced briefly. "I shot 'em up." With the sketchily attired trio at his heels, Dockling raced back to the pilot room and surveyed the scone of his scap-shooting. The five men were on the floor, kicking, struggling, clawing at each other frenzidly.- A cloud of pungent yellow smoke hung over the writhing mass. ; "Keep out!" Dockling spoke sharply. One hand covering his mouth, he watched his chance. Suddenly he dashed in and seized a threshing leg. "Got one," he mumbled, backing out and dragging his capture to the door. He relinquished his man to Ulysses and dived in again for another haul. Ulysses got astride his man, the cadaverous Sim, then. spoke to the girl. "Rouse the men, Dacia, he directed, and the girl shot away for reinforcements. "Here's another fish!" Dockling dragged' out '.his' second captive. "Gosh! How that stiff hangs!-. Frisk 'em and tie 'em up. Unless," he spluttered, you prefer to heave 'em overboard right off. Save a pile of trouble. Hold up, you. Whoa, 'now, Roger/' The big man, coughing and choking, was . yanked to the top of the steps. What between emotion and difficulty ,of breathing, ' Ingerfeldt was almost black in the face. Yet he was no weakling. Despite his difficulties, he managed to lodge one hearty kick into the guard's digestive apparatus. "Hoosh!" The counter attack grunted, but did not let go. He tugged violently. In such a fashion as would perhaps have amazed distant Wall Street, Roger Ingerfeldt toppled heavily down the steps to the floor. Lister had small need of violence to put him completely out of action. Of their enemies in the pilot house there remained now only Dritzen and Blaney, and the. latter was unconscious. Dockling boisterously drew the little man out at the moment that Dacia returned with reinforcements. "Sit on this swine," Duckling ordered, then stared in amazement. "What you boys been doing to your hands ? Well, ne'rriind now. Sit on him anyway. If he gets playful bust him with those Wrist ornaments. And don't be too lady-like 'bout it, neither." "Triist me, laddy." A manacled mechanic sat down fervently. "If he hats an eyelid I'll bust his face in." "With my love," Dockling added. He extracted a gun from Dritzcn's hip pocket and turned to comp'ete his task. He dragged out the still slumberous Blanc' then Oakley, and Returned to the floor of the saloon, j "Reckon I'll take, a ramble round t'makc sure there's no more of 'em I hid around," he announced, and disappeared. This Was Dockl'ng's busy i night. j Lister handed over h's .prisoner to one of the crew, then climbed to the pilot room door. We'll take no risk with these fumes," he stated with decision. "Made a pretty good job of it, | didn't they ? " | "Great stuff, Al.," Ulysses too, re-
linquished his prisoner. "Far better than bullets, just like you promised." "Why, yes." Lister stirred the ex-financial magnate with his foot. "He'll come out of it in, say, ten minutes, but he'll be sick enough for half a day yet." He turned to the still dazed crew. "S'pose this bunch put those tliincrq nn vnnr lmnrlK. TV m ! Police handcuffs. Have to be unlocked — -unless you boys are I-Ioudinis." One of the manacled men heaved Ingerfeldt. into a sitting position. "Here, you!" he snarled, "Where's the key for this fixing? Spit it out or I'll do you one as a mem'ry-revivcr." Ingerfeldt blinked. He was ' still panting for . breath. "Forgot to bring it," he mumbled through a spasm of coughing "D'you mean 'to say It was at this moment that cncc more Dockling took a hand in the proceedings. He dashed into the centre of the group. "Quick!" he shouted, hoarsely "She's going up, and up, and up. Air's so darned thin on deck there ain't epough left to fill ..." He collapsed in a dead faint. "Must have touched the instrument board -when they were scrapping," Ulysses suggested, not fully realising what the announcement meant. But Lister did. "Stand clear!" he shouted peremptorily. He raced up the steps, flung the pilot-room door open and dashed through the tellow fog for the switchboard. Those in the saloon heard the sliding door of the deck hatch slam, and a second clang as the emergency cover clamped t'ght over all. Lister had locked them jr. their air-tight hull. For the time be ing they were independent of the atmosphere outside; — or the lack of it. Came a choking cry from the pi'ot room. Ulysses jumped forward — ir; time to see Lister -lurch sideways, tlicr topple heavily. He fell crash ng to the floor, striking the metal corner of the switchboard with his head as he dropped. (To be Continued)

OUIt SERIAL
; VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK HI BODLE t j (Author of "The Te Kooti- Trail," j | " . etc., etc.)-- (
, (Chapter VII. continued) i
! Ulysses did' not hesitate. One hand tightly over his mouth he' rushed ( to the assistance of his friend and drag- ! god him, tugged him with all his strength to the clean air of the' cabin. | They were going up; up at incredible speed and Lister, the only one aboard yvlio could control that headlong fligh t irbm earth, was unconscious' on the floor: ''(..(.
CHAPTER VIII. The scene iii- the saloon of the Venus was a curious one. Set on brie side altogether the fact that this pancake of metal was being hurled. forth headlong, past the swirling gaseous envelope we call the air into airless (space. Though this .was happening sooner than they had planned', the plunge into the void was the very object of the vessel's being. But there was nothing planned nor premeditated about the plight of the several individuals who stood, writhed, or lay stone-still, on the floor. Each moment the flat hull of their craft grew more and more fully charged with what Lister had called "the other side of gravitation." Each1 minute the thrust of the spirining earth was stronger upori them.' ' Arid the only man who could check, guide or reverse this eviction from their sphere, was wholly unconscious. These others who had tried to take his boat and had precipitated its flight into the unknown, were quite unconscious beside him, senseless or deathly sick. Dockling, who had gained' possession for them, was insensible, not far away. The crew, wide-eyCd and silent with amazement, were handcuffed. And the only others, Dacia and Ulysses, roused from sleep, wore the sketchiest of night attire. - Upon this nigh'trilare carrie one completely normal- person, clothed; and in her right mind; As the only one so adequate to the emergency, Esther Hamilton at once took charge. "Get dressed at once, Dacia." Esther issued her orders calmly, yet with a (tone suggestive of utter disapproval. Dacia's silk pyjamas, what, there was of them, were attractive, yet not quite the most suitable garments for a gathering of strange men, behaving still more strangely. "You, too Uiy's-;ses. At least'put a coat on. You two look like a bathing party—and no pool handy." The two named fled' hastily. ' Esther' did;' not favor Grecian bathing costumes, nor yet , public appearances in inappropriate gar-merit's; It was' safer to flbe than; argue. .. (/' ' . - ' . Esther transferred her attentions. She was not quite up-to-date yvitti" the swift-iffoving politics of the Venus. When the noise of the "counter attack" had disturbed her peaceful repose, she had dressed with metriculous care since' her dearest bogey was' the fear of sudden death by misadventure in a ' costume not fitted for a first appearance in the next world. Fortified now by a knowledge of the perfect tightness of- h'cr costume .she" was ready for any emergency. 1 She looked around the casualty ward calmly, though her lips compressed when she noted Lister's wliite silence. ' " Will you lift: Mr. Lister, please?" Esther stopped' short to examine, gll th'6 hands- in sight. "Can't you take those absurd, things' (off? They don't look so vCry useful to' me," j "They aren't, and' we can't," one of the mechanics explained comprehensively, and with notable bitterness.
xi m; xiiciu iuuai uu auiuc wuy . jl 'file; or',- . .- "Esther's moving glance fell on Skimpy, painfully hugging his own chest on the floor. "Didn't someone tell me; tliis little — insect picked oclcs for a- liVing? Couldn't he?" ; "You bet he could, ma'am." With immense enthusiasrri the manacled i crew fell to' the task of persuading : Skimpy that' this was the moment above all others' in his career1' for a display of his professional talents. Esther left them, very joyously engaged, to search; for some brandy that she knew had' been placed aboard . among the medical shores. When; a few minutes later, she returned with what she sought, three of the crew had been released. Skimpy was tak- . ing time off tp-massage his chest and ; gasp for breath arid Dockling was stirring uneasily. She hastened the latter's recovery by a liberal application of the medicine she carried. j , Beyond Dockling, on the floor, Lister- was very still and very white. : Esther knelt beside him, listening in- ; tently. His' heart was' heating very ; slowly and irregularly. She forced ; his lips apart and allowed a few drops ' of the raw spirit to trickle through— with no noticablC result. "Carry hiin to his bunk," She waved : to the freed mechanics. "Carefully, now." She gulped. "He's — well, never mind, hut remember this: He told me ( he would1 show no one the secret of his boat till she was safely afloat." ( Ulysses, fully clothed once . more, hurried out of his room and took charge of the saloon. He seized a pair of handcuffs that, reluctantly, 1 Skimpy had unlocked' and sn'apped them pver Ingerfeldt's wrists. Tho big 1 man; though still helpless, was begin- ; ning to come round. ,11 "We'll take no more chances ' with you, my lad," he observed, quietly. ' "You've made far too much trouble | fog yourself and' us as it is— hut j jriere's not gin'g to he any more, take i it from little Ulysses. Not any more j at' all. We'll probably drop you off j at the nioon. You'll end by being j the man in the' silvery moori, won't,' ytiu?" You'll be sorry for this," Ingerfeldt gasped-but there was mighty little assurarice left' in his tone. There's nothing to equal- constriction of the brehth"' to damage assurance; "Strip' this darned foolishness and maybe . (To he continued). _ 1'

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter VIII. continued)
"Why, Roger, ' you get my goat. After all we've done for you, too. And all v/e'ro going to do. Don't be so peevish." "Ulysses sat down com-.u.uiuyr lo survey tne scene. His roving glance caught a golden glow through the floor port, and was held by it. He speculated silently before continuing his observation with the former financier. "Why, man, you should be mighty grateful to us. We'll give you the grandest chance any fellow ever had to make a complete corner in moonshihe production." "That'll do you," Ingerfeldt growled savagely. The man's tremendous vitality asserted itself. He was the first of the raiders to recover from the effects of the gas-fumes. He sat up dizzily. "I throw in my hand. You hold all the cards. You can count me out of the game from now on, but set me down. That's all I want." "Nothing doing, Roger. Not a darn thing." Ulysses eyed the big man curiously. "Just take a peep through this port here — and then let us have your views on the subject of stepping off." Ingerfeldt stumbled forward- and stared; with growing dismay." "Why. . . Why ..." he gasped, and there was panic in his voice. "It can't be . . . can't be ... " "Of course it can't be, but it is." Ulysses lit his ancient pipe. "There it is, ail right — and a darn long way off, at that. In case you've been too long away from the Old Schoolhouse, that bright part is certainly South America and half the Pacific Ocean lep-ping up the sunshine, too. The Old Girl's right on her job, rolling round. If you look long enough you'll maybe see the sun hit the skyline of Auckland, where you landed from your steamer, but take my word, you'll not be able to pick Mt. Eden from Rangi-toto. We're moving too fast for that. Just like a map unrolling, isn't it'.: Watching daybreak round the world." "You mean to say that this is — " Ingerfeldt began, huskily. . "Certainly do. Just that. The old Earth and nothing but . . . " iuiysses shook his head mournfully. . "Long way off, isn't she — and sliding further and further every split second. Now, do y'see why -you can't drop out of the game? Or, perhaps you'd still like to? We had decided against visiting the moon, but the way it looks to me now, we've just got to make it the first port of call. You see, we happen to have just as : much dislike for your company as you have for ours, perhaps more." Dacia came hurriedly out of Lister's cab'n. She was sufficiently c'othcd to satisfy even Esther's re-nuiremenln; "He's breathing naturally now," shb announced. She glanced w'tri distance at Ingerfeldt before sitting down by Ulysses. "He's in a heivv sleep and Essie won't let me or n nvone else wake him. She ran mo out when I suggested it." "That old fellow needs his sleep, all right." Ulysses agreed equably. "That's what we came up for, don't you remember." , : "Yes, but my dear hoy ..." "You've got to stop th's foolishness." Ingerfeldt broke in heavily. "Right off, I must go back. At once! There are interests ..." "Nothing doing, Roger.; Not a darn thing." Ulysses pointed down at the gl-ss port. "You should have thought of that before you joined our grand tour of the solar system. Too late nrw. And even if we wanted to, wo couldn't go back now. The only man who knows how, yet, is sick and sleeping, and if you tried to wake him "Essie Hamilton would skin and scalp you," Dacia finished with relish. "She'll take no chances with Al-vin Lister." , "But I tell you, I must go backi" Ingerfeldt struggled to his feet. "I must: It's ..." "Take it easy, son." Dockling was himself again and fingered his auto- I matic lovingly. "Unless you feel like | another little dose of gas, drop that | rlrama stuff There's just one import- 1 ant thing ;n your young life, an' that's | doing what Miss Hatriek says, an' ' doing it quick." "Tust th-t." Dacia corK-ee-l. "And j in the meantime its — nothing at all." ! "Can't you visualise this thing for j vbnrae'f'?" Ulysses demanded reason-ablv "We're being chucked off the earth at the rate of ... " His eyes i narrowed speculatively "not J less than a thousand miles an hour." "Some speed!" Dockling ejaculated reverently. "Some speed, surely!" "Maybe more, I don't know." Ulysses pointed again to the glass port. "But she's certainly travelling. And get this,' Roger, we can't stop her. If a comet in a hurry were to sneak out -c some side-street, none of us here could stop a head-on smash. So you and me and the rest have just got to hush up and be hopeful that Al. Lister gets better from his dosing o' gas, his crack on the bean, and his need for sleep. Essie won't let him do a darn th'ng before he's all right. And take it from me, if he's the only one who can handle this craft, she's the only one who can handle bun .... Well, Dockling, we owe you something for this. How'd you get on board, anyway?" "Had a hunch you might need me," Dockling grinned. "So I followed and laid out on deck. When Roger got busy, so did I. He got the thin Cn,'So he did." Ulysses chuckled. "Weil keep details for to-morrow's edit' on. Well, seems to me that just about closes the conference. We can do nothing at all until Lister steps out . . . You Boys, put those bracelets on Roger's playmates an' tote 'em off to bunk. Sleep while you can is the motto. Better -set a watch over those four birds. I think they'll behave — they can't do much less — but take no chances." i "You trust us," Oakley declared grimly. "Just let one of them get gay an' . . . Well, I've got a debit balance I'm mighty anxious to clear off." Skimpy, under extreme duress, had released the whole party. They, with Ingerfeldt's gang and Dockling, loft the saloon. Dacia watched them go, then dropped to her knees beside the observation port. "Come here, Ulysses," she said, her voice unusually awed. Isn't that a marvel." Side by side, - kneeling, fascinated the pair stared at the glorious ball that had reared them — and had cast them forth. Green and gold dun, they traced its contours, its encircling seas, visioned through a veil of cloud, glowing in the sunshine of a new day. "Not a bad old place," Ulysses muttered, a lump in his throat. Ho, too, was in the grip of awe and wonder, and a little of fear in the uncertainty of the future. "Gum! We must he moving!" He caught one of her hands and with it pointed to the lower section of the glowing disc. "That's snow, all along the Andes. And the sun's just dropping from it." "Beautiful!" Dacia murmured softly. "Gloriously beautiful; and we're leaving it all behind, Ulysses." (To Be Continued)

OUR SERIAL 1
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author nt "Tho To- Kootl- Trail," I etc., etc.) ' I
(Chapter VIII., continued) J
. ."That's , what, we planned-, you remember," 'he reminded h'dr gently.-; "Not with such a passenger list, of course. Still ..." Ulysses was ever an optimist. "... these things usual-ly work out lor the best. .11 At. says we have stores enough, I'm all tor going. We don't know what Venus may be like. May need all the hands we've 'got, if they're still in the Stone Age there." Dacia squeezed his hand. "We'll not go back," she agreed. "Whatever happens we'll not go back till we've seen all we want to see. Why this," she pointed to the glory through the glass. "This alone is worth a dozen years out of. anyone's lifetime. Look at it, Ulysses." Esther, tip-toeirig from Lister's room, noted the closeness of the two heads, the clasped hands, and silently, smilingly, returned to her vigil.
LT1/11 1JDIV 1A. . | "You don't seem to understand the- j difficulty, Ingerfeldt," Lister sat at the- head of the, saloon- table.. He tapped impatiently with the butt:of his, i pencil on the -paper before him. "No one could run this trip to -qny kind of. schedule. Too chancy. When -we ; left not only the earth, but the sun . and all - planets tried to push us out, too. Each- one of them had a shot at kicking us out— right away out." "You mean," Dacia suggested, in . level, tones, "that if we had kept. right-on- .with the- hull charged as it ,was when ( we started four weeks back ;we'd have been - flung right out of the solar system?" "In time," Lister admitted cautiously. "Probably it would have taken a long time." "Sheerest folly!" Ingerfeldt rumb-; I led. The big man, freed of his- handcuffs, sat the lower end of the tablel The rest of the ship's company,, except Ulysses an . Oakley, on watch; stood or were seated around the, table.- "If you're -right, we may wander -round-hero for years, provided the food holds out. What you've done is just plain craziness. You should; have turned brick the morning, after, you left, as soon as. you came round." "Instead of which, as you will, re-mpmber, Ingerfeldt. ; we had a confer-hco and decided to go right on. Unanimously, you may recall." "Wouldn't let -me speak," the big man growled. "Certainly not.. You were just a stowaway. When , we get to Venus "If, I guess you mean." "When we get to: Venus we'll hand you' over to the immigration authorities to be dealt with as an undesirable." Lister looked swiftly, round, the circle, -noting the strain- writ clearly on every face. „ There's no call to get despondent, boys. I'll admit right off I it's ticklish navigation. Expected it ( would be— but-,. we'll; get there. ,-We I were beyond the piish of the earth' I.Home: time ago, but don't forget we're I two strings to work on. As you know, the hull has now been charged with I the force that- will pull us toward the most powerful thing in sight. At the present moment we are certainly racing headlong towards the sun." "I wish you wouldn't go there,' Al-vin/f Esther said dismally. -."It ; would be . . . " . ; "Far too -hot," Dacia . completed lightly. "Exactly!" Lister allowed himself one of his rare smiles— at least they had been-are lately. "I'll promise: you we shan't go there. Esther." ., He touched her hand very gently. "Get rid of that idea. We're not going to Ihe sun. It would be too hot. In fact, Hades would be polar beside 't. But don't you see, the sun- is pulling, us along .the right track. Then Venus will begin -to pull, too. And bye rind bye the drag of that young woman on the towrope will' be stronger and stronger; I'm sure of it.'.' . "Al.!" Ulysses stood- in the- doorway of the pilot room. His voice was croalcy with excitement. "It's working.- By gum, it's working!" He caught at the door to steady himself. "The little lady's growing .bigger and big-ger. The, pace we're going, we must . be smashing, all the- speed - regulations of the Universe. Oakley and i likve | been watching her this - last three hours, .and she certainly is bigger. Those markings on her ' are ' much clearer than they were a while back." ' "Keep watching,- old1 boy," Lister called happily. "We're -going to- make port all right." a cheer, half-suppressed, burst from the mechanics. The stress, the uncertainty of the- preceding fortnight, had told on each of them; and the- relief of this new. knowledge; .was intense. .For ten days, beyond the fuli thrust of the earth,' they had drifted master-less in space, helpless plaything of, the; potent forces- of the -universe; a little, -utterly useless world. Then hit by bit, ! Lister had- sent attractive forces, twin | brother of gravitation, coursing through the hull of his ship. Ulysses' announcement was the first real news -they had- that their craft was moving, in a definite direction, above all in the - direction they desired.
' "You see, it's panning out, Ingerfeldt," Lister smiled once more.- "As I I told-you;. we're two: forces to juggle', with. We get where -we want — if we apply -the right force, at the right, time." ' ( "And if you don't ?" "Then we don't get where we want." Lister shrugged his shoulders. "Turn into a sort of straying, comet, maybe. IAs it is, my navigation seems to be OK;, and we don't go on half-rations after- all..' Sit thore while I take a ! , look arid maybe alter the charging." I They waited in silence or his. report. Hope, dulled for many days was 1 stirring again, :' but stirring faintly. The winds of doubt stirred again. , Each man eyed his neighbor question-: ingiy. (To be continued)

OtJlt SERIAL
j VENUS CALLING !
BY FRANK H. B0D1E (Author of "The Te Kootl Trail," . etc., etc.) j
(Chapter IX. continued)
"Venus wins!" Lister stumbled down the steps to them. His face was flushed; his eyes shining. "We're rac-'ing towards her, faster than man ever went before. He stamped across the saloon. "Better turn in and get some sleep, while you can, boys. Inside a dozen hours she'll be a marvel in the skies. And then, with that new -world opening before you, there'll be ' no shut-eye for anyone." "Can I?" Dacai begged eagerly. "Why, of course. Takes it turn about to have a peep— if you can't wait. But me," he stretched luxuriously," I'm going to bunk. My job begins again mighty soon." Except Lister, none could rest. Not even Skimp Dritzen, mean citizen of no mean city. There was that doubt only personal observation could kill. And then something more. Tbey were in varying degree possessed by a wonder transcending that of Columbus when a new world lifted beyond the wet rim of his horizon. They had to see, to feast upon this marvel of space, to pierce if they could below its deep veil of cloud; to search if there were seas, if the land was forested or desert; above all, If there were any traces of the workings or reasoning beings below that mystery blanket that barred all view from earth. Beyond the question of their own safety, there were a million others clamoring for answer. ' :-"Don't blame you," Lister walked to his room. "But I tell you there's no chance of seeing much through the veil of mystery she wears always. Get along and take your peek from the pilot room. In say three hours, she'll loom up through the floor ports here. She'll dj-aw us underside first, because that's- the charged surface." He slipped off to sleep. Each of the others took his or her turn in the pilot room to kill that lingering, dreadful doubt. Each one came back smiling. Without question they were flashing towards that mystery globe as weeks — though it seemed an eternity— earlier they had flashed from their parent planet, Earth. Within the time suggested by Lister, a moon-sized globe swam into the circle of vision from the floor ports, and excited, happy groups clustered round, these. Little by. little, with growing clearness, blotches, definite dark markings, became more definite, They saw the flame of the sun strike down, or so it seemed, through -the cloud wrack. These watchers from another world, fascinated beyond words, saw morning break upon strange mountain peaks, linger a tender moment, then, flutter down to a vast twilight plain. , And, on the, other edge, beyond the realm- of - light, they saw the dark curtain of night, drop down on new territory. They were stunned by the glory of this unregarded miracle of light and shadow, the death of day and its rebirth as the world at their feet' rolled on its ordered way. Something of the wonder of it crept over all of them. The brain of man, the conqueror, has devised many marvels, but before this miracle of celestial engineering all the devices of man seemed unutterly puny. Even Dritzen, unthinking city tough, glimpsed some little of this wonder that spaces day from day. His, gaze was riveted on the whirling globe, whose contours and texture steadily grew, more apparent — yet remained still tantalising-ly indefinite. "Look at him," Dacia whispered to Ulysses. "Probably it's the first time in his life he's done any real thinking,, but, as he says, this has got his goat. He's really trying to understand." "That's certainly an idea," Ulysses wh'spered back. "Why didn't Carbegie, or Rockfeller, spend some money to show Skimpy and his friends what we've seen. How all these chunks of gas and earth and water go their proper ways to a hair's breadth. Y'see, this ganster stuff, -when you get down to brass tacks, is mostly inflated ego. When you've seen, what we have of the workings of. ..." ho waved a hand towards Venus. "... all this, why, a feller can't help feeling there's a Big Boss running the works. Seems like you and me and the latest film star and Skimpy, and all the crooks in creation are pretty small potatoes after all, doesn't it? And when a fellow feels that way maybe he wouldn't be so apt to shoot things up." (To Be Continued I

OUR SERIAL
VENUS GALLING
BY FRANK II. BODLE (Author of "TIio Te Kooti Trail," , ' etc., -etc.) " .
(Chapter IX. continued) ,
Dacai nodded soberly, then a twinkle crept into her eyes. "We'll: watch how'long Skinipy's reformation lasts," she suggested. "If it seems perman-ent, and we ever get back, maybe we can pursuade Ingerfeldt, as the price of his passage, to endow an observatory for Chicago's underworld!" ' ' Hours flew by, as minutes of a common day. To the watchers time, had lost all meaning and they were surprised when Lister reappeared. He went at once to the thermometer and studied it. There was a noticable increase in warmth inside the Spaceship, and without' delay Lister sent a "charge of resistant force- into ,the hull of their vessel. ''Don't want to turn into a meteorite," he explained to his three partners. "This rise in temperature means the air is growing denser outside. You know we've had what might be called air with us right through. : You remember' I drew in samples every twenty-four hours. It was always, air — though of course .'.a hundred thousand times too thin for any living thing." "That reminds . me," Ulysses broke in. "Always meant to ask you did you ever find any trace of that ether stu ffthat's supposed to be all through, space. Remember once I took a lecture from a little professor and he said there was nothing but ether and comets out here." "Just plain blink," Lister snorted. "Eyewash is the real name for ether. There's thin air, mighty 'thin it is, and specks of dust all the way through space. So little air 'though that there's been practically no friction even when we hit our tallest speed. You felt tjie 'cold back there, dicln't .yqu? Well, we're still way out in; the suburbs,-so far as Venus goes, but friction, is increasing. There's more air, of sorts, outside, so the , bull's ' warming., .up. Had to slow down, or .|jye'.dr.go tip in flames.'.' Perceptibly, their progress , slackened., Venus pulled the fittle .wanderer through space with steady power, but at a much slower rate.,, , "Temperature's dropped eight degrees," Lister announced with satisfaction. "We're going to slide in fine and dandy." An hour later the planet had grown till its margins ..could not be seen, through the floor-ports, till its immen-sity was a solid floor below them. Lister drew in his air sampling. tube and went off to. sample its contents, giving orders to be called if there was any rise in temperature. No other soul left the look-out posts. "Gosh! She's tliicker'n pea-soup down there," Dockling spluttered unhappily." "An' me taking this tour with no raincoat. Never seen clouds so thick bar one place." Dockling's fprehead wrinkled in memory. "Like zero hour , ip! France, an' the smoke o/ the, barrage . blotting out everything/' ; Ulysses came slowly down- the pilot room steps. "In a way this is zero hour for us! Tim," lie said soberly. "Be going .over the top mighty soon now, I expect. With'this difference-— we .don't know a thing of what we must .face— whether, there is folk down there, And ,if so, how they'll like to see-us. Don!t know either if we can breathe that soupy stuff. Someone will have to try it out for the others. I . "Say, I'll do. that." Undersized, weasel-faced Skimpy Dritzen 'stood suddenly erect. "Me. for' the soup kitchen. If I croaks, I croaks'n . "Lister ..will say he has the right to be the- first," Ulysses began. (To he continued).

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "Tho To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter IX. continued)
"Nope!" The- little man pounded the table. "Say, if that stuff down dere makes him dopey, does him in, 'what yer gwinter do? Can't get back without him, can yer?" , J "Be pretty hard," Ulysses admitted, grudgingly. "Still "Say, wouldn't it now." Skimpy's heavy jaw set. " 'N me— if dat slush bumps me off, why it's jes' one less to feed. You gotter let me try her out." "You're a. pretty good fellow, Skimpy," Dockling declared slowly. "Guess you're due for the Military Medal — if we all get through.
CHAPTER X. Slowly they dropped down, nearer and nearer to Venus— and a strange thing happened. Such real traces of the planet as had been visible from afar vanished completely. The nearer they drew the less they could judge With, any certainty of surface conditions. But the cloudwr'aith, dense solid-seeming strata of it, steadily became more clear. It seemed like a solid wall of grey and silver, with wide areas of twilight hue that shaded imperceptibly into jet darkness. Of What might lie below it revealed nothing. '"That "That . . . . " 'Ulysses pointed to a cloud continent of blackness, " .... is maybe .why our astronomers thought there were mountains thirty miles high lip 'here." During the tedious voyage the whole party had been studying the earth knowledge of Venus, and had found it tan-talisingly scanty. \ "Tell me just what you mean," Dacia insisted. She and Ulysses were still in the pilot room. "Well, you see how still it is. No sign of any wind- stirring that mess up, is there? Air must be mighty heavy and sluggish. Clouds so thick the sunheat doesn't break through and scorch 'em below to any extent." Ulysses' hand swept the whole circle of their vision. "Not a break anywhere. Can't be a scorcher even at their equator. Which means, y'see, that there can't bb a steady stream of hot; air rising at the centre and a rush of cold air'tjo'Take its place." "Go on," Dacia ' ordered. "I begin to see, but tell me exactly what you mean." "Means mighty little wind anywhere on this whole place."- Ulysses pointed again to the constant cloud contours below. ''Consequently those dark clouds stay just about the same most of the ' time.' They go round and round with the old girl, but stay just about the; 'same place. Anyone looking at them "from the Earth would naturally think that dark stuff was land, pretty high l4nd at that." "That seems ; sensible," Dacia agreed. She swung round at the sound of footsteps, "But here comes Alvin. And my gbodness, doesn't lie look pleased witk himself." "And so'he shdulcTbe."" Lister took off his glasses and wiped them with enthusiasm. "So he certainly should be, young lady. I believe we can breathe down , below. That last sample was pretty good. Oxygen just about right— though, of course, the whole thing is still too thin for comfort. I won't try it aga'n until we get right down, but believe me, jboys and girls, I'm certainly hopeful." 1 They dropped down into the twilight of the clouds. Their Graft sank slowly, still more slowly, as1 Lister changed the charge, into the dark heart of continents and islands of grey, clammy-seeming clouds. For the first time since Earth had cast them out, the death silence of space was riven. Listening curiously, they heard a swift pattering, a gritty scratching along the under-surfacc against the walls of their ship. -- "My goodness. Whatever can that be, Alvin?" Esther Hamilton spoke nervously. She had followed Lister into the pilot room. "Grit of some sort." Lister listened intently. "Clouds may be chokeful of particles of earth and stone. When we bump into the clouds as we drop 'we hit -little bits of Venus." "Say, Mr. Lister, what do you think those three birds are up to?" Dockling slipped cautiously into the pilot room. He nodded towards the far end o'f the saloon, where Inger-feldt, Sim and Blaney were conferring in whispers. "Couldn't say." At the moment Lister was not interested in his stowaways. "They can't do anything; we've got all their guns." "That Sim chap's been snooping around here quite a lot," Oakley broke in. "Not offensive, o' course, Al., but jes' watching everything too all-fired close for my liking. Don't you trust 'em any." "We certainly won't. But — look there, right below." L'ster pointed excitedly downwards. For a brief moment the veil of mystery was lifted. IAs through a powerful telescope, they looked down, far down a funnel in the clouds. Below them, a long way, was earth, solid earth. The fleeting glimpse re--aled a welter of nightmare confusion — then slowly, remorselessly, the grey walls of the funnel coalesced. ! "Not so good!" Ulysses observed, slowly and thoughtfully. "If she's all like that, then we're going to have some pretty tough hiking." Lister took over the pilot room, ordering Oakley to stand by. the two petrol motors at the stern. Working in atmosphere, the "Venus" relied on Lister's twin forces for stability, but was driven and guided by motor power. "Must be getting pretty low," Lister said, a trifle anxiously. "With the difference in air density the altimeter's no good for a height guide until I get her rated properly for this atmosphere. Don't want to hump ' into any of those hills in this fog." "And visibility zero," Ulysses added. "No, b'Gosh, it isn't. There's the business end of a mountain right below. See it?" Lister called- an order down ! the voice-pipe, and almost at once they felt the throb and heard the hum of livening motors. "Slowly a tower of naked rook took shape below, and then, suddenly, they were clear of all . plouds. They drove forward and down, across a wilderness of sterile hills and sheer ravines, swept clean of all life, barren even of soil. "Not so good is certainly right," Lister pronounced soberly. The pros-pect was not cheering, but his face lightened swiftly. , "The whole sur.-fa'ce can't all be like this corner. There must be some flat areas whero life would be possible." I "Even if there are, let's go down I here," Dacia said suddenly.. "Our first job is to see if the air is fit to breathe. There's no life below here, 'so we won't be disturbed while wo .find out. . if it is fit, why then we can look for a hotter place." "Right!"- Lister had been searching below with critical care. "There's a sort of rocky platform down this gully where I can drop her." He manoeuvred with the engines, then ordered them to stop. Gently they dropped down past razor-edge cliffs, past jagged canyon walls, to a flat ledge projecting from the canyon side. They hardly felt the first kiss of Venus as their far-wandering ship sank lightly to rest. They had completed the greatest journey mortal man had ever taken. There was ' something of awe in the eyes of- each one as for a space they- stood silent, savoring the big moment. Lister broke the spell. "I'll go and sample the air right off." He spoke briskly to hide the anxiety lie felt. To some extent the hazards of the voyage had been fore-known and planned for before they were met. But this other thing, the question of. the air, was the crucial, the supremo test. If they could not live in it now they were actually there .... Well .... "I'll be as quick as I can," ho ended huskily. He drew in the sampling tube and disappeared into the laboratory. As waits the prisoner in the dock, tho others stood, silent for the verdict that was to tell their fate. When Lister emerged from his room, eyes made keen by deep anxiety read liis message before his lips had moved. "Good enough," he cried exultantly, eyes ashine. "She'll do. But, of course . . . . " "Me to try it," Skimpy shouted squeakily. He would listen to no argument; and since there was a great deal in liis contention, the little man was allowed his way. ' Stolidly, , with no apparent emotion— though it might' be the death chamber for him — he entered the exit cell in the forepart of the ship. (To he continued.) j

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING 1 ' 1
BY FRANK H. BODLE 1 i 4 (Author of "The Te Itooti Trail;" etc.,. etc.)
(Chapter X. continued)
The partners watched Lister seal the door, then waved goodbye through , the small window ... as Lister pressed 1 the lever that was ''to open the outer ' jdcor of Skimpy s room. ; "1 can't bear to watch,", Esther said tragically. "It's just like ; . : " She fled along the corridor. ' | If there was a lump in "Slsimpy's j throat, as with the others, he did not ' show it. There was rio hesitation, no I doubt, in his bearing— though for all he knew he1 was walking to his death. He had -no' knowledge of what woiild happen to him — arid to all app'ear-arices, no care; Calmly he walked outside' '.into the open' ait. 'When, those inside >saw' him again, he was "ill untroubled— and what was better, breathing easily. They saw him stroll, unconcernedly, to the cliff edge and peer down. .The little man swung round arid waVed to them. His thin face puckered into a griri. One arm swung down, pointing to the chasm. There was something of interest he-low.' ' Lister had watched the little man's every -movefnent intently. "Seems all right," lie pronounced at last. - "I; guess we can take the risk."' He ran to the pilot room and touched a lever, doubtfully at first, then swung it down, full sweep. - There was a slow 'whirring' of mechanism, a riietallic' clang, and another. "Who's going ashore?" Lister shouted exultantly, springing down to the saloon like a schoolboy.' "Hatches are off;" ' 1 , He was the first to race up the few; stops to the deck, with the whole party, 'nearly "all,' at least, 'close- on-his heels. The air was heavy, but they drew it in with no sense of any discomfort. Beyond all doubt' it was jireathablo. "Bust it! My shoes have gono."'-Dockling was the first to speak, and-his tone was mournful. "But, gosh! Ain't 4he old girl been ;pioking up the coal dust." It looked as if she had — and that; was their first impression of Venus. The deck was littered a foot deep in grit and black- cinders. Lister picked some up curiously. "Volcanic ash and clinker," lie stated witji conviction. '"Must be a-plenty hills spouting fire some-: where.- 'That seems to explain the-' black clouds." ' - ; "And the scratching as- we came through,"1 Ulysses added. "Dere's-ri river down dcre." Skimpy, the explorer, shouted. "'N'- trees. Come"ori';down, fellers." One by one, arid hurriedly/ the party1 scrambled down the slotted side of the ship, only one thought iri jevery-mind, to learn all that was pos-sjble of this ' new and utterly strange ! world. They:- "gathered at the cliff; edge, 'ldokirig 'down into the violet1 depths of twilight. Far below was a; silver ribbon. On the dim banks of /What was clearly a stream were trees 'of a sort none had ever seen before— igaunt, spectral -things whose scrawny1 arms reached downward,' instead of to "the "skies. "Certainly not so goo'd," ' Ulysses muttered. "Little bit of Dante's Inferno, if you ask .me." ' "Hey!" Dockling shouted angrily. "Look at -the ,-boat." j They swung .round at his words , and with one accord dashed for the refuge that was -the only link between! this land of horror and their own-world.- When Dockling, first to get. . there, -had - reached what had been j its resting-place, -the craft was thirty I feet up; The bulky, sinister figure of -Ingerfclt leaned nonchalantly over the low rail. I "Good-bye, -folk;" -he shouted men-, 1 acingly, "I'll make a present of ithis whole show to you. Sim and Blaney and I are going hack where we belong." Lister's clear voice halted the big-, man as he was about to disappear down the companionway. i "I'll get you for this, Ingerfeldt, you dog." There was cold fury in Tj'ster's clear tones. "Don't think for a , second you .can got away from ' me." Ingerfeldt waved mockingly and shouted an order down inside. In a cloan line the .metal ship rose higher,, still -higher, till she entered the cloud 'n'nk and was swiftly lost to sight. They watched till watching be-, came futile. They were stunned by the treachery. The full realisation of the disaster drove home relentlessly.. They were marooned on a strange, unfriendly world — with no least chance of leaving it should it prove as unkind as its first' view promised.
CHAPTER XI. The first man to land on Venus wa? the first to recover .frorh the shook of that catastrophe.- Skimpy Dritzen was blessed with a small burden of; imagination. His .philosophy dealt largely with .the immediate present, and reacting along- that line, -his emotions were those of anger-' rather than -dismay. 1 "Double-crossing swine," he shouted, shaking a grimy'- fist at the un-ariswering skies. He glared at the sombre heavens then down at the, black depths of the canyon. Words failed him; -he spat disgustedly intp; space. ' I "Like dropping us ' a hundred ' storeys up . and the lift not working, isn't it?" t Ulysses recovered a' little from his j stupor, achieved a twisted smile He turned curiously to Lister. Look here, Al., old boy, did you mean anything special when you told that pirate you'd get him — or were they just words? Were you bluffing?" (To be continued.)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tlio Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XI. continued)
"Well, if Ingerfeldt though't so, I rtickon tie has a different idea' now," Lister answered grimly. . ' "We, agreed not to take chances with that hunch, so I didn't. When; I opened the hatches, I locked them : open. And I'll bet they don't find out how I locked them — let alone pick the lock. \They can't get beyond the atmosphere of Venus. Not alive anyway." "You think they'll find that out — in, time?" Dacia asked; with interest. The color was flowing back into her cheeks. "Why,, yes. Bound to, I guess. "They'll know before this they're tied ; to Venus— till I decide otherwise. They must land again. How are we off for guns?" I They took an immediate census, an inventory as a first step towards making their precarious position more secure. They were seventeen, all told. Excepting the two girls, each had an automatic or revolver and a few rounds of ammunition. Dock-ling, with two guns and some forty rounds, was the most heavily munitioned. In addition, there were among them ten pocket knives, a combination tool, the clothes they stood in— and nothing to eat or drink. "Might be a lot worse," Ulysses declared stoutly. "The first thing, I take it, is to get down somewhere to that water and then try to find some grub. Speaking as an expert in — porch-climbing — Skimpy, think wo can make that down-grade?" "Only one way ter find dat out." Skimpy grinned cheerfully. He was quite enjoying this experience. "Me fer the fire-excape. Youse wait here till I come back." He was round a projecting ledge of rock and out of sight before any serious protest could be made. "I'll take a look-see this other way," Dockling volunteered lightly. RBCSUMiiHnraBnafwMVV>lBW<nwnm»
"Done a bit of mountaineering on tho West Coast, before the Big Shindy." Dockling, too, vanished, only to return in half-an-liour. The early promise of an easy descent had vanished, he reported, against a glass-smooth wall. "If you ask me, folk, this is pretty bad country," he admitted, quite cheerfully. He sat down and examined his bruised bare feet before continuing his observations. "But if you want to know about minerals — she's the goods. Believe me. First off I hit a big coppe lode, a real daddy. Then two others chockful o' minerals. I bet you there's gold in these hills— but hot a thing in sight to eat." Twilight deepened. There was no j sign nor sound of Skimpy, and anxiety increased. To add, to their discomfort, a drizzle that was not quite rain yet too heavy to be called dew made every inch of their unsheltered platform thoroughly unpleasant. Night shut darkly down With a darkness quite foreign to these dwellers of Earth. There was no moon in the sky, no light of any stars. The encircling- wall of cloud cut off completely any ray from .outer space. Yet, with all the discomfort, the damp, the intense blackness, the bruising hardness of their "beds," there was no cold as each had expected and feared. Apparently the ttiick cloud-blanket not only protected from the fierce heat of a much more powerful sun, but also imprisoned for night warmth such heat as did drive through during the day. The explorers were hungry, thirsty and very anxious, but not cold. Some hours after nightfall they had news of Skimpy — and almost simultaneously of Ingerfeldt. Ulysses, unable to sleep, sat at the cliff edge staring down into the darkness, if the I truth must be told, rather hopelessly. The conviction was striking home tliat the little man had gone gallantly to his death in a futile effort to reach the level ground. The heavy gloom around' had crept into his thoughts. "He's gone, Dacia," he muttered unhappily. "Must be — or he'd ha' been back long ago. Why,, what's Wrong?" 'Down there." Dacia gripped his arm -tightly. ."Isn't that a fire?" "By Gosh, it is." There was immense relief in Ulysses', tone. "The little rascal's got down all right, and he's lit that fire to tell us he's safe." "Quiet, a , moment," Lister called suddenly. "Listen!" In the heavy silence of the night, from high up and far off, there came a distanf droning that could mean only one thing, the rhythmic beat of engines, flying. Uncertainly they marked its course across the hills, until the murmer sank to a whisper, to silence. ' "Ingerfeldt has found he can't get away," Lister commented acidly. "So., much the worse for him when we run across him." "It's a complication, isn't, it, " Dacia iggested. "Seems to me he's liable to make trouble. Try to kidnap you, perhaps, Alvin." "Means war, of course," Lister admitted with no trace of gloom. The prospect, indeed, seemed to revive his cheeriness. "But don't worry about that, young lady, He'll find there's something coming to him. Now for sleep. We'll get down to Skimpy , as soon as daylight comes." It was easier to talk of sleep than to find it. They were damp, hungry, and unable to find any place on that rocky platform where weary bones did not grow more tired. The long night, several hours longer than those of Earth, seemed endless. With the first grey streaks of dawn in the heavy sky the party was moving. Anything was bettei than their original landing place, ar>(' discussions during the night of sleeplessness had: crystalised into the decision for a quick move, in case Ingerfeldt, returning with the light, should catch them still in this exposed spot. They followed the narrow ledge down which Skimpy had disappeared the previous afternoon. .Dockling, by virtue of his mountaineering experience, led the way, it there were times when even he gave up hope. Three times he was forced to cast back from a blank wall or sheer drop to find another tend "more practicable route. Indeed there was more than one occasion when the descent would have been I given up, but for the knowledge that Dritzen had certainly gained the 'floor of the ravine. Once when progress seemed altogether blocked, there came grave doubt whether, after all, Skimpy had got down, or could still be alive. They could not be certain that the fire of the night had not been made by some natives of, the planet. In mid-morning this doubt was cleared up. Skimpy himself, very hot and bothered, appeared round a I jutting ledge to assure flagging spirits that all was well with him. i "r"-i on down," the little man shouted excitedly. "Dere's only one bad place an' youse derc." He turned and led the way down. The danger spot, when they reached it, did not belie the little man's description. The cliff wall, along which, slowly and painfully, they worked downward, was broken by a I six-feet' funnel. The sides of this I crevasse' were smoothly vertical, though its purple shadows, far down, were unrevealing. "Nasty spot, all right," Ulysses muttered, looking uncertainly- at the girls?' "How'd you get over, Skimpy?" "Like dis." The little man took two quick steps and jumped. He landed safely on the narrow rocky place ncross the abyss. "Say, youse can get over, can't you." "Sure thing." Dockling, who came of a breed without nerves, sprang lightly and stood beside the scout. "But maybe it's pretty tough on Miss I-Iatrick- an' .... " "I could never do it, Alvin," Esther declared miserably. White and shaking, she turned away from the chasm's uncertain depths. "I . » . . I'm sure I never could." (To be Continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Itooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XI. continued)., 1
Lister thrust liis glasses into a poc- , ket with an air of grim determination. Without a word he picked Esther up. She hung unresisting 'in his
arms as he ran back then sprang forward. It was not a long jump, but the man has miscalculated Esther's weight, which was not inconsiderable. His feet clawed frantically at the farther edge. He stumbled and would have dropped back had not Dockling and Dritzen, in one swoop, flung themselves on him and his burden. They pulled the pair to safety. "Won't forget this, hoys," Lister gasped. "Ne'ar enough, eh ? You all right Essi«?" "Oh, I'm ashamed, ashamed." Esther ' shuddered. "You might have been .... On, I can't bear to stay near the horrible place. Take me away, Alvin, please." The going downhill was fairly easy, though often steep, and the pair led the advance. Dacia, who did not know the meaning of nerves, jumped as lightly and safely as a mountain goat, and the others, lightly burden-ed, got across without incident. Within the hour from crossing the gap. the whole party swung down the last slope for the valley floor. Down there in the canyon deeps the light was not good. They walked in a twilight world with just sufficient light to reveal the strangeness of it all. It was not an inviting prospect, though the naked rock of their descent gave place on the final slope to thin soil, covered with some species of ash-grey weecj. But they were down, and that was something. In spite of hunger, spirits rose. "To the river," Ulysses called. He seized Dacia's hand, and the pair raced off down the last slope and across the flat. Reaction from strain swept like fire through the party. The 'eav. fate-defying gesture of the' two leaders stampeded the others; there was a general race for the sandy bank of the stream. " "Gosh, that drink was good," Ulysses declared cheerily. His optimism swung back full tide. "Now, if( we only had a bite o' . . . . Hello! Dockling, what you make o' this?" He ran a few paces and pointed to a beaten path worn in the soft bank, and ; clearly leading down to the wate'r. "Something comes down here reg'lar to drink, I rackon." Dockling knelt down to examine the runway. "Big-toed animal by the looks of it', I' reckon." . "Dere's 1 p'igs here," Skimpy asserted sadly. "Only dey has fat tails 'n' kinda heaks, like roosters. Dere was me 'n' two helps roast pork walking round' .'n' round a tree like a Eskimo hut half de night 'n' part t' day. Dat's what made me late Coming fer youse. An' me wid no gat.". He swung found at the sound of a Throaty cackle. "Hey, dere's de son o' a gun now. Gimme a guri, someone." ' A dozen paces away a hog-like1 creature sat erect on its haunches, glaring at them curiously through beady eyes. "Cross between a rooster and a pig," Dacia muttered. ' "And so should be darned fine eating for hungry folk," Ulysses sug-' gested happily. He moved forward Warily,, But Dockling whs before him. The
veteran or tne west uoasi mountains and the Great War drew his revolver in a flash and jumped forward: He moved, with' speed — and so 'did the strange creature. It dropped down on its four feet and, head almost touching the ground, charged headlong at the invaders ot its realm. Dockling jumped hastily aside, sighted smartly and fired twice. "Good shooting! Roast pork it is!" Dacia shouted exultantly. "The sooner tlie quicker," Lister pronounced soberly. "Some of lis are just about all ip." Dockling arid' Oakley set about the messy job of cutting up the animal, which was as large as a good-sized porker and not unlike one in body shade. In all .other respects, however, it' was utterly dissimilar. It had a fowl-like head with long sharp beak, and a heavy scaly tail, while the body was plated in a fashion that suggested an armadillo. Dacia was hungry, ready as she told herself to eat anything, but she turned from the butchering with a shiver of disgust. Something she saw down the valley rivetted her attention. "There's a bird down there," she called excitedly. "A monster. Look at it. : It's coming towards us." If the sounds of the shots had drifted down the valley, as was highly probable, the noise had not frightened the newcomer. The thing flew directly for them, its wings beating up arid down in bewildering fashion. "My godfather! Look at it, will you?" Ulysses pulled his gun. "Some sort of ' flying reptile. It's — got two sets o' wings to each side." "And," Dacia amplified excitedly, "there's a man, or something like one, riding on it. He's steering it — i-.v that ; big bulge on its upright tail." Dockling glanced down the valley, land immediately abandoned the butchering business, and the meat it promised. "Flyin' cav'lry," he muttered dazedly, as he jumped to his feet. "Folk, I b'lieve we better hike fer cover, sharp an' sudden."
CHAPTER XII. ' Lister had other views. Knowing I how strong first impressions are, he felt that they must take some risks rather than appear ridiculous. "Stand pat," he ordered firmly, when he noticed a tendency to act Ion Dockling's advice. "Whateve happens, don't let him think we are afraid." The- - Earth-folk . drew together, silent, watchful, waiting the declaration of the newcomer's attitude. The flying Thing swept up so close that the dry and leathery whirring of its double pair of wings seemed ominously menacing. For a time the fnatchers forgot the uncertainty of their position, even that they were intolerably hungry. Each waited; the only sensation was one of pure wonder. Without doubt there was a man on the flying reptile, a man with a cool and calculating brain, who handled his flying steed as men of Earth control a horse. "Pretty useful, feller on a roundup," Dockling remarked slowly. "Don't see no stockwhip or gun though." "Certainly not at all savage."- Lister squeezed Esther's hand reassuringly. "And not so utterly different from us either." The man in the air was rather shorter than any of them, except, pernaps, skimpy. He laceci towards the long slender neck of his sky-horse. His hands . were busy with what was obviously a species of bridle rain, streaming from the flattened bulge at the end of his steed's thin tail, and used as- a' coxswain uses his rudder ropes. He tilted the bulge and the Thing drove downward, threw it to one side, and the beast swerved away towards the carcase Dockling had been skinning. The landing was made quite neatly beside the dead body. The winged Thing grunted heavily, whether from the jar or with relief was not clear, dropped neck and tail to the ground and lay there, perfectly still. The rider slackened his reins and slid to the ground. . He faced the group of strangers with no sign of, fear, but the quick searching of his eyes revealed his consuming curiosity. (To be continued)
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE I (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," j etc., etc.) /
(Chapter XI. continued)
As leader and spokesman of his ! party, Lister stepped forward, and the oddly dissimilar pair apprised each other keenly. They were a decided contrast. Lister was long and lean and dark. The Venusman was no more than five feet in height and broadshouldered. He wore a close-fitting smock of leathern material which at once suggested the skin ' of the animal beside him. He wore no hat, apparently no weapon save the tiny stone knife in his left hand. His face was oval, longer than with Earth-people, and distinctly feminine. The skin was clear white, the forehead high and. crowned with a tangled mop of hair, so fair that it was almost white. The grey eyes, wide-set, seemed intelligent, even kindly. Creases of bewilderment crept across the forehead. Then he spoke, slowly, each word enunciated with care. It was a liquid speech with a rhythmic, musical flow, but it conveyed nothing to them. (Lister shook his head, and the j stranger seemed to try another ; tongue that was more throaty and less pleasing. "Sorry, old chap. I don't get you at all," Lister said quietly. "Let me have a shot," Dockling suggested eagerly. "He seems a j harmless bird. Maybe if I try him 'with some of the sign stuff we used (for the French mam'zelles, he'd savvy." The stranger listened intently, but obviously could make as little , of their speech as they of his. Then, angrily, so it seemed, he pointed to the dead animal and,, the Earth-folk judged, accusingly at them. "I get you, Monsees," Dockling called. "I did it with my little gun." He pointed his automatic at the dead animal, shouted "Bang!" then slapped himself on the chest. The stranger .nodded understanding. He eyed the weapon curiously. He understood, evidently, but crease of puzzleihent still remained. "Want to know why, do you?" Dockling inquired easily. "It's like this, see.". He opened his jaws, chewed an imaginary mouthful, then shook his headi mournfully, and to emphasise the point rubbed a deflated stomach. "Not 'a bite fer, we'll call it two days, sonny." Continuing his sign talk, Dockling pointed to the dim sun, then traced its course twice across the sky. Finally lie held up two fingers, and to clinch the matter once more massaged his digestive region. "An' if all that don't tell you we're darned hungry, then you're frozen stiff from the eyebrows up," Dockling concluded . engagingly. "How does that sob-stuff hit you, brother?" The stranger understood, and just as clearly disapproved, vehemently. Scmething akin .to horror swept across the puzzled face. His lips moved, and swift, indignant words spilled out. "No good, laddie. Not a little bit It don't register with us." Dockling stepped forward ito continue his interrupted business with the knife "That pig looks good to us. an' we'r" the folk that has to eat it, not you Our bunkers is scraped clean, v'see " Possibly the determination in Dork ling's tones conveyed some mooning for the stranger's easy attitude sloughed off. Without hesitation am' with surprising strength he swum the carcase across the reptile's back, and with a spring- was up beside >t I A thrust with his small knife into (be hide above his knees, a jerk at Ik' I tail ropes, and the reptile's head rose stiffly and arched forward. The wings, or flaps, rose, fell ngam ir short, staccato bursts, then, as room was gained, swept up and down fill stroke. The stranger and wh-f ' promised to be a hearty meal circled above them and headed down the valley. "Hey, you're taking our dinner with you," Dockling. shouted angr'ly "Drop it or I'll "Steady on," Lister admonished "No shooting, and no call for excitement. It's always possible that beast belonged to him, you know." "He's telling us to trail along," Ulysses stated. "Look!" The rider turned, waved, anil unmistakably beckoned. "Surely is the high sin of the Order of Come On Brothers," Dockl'ng agreed. "P'haps . . . . " "Lunch is off for, the time being," Ulysses finished. "But if that wasn't the call to dinner; he's certainly double-crossing us." "We'll a.ccept it as that, anyway," Dacia decided. She laughed merrily — the first laugh any of them- had uttered since the landing. "And hope for the best. But dQ you know, I don't believe roast pork or fried chicken, whichever you like to call it, Will be on the bill of fare. If I'm any judge of my own sex, they're out of fashion . ... " "What do you mean by 'your sex,' Dacia," Ulysses demanded. "That was a man. Didn't you see his hair." "I did. And didn't the young person take note of your — what did Skimpy call it on one historic occasion?— towhead. I'll bet you a thousand pounds that was a woman." "There's only one way to find out," Lister said, taking Esther's arm, "and that's to go and see. Come along!" With Skimpy as guide, they set off down the valley. The little man led tliem briskly to a clump of round mounds, rusty in color, each one about a dozen feet in height. "Do you know what they remind me of?" Dacia stood In the centre of the mound circle. "A ring of giant mushrooms." (To be continued. 1

OUR SERIAL | — — — '
I VENUS CALLING f ' — -| . BY FRANK H. BODLE
i (Author of "Tiio Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter. XII. continued)
"And quite likely they. ; are," Lister broke off a piece of the thick flesh, then, using; his full strength, a great chunk of the nearest' dome. He peered into the dark hole he had made. -'All hollow inside. It would do for a ready-made hut if it comes on to rain." He broke off another chunk of thick flesh and examined it closely. "Mushroom is a sound guess, Miss Dacia. This is some new series of giant fungus. Might be good lo eat, but much more likely to be poisonous." Skimpy was not interested in the botanical aspect of the discovery. Fauna, rather than flora, obsessed his mind. He pointed to a 'roughly-beaten track round one of the big mushrooms. "Dat s where me an' chicken-face had our walking tour," he declared with pride. He pointed to the ashes of a dead fire just beyond. "Walked right through the fire an' came squarking at me. Got de firewood from de trees dere. See." Lister walked across to examine the broken branches. "Full of pitch," he announced. "A pine, of sorts, likely, but practically no foliage. And all the branches point downwards. We'd better keep moving on." The valley broadened. There were more of the gaunt type of trees and clusters of gaunt fungi, but no sign of animal life, not even an insect. "We seem to have shot out all the game in the district," Ulysses grumbled. "It surely is poor country for a hungry hunter. Neither hoof nor feather .... Hallo, I'm wrong. Here comes old Leather-wings again." They stopped uncertainly, waiting for the coming of the Venus man, or, if Dacia's guess was co'rre.ct, the Venus woman. The Flying Thing Jumbered sluggishly towards them and dropped, with the usual grunt of protest from the animal, easily to tlie eround in front of Lister.
"Certainly has that bird well under control," Ulysses declared admiringly. "Don't believe you're right, Dacia — but if you should happen to be, we must cail the lady Venus de Swylo! And the gee-gee you might say is a useful, if not ornamental, domestic animal." ' The man, if he were one,' came forward hearing a leather skin sack. He tipped this up and poured its contents on the ground. ; "Nuts — as big as oranges!" Dacia ejaculated. "I wonder — ask if they're good to eat, Dockling." Thfe sign expert had little difficulty in conveying his inquiry, and the stranger as little difficulty in answering. He (or she) picked up a grey ball, tapped "the husk briskly with the stone knife, then, with a snap of the wrist, broke the nut in halves. More ' and mdre of the husk was broken off, then, as guarantee that it was good, the stranger bit into the firm white meat. "Good enough," Lister decided, and the whole party followed, with alacrity, the lead of the provider of the food. "Sort of meaty touch, isn't it?" Ulysses suggested, biting busily. "Nothing sweet about it. In fact, y'might call it almost salty." Each of them was really hungry, put 'not one; of them could manage more than' 'two of the big nuts. Decidedly they were satisfying. While they ate, the stranger watched them, and particularly Ulysses, with strained intentness. ' There was nothing unfriendly in the scrutiny, but obviously the stranger was unable to account for the presence of these people, as they were to explain 'How they had come. Ulysses, first to finish, strolled across to examine the reptile. He grinned encouragingly at the stranger when that young person followed him across. He, or she, took Ulysses' hand, and together the pair walked round the flying steed. , "I'm certain," Dacia declared, with some venom, "that she is a woman." Ulysses was more interested in the beast than in the sex of the rider. Not such a bad little hack," he pronounced genially.The The stranger smiled back and patted Ulysses' shoulder gently. With unmistakable invitation the Earth-man felt himself being pressed to-v'ird the prone beast. Without thought, he accepted the challenge, and, clutching at a grip strap, sprang upon the rounded ' back. In a flash the stranger was behind him, the reptile's wings beat steadily, and, while the others still sat munching the last of their lunch, .the pair rose in the air and drove rapidly away. I , "Going sky-riding," Ulysses called back, with forced gaiety. He was a little disturbed. This sudden kid-happing was so unexpected, but it was up to him to put the best face 'possible on it, and not seem _too ridiculous. | : (To be continued)

OUR SERIAL j
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tho Te Kootl Trail," , etc., etc.) !
(Chapter XII. continued)
"I told you she was a woman," Dacia shouted after him. "Watch i your step. We're coming right along ' after you.'-'
The party on the ground hastily gathered up the remainder of the nuts and hurried down valley. The pair in the air vanished round a bend in the rock walls. Dacia's lips were compressed. A frown rested on Lister's face. Hunger had been replaced by keen anxiety for their good comrade, the cheery wanderer.
CHAPTER XIII. So long as he lives Ulysses is not likely to forget that air- ride, nor what followed it. The adventure started off quietly, though not exactly pleasantly. His first sensation was one of immense distaste. The musty reptilian smell that was all about him was nauseating. Gradually, ever, he became a little more used to it, or perhaps their increasing speed blew the worst of it behind. When he had achieved resignation to the unpleasantness, the novelty of his experience swept oyer him. The Thing flew with extraordinary steadiness, so that not once did the fear of falling cross his mind. Evidently the double pair of wings made for stability iii the air. They rose in an easy sloping flight. Ulysses watched 'he grim brown walls sliding past, then looked down at the valley floor. 'The walls closed in so that the level below had narrowed to a few hundred yards, while the sky above seemed but a narrow line. Everywhere was the same depressing deadness that had impressed them all earlier. There was no sigh of any living thing above or below. Ulysses noted many clumps of the giant mushrooms, scattered trees of the sort first seen, and some few others whose clusters of grey fruit suggested that they were the source of the recent, quite satisfying meal. But if there were any living thing, bird, beast, or insect, he could detect no faintest trace of it. They swung round an abrupt curve in the rock wall, and suddenly everything had changed. They drove over low sand-dunes, above a steeply shelving beach, out over grey ocean. J Somehow the sight of that immense grey waste of waters cheered Ulysses. Far off he sighted a broad back loafing throuigh the swells, then another and another. At least, there were living things in these waters, even if there were no familiar gulls on the cliffs or diving after fish. The sea seemed a friendly, familiar thing, though, as -a result of the absence of sunshine, it had rather a wintry glint. Still, it was something to feel, Ulysses reflected, that the planet was not nil desert. These same waters nr'ght wash the shores of a very different landscape.The The wll against which they coasted persisted stubbornly far into tbe water, and its feet were bathed in the white froth of shattered water. He looked up. 'its crest seemed to touch the heavy clouds. There seemed no path up that precipice face. (To Be Continued)

OUR' SERIAL,
i VENUS CALLING '
j BY FRANK H. BODLE 1 ) (Author of "Xho To Kooti Trail," i J . etc., etc.) ! t -
(Chapter XIII. continued)'
They went on over the water, j Ulysses grew more and more uneasy. The gentle pressure of the I warm body behind him had not been j unpleasant. It had conveyed a sense l of confidence and competence that :,had been heightened by the perfect jeasc and sureness with which the flight had been controlled. But they were going too far; they were leaving all the others behind — it seemed to Ulysses, irrevocably. Gripping tight with his knees, as does the /horse-rider, he swung half-round. ( "I wish you'd turn round," he said unhappily, pointing back to the valley they were leaving. The stranger's head nodded emphatic dissent. A bare, round arm crept over his shoulder, brushed jlightly against his cheek, caressingly it felt, then waved to indicate a course round the rocky promontory. The softly spoken words that came with it were not needed to explain the gesture. Their destination was somewhere round the corner. For a frantic moment Ulysses had the wild idea of attempting to seize the confident young person, and himself guide the Flying Thing hack to his friends. As though his thoughts were evident, two small hands grasped him firmly round the waist, so 1-that instant warning would be given of any move lie made. "Wouldn't be any use, anyway," Ulysses admitted grudgingly. "I can't turn, round safely to get any 'show. And even if I did get charge, likely as not I'd pull the wrong rope and crash. Have to watch a better chance." j On the heels of his resignation the grip on his waist relaxed, and then in a sudden burst of speed the Winged Thing shot round the rock barrier and headed for shore again. The land beyond the hills, Ulysses saw with satisfaction, was quite dif-ferent from the sombre desolation of 'the canyon. .Beyond a- narrow coastal plain that stretched unbroken to the limits of sight were easy rolling uplands, with scattered hills rising Ivere and there. Trees of a more frateful greenness than any before seen m this world grew in thick proves, but there was no indication of any cultivation, and no 'signs ' of any wild life. They drove over the plain, rising with the slope of the ground.' Once more a hand crept round- Ulysses' waist, sought his hand, and, lifting it. pointed to a hill right ahead. It had a different -look, even at a distance, from the others round 'it, Ulysses decided. The base of the hill was green and grey with mainy trees. The summit was bare, but ' there were some' low mounds on it. At first these suggested the fungi of the canyon, but' their ! numbers and the regular spacing 'of them soon forced the conviction that they must be the , dwellings 'bf people. It looked like a village of the Venus-folk. ' "I believe that's what it is," Ulysses muttered blankly. The' hand 'that had pointed to the ; place was pressed gently and "Tosco" was' crooned in his ear. j "S'pose that's ' the name of your village," Ulysses suggested, a shade I grumpily. He was annoyed by his own impotence to compel the stran-'gcr to take him' back to his friends. lA- movement ; in the village, and a ponfirrhatidri ' that it was in actual fact 'a ' centre' of population, caught !his ' attention. ' "Hello I Here comes I another bivd." ' j From a space on the centre of the piounds on the hill-top another of the I four-winged creatures rose slowly' jand drove towards them.' Ulysses ) slapped the thick hide of the creature he rode," then pointed to the other. "What do you call these things?" he demanded. ' "Plodja." The answer came with the tone of the question. (Tp be continued!.
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tho Te Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XIII. continued)
. Just to maKe certain on the point, Ulysses touched their own creature again, "Plodja!" he said, and, pointing to« the other, repeated the word. He turned as far round as possible and saw his companion nod, smilingly. Ulysses grinned back with more cheerfulness than he had shown so far. He had gained one word of this new language. The strange, apparently unfriendly manoeuverings of the newcomer claimed his attention. "What's he want?" Ulysses demanded curiously. The rider of the second plodja drove nearer, almost dangerously close. They swerved, and the cither matched their turn. Sharp words, quick scolding speech, passed back and forth as, once again, by a shrewdly calculated last-minute swerve, they avoided the charge of the newcomer. A warning premptory whisper beat suddenly in Ulysses' ear. The head of his beast was sharply and suddenly depressed. Almost he fell forward down the steep slope of the Thing's neck — would have fallen in fact, but for the firm grip around his waist. They shot down clean beneath the grey belly of the second beast, ; and slipped down swiftly for the central space in the mound village. In "the - course of his . ; newspaper work Ulysses had on not a few occasions been up and abroad in an, aeroplane. The absence of noise had struck him as curious during their brief engagement, when each angry word of the pilots had been clear. But the steep descent, with its last moment upward tilt, was quite like planing down in the old Earth days. He heard the gale of crowd laughter from the three or four score people watching below— slow, unhurried laughter that turned to something like a cheer as their beast with a final wing .flutter took away the landing jar. The whole business of piloting these clumsy Flying Things was akin to and yet, in some ways, strikingly different from Earth aeronautics. . They had dropped into a ring of people, not unlike the first visitor to the. canyon, a ring closely knit, a dozen' yards from the new arrivals-Ulysses was puzzled. This was surely, a funny gang. They sang, -quite pleasantly, kind of triumphantly, it, seemed. They didn't offer to come, any closer, but their hands were held out, as if they were ready to grab: him when he moved. —Above, their late opponent circled down- picking a landing place with care. What, in thunder, were they all up to— and where did the joke come in? Ulysses' hand was seized, and lie and his guide dropped to the ground. They stood a second watching the circle, then, in a sudden burst of speed that dragged Ulysses into, flight, the pair flung themselves at the ring. Hands clutched at him, hut he beat them down angrily. The whole business seemed so stupid/ so altogether unreal, and at the same time so personally humiliating that Ulysses lost his temper. He struck out savagely with his free hand; dropped his head, and charged with intent to do all the grievous bodily injury in his power. A gasp unitedly and shrieks of dis: may. Apparently -Ulysses wasn't keping to the rules. The circle broke up in confusion, leaving a clear path for the fugitives. The pair ran on, followed more resneetfullv hv the shrieking gang. They stopped at the entrance of a detached mound, and Ulysses noted that" it was made of some sort of air-dried brick. Up to now, during those last brisk moments, Ulysses had regarded Irs I companion as in some sort protector i rather than captor. But the signs I made to him at the narrow doorway were not reassuring, and the actions to enforce their obedience even loss j-o. The1 stranger caught h's two shoulders and sought, clearly, to press him down flat upon the beaten earth of the entrance. "Want me to lie down, do you?" Ulysses gritted. He had to show these people right away. He snapped 1 a vicious double-lock on the other. "Lie down to it, you say. I'll be hanged if I will." " ' Without warning :he wa3 gripped powerfully from behind and flung forward, face down, full length on the ground. In a flash, while he was yet too astonished and too nearly dazed to rise and protest, his comrade of the air ride clutched h's shoulders and dragged him,, ploughing the ground, inside the hut. As he passed from daylight to- the darkness of the interior, the laughter and the shouts that might be cheering drifted into the" hut, Ulysses scrambled to his feet. His face was flushed ; he was bubbling over with an indignation that called for immediate and heavy vent. Out , of the corner of his eye he saw the other one in the hut wave with some , gaiety to those outside, then, de-' cisively, slam the door in their grinning faces.It It was dark in there; Ulysses waited warily, his nerves a-tingle, ready to attack, indeed hungering to wipe out the humiliations of the post minutes. He turned at a noise be-lvnd him. H's companion, pulling at a cord against the far wall, let in a flood of light from a w'ndow in the br'ck dome. Ulysses advanced slowly, purposefully, his fists clenched for immediate retribution. "What the ' devil does this foolery mean ?" he shouted menaeinfrlv. Tn a blinding flash came the answer, more eloquent, though there were no vfords than a flood of talk. The stranger ran to the centre of the hut to the full flood of light, and with a deft tw'st of fingers and a wriggle of round shoulders sloughed the . coarse smock. It dropped to the floor; except for a narrow band below tlie waist, the stranger" stood nude, smiling, unashamed. j l CTo< be Continued) J

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The 'Xe Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
CHAPTER XVI.
"We must talk this thing over, and plan just what we're going to do, even before we sleep," Lister declared with decision. He waved toward each of the impassable rocky promontories. "You are quite satisfied, I, take it, Miss Hatrick, that Ulysses is not to be found in this valley?" "Ye-es." Dacia's assent was grudging. "That creature has taken him off — right off." "And, without a boat, we can't stage any sort of rescue party, can we? That seems clear, too." Lister squatted down on the sand and the rest slumped around him. Their faces had the blank look of those who have reached a dead end. Lister played with a handful of powdery sand as he took up the tale. "Personally, I don't believe that boy will come to any harm. What I know of Ulysses, he's perfectly capable of taking care of himself in all kinds of a fix." I "Not with a woman," Dacia declared, with venom. "Well, perhaps not. No man can do that, can he?" Lister chuckled; "I am willing to concede that women are— rather more difficult more difficult than ordinary troubles, j But, granting that, outside, say, aj breah of promise suit, I don't think Ulysses will be mucli damaged. And don't forget, he knows exactly where wc are, and he gets half a chance will certainly try to help us. In fact, it is entirely possible lie may get back to us at any time. I like Ulysses first rate, and I don't want anyone to think I'm callous about liis disappearance, but, honestly, I don't think we should waste time in vain efforts to get to him. When he's good and | ready, and the time's ripe, our young Lochinvar will come prancing back, 'all six cylinders working overtime. He'? all right, and just naturally will be. If he dropped from an aero-plano, he'd light on his feet in a soft spot— and never even get splashed." j "I hate the thought of .... of abandoning liim .... to' his fate," Dacia demurred. Her bare feet kick-- ed viciously into the warni sand. "Couldn't we . . : . " i "I don't think we could," Lister j broke in, somewhat sharply. "There's the other factor, you know. Perhaps you've forgotten Ingerfeldt. He's bound to look us up sometime soon. Do you propose to let him catch us? To make terms— and they'll be 'mighty hard if I'm any judge— or . fight him?" Dacia's chin stiffened. "We'll fight," she declared grimly. "That's my idea, too — and then i 'some. That being the case, we can't stay here in the open because, you see, he controls the air and observation," 'Lister, too, scribbled in the sand while his thoughts took clearer form. "He's bound to look for me, and he knows, roughly, where we must be. He must be due round here most any time now. In fact, in my judgment, we're taking big risks staying here in plain sight." 1 "There's that cave I spotted back there," said Dockling eagerly. 'Jlf you ask me, Mr. Lister, we ought . to 1 jump for cover right off. If he don't ' know we're here, there may come a chance of surprising him." -"Right! Let's get back, there.", Lister rose briskly. "And here's another idea, folk. Dockling's the one iman amongst us with war experience. What do you say to putting . him in charge of the defence of the ' valley ? All agreed ? Very well, you give the orders, General Dockling." "To the cave, pronto." Dockling grinned widely, but there was a new and very determined set to his shoul-iders. "All except Skimpy. You go land gather up all those husks from lunch, little man, and bring 'em back to the cave. Mustn't leave anything iloose to attract Roger J.'s suspicious mind. If you hear the swine coming, get under the nearest mushroom, see? An' don't go chasing yourself round the mulberry bush like you did : with that four-legged chicken. We're trusting you, Skimpy. Good luck . V . . Quick march for the cave. Got food enough till to-night, 'n' when it's dark we'll get some .more." The cave was. dry and deep. Hav-ling .only a limited' supply of matches and no candles, they ventured in no 'great distance, but it was clear that the natural tunnel went a long way into the hills.' They took it egsy till Skimpy returned with the betraying husks, then Dockling posted one' of the mechanics at the cave-mouth as sentry, and the conference resumed session. "You expect to remain here a long time, Alvin," Esther remarked unhappily. "Of course, I'm not grumbling. I realise that we might he far worse off. But," she shrugged her shoulders hopelessly, "what will the end of it all be. Or can't you see that?" "Think I can." Lister leaned back against the rock well. "We're here for some time, obviously. Perhaps a longish time. The chances of recapturing our ship anyway soon seem pretty slim to me. We may, of course, surprise her, but we certainly can't sit down and wait on such a remote chance, though we must be ready for it if ' it does come. And, too, we're not in such a position to deal with large bodies of the natives— yet. If they should prove unfriendly, it'ud he only a question of time till our small stock of ammunition gave out and we'd be at their mercy." "Go on," Dacia said quietly. "Let's have the worst." (To be continued)'.

OUR SERIAL j
VENUS CALLING j
; -BT.FRANK H. BODLE ' f (Author of ".The Te Kooti Trail," j etc., etc.) 1
(Chapter XIV. continued)
' "Oh, it's not so bad really!" Lis- j ter -spoke quietly. "This valley is not such a rotten place for the . job we have in hand. There's food enough —j though not much variety, I admit. And plenty of water. Also, what is . more important, any quantity of minerals for those who look. Besides Dockling's finds, I noticed a score of likely seams in the cliffs as we came down. Shouldn't wonder if we get something of what we want in the back parts of this cave. "But what can we do with min'-rals," Dockling demanded. . "I swear there's gold 'n'. copper, piles of it. But fer th' love of Pete, Where's your market?" "We are/' Lister spoke with de-' cision. "Don't forget I'm a chemist.- I know what we want, and how to handle it, if we find it. And these hoys . he waved, towards the group of mechanics, " . . . .. could make just anything if I gave thern the materials. They're hand-picked high-binders when it comes to making metals do what they want. Why, if I showed them a tree and gave them a couple of rolls of wire, they'd make me a reaper and binder. We have firing. If we're left alone, we might even run to generating electricity later on. Bound to be falls in the stream .higher up. Knowing this, I believe it's possible to build a vessel that will fly. "And recapture our boat from In-gerfeldt?" Dacia's eyes glowed. "Precisely." "You've .'forgotten something, haven't . you, Al. ?" Oakley lurched forward. "What about engines. Where's the juice coming -from? Your force is a pretty, good thing, but it only lifts a thing up, and lets it down. It doesn't drive. Ingerfeldt's ship is en-gined. She can move fast, too. Ought to, anyway, though we didn't hiave a chance to try her out at that." "Can't go for long, Oakley. There's gas aboard, but it won't last any great time if he goes cruising around to find me. And that's just what we must do. When it's gone,- he can't get any more." "Don't see how that helps us any," Oakley retorted lugubriously, "Y'see, we have none at all," ."We can get along without it." Lister shifted his position slightly. "Ever heard of James Watt and the kettle that lifted its lid? ...In other words,- a steam engine... And wood fuel. ,. Think you oouidtniaci.aj steaip engine if I give you the right metals apd heat?" . u-; . . "I guess we could," Oakley answered more hopefully. "Yes, I. guess we could-do that all right.". "Good enough, then. , I'm satisfied I can get bold , of the stuff to make one of my Force chargers. And we can carry a lot of , wood fuel on anything we build, for weight, .'means nothing to it. First off we must prospect for minerals, but I believe we can get what we want, or something near enough .... What's the matter, Hague?" "Ingerfeldt," the mechanic stated shortly. "Heard him, but haven't seen him yet. Thought you ought to know." "Right. You're in charge, Dock-ling." - ... i , "You go to the entrance ' with Hague, Mr. Lister." Dockling got up briskly. "Don't show yourselves for any sake. "I'll arrange things in here- If he gets inquiring; about this-hole in the wall, come right in. Let him come, too. We'll be ready to grab." Dockling collected his party and, led it into the gloom of a branching passage. He posted half-a-dozen men . inside the intersection, then went off to the entrance: himself. He joined the others flat on the floor in the shadows, well inside the cave mouth. "Working up the valley slowly ancl ' methodically," Lister reported. "Hear him ? The row's getting louder. Not seen him yet; we kept well back as you said." "I'll take a peek," Dockling decided. Hunched against the seawall of the cave, he worked to the entrance- and. peered cautiously out. He dodged back hastily. "Farther back, boys," he ordered swiftly. "He's coasting along the cliff examining every dashed rat-hole, I reckon. Look right into the cave before long." "And good trying a rush?" Lister asked hopefully, but without much conviction. "Nope. Might shoot up ' Roger p'raps, but what good 'ud that be. Heap of satisfaction — but not much sense in it. I guess he won't spot us down here. Got yer guns ready— in They waited silently. The roar of the engines became plainer every moment. Then they saw against the farther wall of the canyon the blunt, grey bow of the boat that had been theirs. It nosed slowly along and dropped a foot or two, so that the flat deck was level with the floor of the cavern. The boat crawled along. ,Two figures, staring fixedly, came into the picture. The men were talking animatedly, but the roar of the engines drowned . their speech for those in the shadows. The bigger man, Ingerfeldt, walked to the hatch and shouted down. Abruptly the roar of the engines died, and in the. silence the watchers heard Ingerfeldt speak. "A likely place — if they were hereabouts," he said sombrely, peering into the unrevealing gloom. He would | have talked less confidently had he known that Dockling's automatic pointed unwaveringly at his heart. . "My guess is they're not down here i though." j. (To be continued)'.. -

. VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. B0DLE \ (Author of "The .To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XIV. continued)
Sim, the cadaverous,- joined his fel-| low pirates on deck, and with them peered thoughtfully into the shadows. "How about taking a man apiece an' plugging?" Hague whispered eagerly. "Nope.- Too risky. Might miss. S-sh!" Dockling put his finger over the mechanic's' mouth to emphasise his order. \ : "Nothing, there," Sim declared shortly. . His feet tapped the deck impatiently. He was clearly in an ugly mood. "If they're in this valley, they're further up. Our best bet is like I said, to race up afore they expect us. But you're so damned ; A modern ship of the desert. It is interesting to note that the proprietors, the Nairn Brothers, served with the New Zealand forces in Palestine. pigheaded, Ingerfeldt, you loaf along 'n' give _ 'em all the warning they need we're coming." "Don't believe they're in this valley," Ingerfeldt declared defensively. "Much more likely they didn't come down in here at all, but went over the other side of the range. Easy grades and heal of people, as you saw. Lister's among them somewhere, that's my guess. And don't make error, Sim, if you can't unlock that gadget, we got to. find ! Lister." . , "I can't then," Simi rumbled explosively. "Not locked in the or'n'ry way. ' Sorta hooked open by his blostered force/somehow. An' I can't find how." "I didn't think you could,' ' my beauty," L'stor murmercd cheerfully.-"All right then, we'll get along full lick," Ingerfeldt, decided suddenly. "Before you go, did you find out how much gas there is ?." "Enough for two weeks anyway." Sim disappeared' belpw, and the . roar of the engines "drowned all other sounds. ' "An' that's good-bye 'to Roger J.," Dockling -declared unhappily, as he scrambled to his feet. "Wish I'd taken the chance to plug him. after all." "Too thin," L'ster remarked regretfully. "They'd surely have got I away. Our turn will come. Now/ i let's catch some of the sleep we've i missed." I Very soon, with,, the exception of Ingerfeldt's party and one sentry at' the cave-mouth, all the Earth-folk in this new world slumbered peacefully. They needed all the strength tired Nature's sweet restorer could dispense, for strenuous days were ahead. I For Ulysses, a season of contention jn which he was to be the shuttlecock of circumstances. For the canyon dwei'cs far less security than they vficd they were entitled to expect. ; They had forgotten one thing — the cold ashes of Sldmpy's signal fire of j the night before. j j CHARTER XV. j The cold grey daylight of Venus faded early in the depths-of the canyon. There were no long shadows, jno g'lded clouds, as with the even-' ings of earth. For daily returning of ; darkness was merely a deepening of I gloom, a shutting out of light, as I when one draws thick curtains across ! I a window. Already the hand of I . night was tugging at the curtains | when Ingerfeldt signalled for the "Venus" to stop. The hard, roving eyes of the former financier 'had been very , busy during the brief journey up the can-.yon, apprising tree and ground and rocky walls, seeking to. pluck from them any significance to his purpose. He didn't believe that those he sought were here, but it was his custom to make absolutely sure. The curious whiteness below, had attracted him. The vegetation of the valley was dull grey — but this small circle was appreciably lighter in tone. Ingerfeldt had spent many vacab'ons jn the woods of another world — -and there was a compelling familiarity about the patch that invited- attention. It could not be accepted as a normal part of this uninviting landscape. "Crop her down," he ordered, and the wssel sank silently to the ground. "Get down and look it over, iBlancy," Ingerfeldt said crisply. He had no intention of being taken by surprise h'mself. There was the pos-sibil'ty that Lister's crowd,' or some
of them, might be hiding under come of tho-e rounded things. "Here, it's getting dark. Take this torch with you" "Been a fire here," Blaney reported presently. He stirred among the 'ashes with h's hand. "Cold for some | time." The torch quested the circle and halted just beyond its r-'m. I "Found an empty matchbox. Say j. . . . " his voice was an excited | Isqueak, " . . . . it's the kind Skimpy j used." 1 ; The little man was town bred and-'no woodsman. It had cost him a deal -of effort, much cursing and many ' matches to persuade7 those green .branches to light. iu I "That means they're hereabouts," Ingerfeldt stated calmly, but his | voice dropped several tones. "Take a look under those round things. They've probably moved in — but make sure." Cautiously, gun in one hand and torch in the other, Blaney completed his examination and climbed back aboard. "Shove her up fifty feet, Sim," Ingerfeldt ordered sharply. "Got to play safe with this crowd. Well, Blaney, find anything else?" "Not there." Blaney bit the end of one of his scanty store of cigars. His nerves - required a sedative. "Kinda mushroom things those are. Beaten track round one, like tlicre'd been a footrace. One plant busted some. Hollow inside, . -like a native hut, but nothing there. The other's empty too, ' but they've been here; 1 swear this is one. a' Skimpy's boxes." "All right. They're here somewhere, then. - That's clear.. Only a question of time now before- we get them. And we can save the gas. We'll sleep up here, and prospect round with daylight." Secure in the certainty that no-thing could touch them, the trio slept soundly. With the first streak of light they were astir again and on the ground. Protesting vigorously that lie was "always the goat," i Blaney was sent out to scout more thoroughly than had been possible jthe previous evening. If he fell into a trap, or were taken by surprise, it 'would not matter greatly, Ingerfeldt reflected grimly. They'd get him . back in time. Sim, the engineer, 'could not be spared, and, quite defi-'nitely, Ingerfeldt had no intention of faking any personal risk. , (To be Continued)

OUR .SERIAL
VENUS CALLING 1
BY FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail." etc.; etc.) : :
(Chapter XV. continued) .,
I There was, however, no. casualty, and, as it transpired, no immediate nqed; for caution. Blaney soon returned with the news that there was riurjuuy neq.r. , un nis auvice tne snip ;V/as sent up and brought down in a clear, space in the heart of a grove of trees. They could rise swiftly from this, if necessary, and it was unlikely they would be. seen unless some/ of the others actually entered the grove. After breakfast Sim,, with a pair of powerful glasses, climbed the highest tree and set h-'mself to patient" searching. He swept the valley up and down, floor and cliff-face, but it was some time before he . came on what he sought; "For a couple of minutes | the " glasses were steady, then, v.dtli a grunt of satisfaction, Sim descended. swiftly.Meanwh!le Meanwh!le bc'nw the swerve of the canyon walls, out near the sea-gate, there was orderly bustle. After the frugal breakfast ' of nuts and water, Lister called another conference. . "I beiievc-they've gone," he declared cmph-tical'v "Ingerfeldt seemed certain we must be over the hills on the other side there. That gives us time to prepare, and we must make tlic mo"t of .' t. You can have a couple of men, Dockling, to scout around, but I want the rest. "You heard Ingerfeldt. / I suppose you're satisfied it's safe to get busy." "I reckon so," Dockling agreed, rather uncertainly. The weight of military responsibility sat heavily on him still. "Used to hear that in the war it was allers the unexpected that happened — but we gotta take some risks, an' it's surely a legitimate gamble to take chances so we can be ready when the dog comes, back. What's your plan, Mr. Lister?" "Well, first of all, I want a working party to go out with knives and get a pile of those pitch branches for torches, so we can look over this eave and, if possible, locate some of the minerals we need. If we clo, we can start work inside in safety." "That sounds good to . me," Dockling admitted with evident relief. "I'll take two of tlje boys an' work til) valley, juL to make sure: Rugur has made a clean getaway." I "Couldn't we come with you, General," Dacia pleaded. "There's nothing Miss Hamilton and I can do here, is there ? And we might gather some more nuts if we came along with you. We won't be any trouble, and we do want to be useful." "All right, miss," Dockling agreed, That was where he made a bad step as a military leader. Only combatants should have been allowed in- ' to the danger zone. In extenuation, it should be admitted that Dacia Hatriclc was still, ip a sense, his employer, and he had the habit of obed ience to her , wishes. . Also, ho shrewdly guessed something of the anxiety she felt for Ulysses, and how distasteful forced inaction" . in the .cave would be to her. But he decid-'ed, silently, he would, take darned good care those girls ran no risks, He grinned appreciatively as he thought what Lister might he expected to declaim if anything fell the plump Essie. Lister had no misgivings. He was' convinced that Ingerfeldt. had \ gone. He made, a half-hearted concession to prudence when he left one man on guard at the cave entrance, and then set out with the others on the'wood-gathering expedition, Their mission was one of slow and tedious .labor, and since there were trees of the sort they needed quite near, they ran little or no risk. Dockling moved . warily, but his confidence increased as they moved steadily forward and saw no trace of the enemy. He hadn't expected to find any,, but the calm grey of the canyon soothed what little anxiety he had felt. Still, he advanced cautiously against the caveside , cliff, across the stream from their march of the day before. They passed across the water, the first circle of fungi they had seen" and the route of their descent froni the first landing place. . They swung round a bond and found that the walls drew together stili; perh.-ns r couple of miles above their origlna) entry place the ravine pinched into In cul-de-sac. The stream, all white water, came tumbling down in a series of sharp jumps from unknown heights but even if it had been practicable to scale the cliff— and it didn't seem ; so — no . useful purpose would have been , served by . taking the risk. ; : . "' : . 'Hack tracks," Dockling! "'decided, cheerfully. , "They're not in our backyard, that's a clinch. We'll cross the stream, an' go down .the other side. Jest so we look the whole show over." They came back, almost lightheart-edly, to the mushroom circle. There, for the first time that morning, Dock-ling's assurance was really disturbed. "Why," he muttered glumly, "I clean forgot this. If those swine had hnlf-an-eye in their faces, they'd surely have spotted this and suspic-ioned wfe were found." He bent, down to examine the ashes more ' carefully The two mechanics, silent and as disturbed as their leader, squatted on their haunches beside him. Dacia and Esther were not ' interested. They had seen the fire before, and obviously Ingerfeldt had not. "We'll get along," Dacia said I'ghtly as she moved off. She arid. Esther were tired and hungry, arid tlicv wanted verv much to get back to the cave. Although there was no glare of sunlight, there was no' wind in the canyon. After much! walking, one felt oppressed by the heat, and longed for the restful coolness of their cavern. . "All right," Dockling grumbled without looking up.. "Catch, you up in a minute" He move'd around the fire circle' to examine a mound of ashes that had caught his; sharp eves. Someprie . had been playing with them. It wasn't the wind, and he didn't think it had been any of his own people. Someone else had been there. "Hey!" he shouted/ studying the heap, "you'd better not go too " He stopped abruptly ,and straightened up. One of the girls had screamed. Dockling swung round and, grabbing at his automatic, dashed for the girls. Two men, Sim and Blaney, had' seized them, and, when Dockling settled into h>s stride, were hurrying with them for the grove of trees. Dockling swore savagely. Ho had been caught napping, had slipped up badly, but he was a quick thinker, and sized up the position in a flash. "Don't fire," he called over his shoulder to his companions pounding along behind. "Too risky. Hit the wrong ones." The trees were very near. He realised that he could; not reach the men in time, and the ship must be hidden there. Without hesitation he dropped to his knees, taking the risk he had denied the others. Swiftly he aimed at the longer of the twinkling pair of legs. Dockling had been trained in a rough school, and, as he might have said himself, was fair to useful wlthr any kind of gun m any kind of circumstances. But the target was very difficult. Dacia still struggled violently, and, obsessed by an anxiety not to hit her, his first shot was low and a shade wide. Dockling gritted his teeth and took steadier aim. With a howl of pain Sim plunged forward i on the very fringe of the sanctuary. I The second shot had him exactly where it had been meant — squarely In the ankle. "Got h'm," Dockling shouted, and dashed forward, full cry. Blaney halted. Esther took advantage of his preoccupat on to bite his j hand hard. He cuffed her roughly, | but concentrated attention on his | fallen comrade. "Come on. Simmy," j he adiured. breathlessly.
"K.O.! Sim groaned. "They got me." Dacia, dazed, lay still where she hid dallen. In a panic, Blaney flung Esther from him nncl swung his companion up. He heaved him, heedless of the hurt, ovei his shoulder and stumbled lorward. Sim was the one, the only one, who understood the ship's controls. Whatever else happened, he could not be left behind. The pair staggered drunkenly among the trees for the ladder of the ship. (To be continued.)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY DtANK H. BODLE | (Author or "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter 3£V. continued)
Ingerfeldt, at the rail, bent oyer and clutched at Sim. He yanked him viciously aboard and dashed with him to the companionwav. Blanev could look after himself; the others couldn't shoot among the trees, anyway. He took no heed of Sim's groans, but flung him, almost violently, into the pilot room. "Lift her, damn you! Lift her, you bungling fool!" he snarled. "If we'd got the girls as hostages, the game was in our hands. But, of course, you had to snarl it up. Lift her, d'ye hear me?" Outside, Blaney clawed frantically at the ladder. He tumbled over the rail and pitched forward on his face as two shots rang out. Dockling, with the mechanics at his heels, sprang clear of the trees and dashed for the ship.' They were intent to get aboard and fight for its possession. The hull swayed a moment, unsteadily; flashed upwards, just as, with a final desperate burst, Dock-ling flung himself at the ladder. He touched the smooth hull as it drove up, TTut his clawing fingers found no grip With a yelp of disappointment he checked sharply. He scowled. It was poisonous luck to miss by inches l'ke that. He swallowed his chagrin, dourly, and swung about. "Get back to the girls," he ordered huskily. I They'd missed badly — hut so had ,Ingerfeldt. And. unless his guess missed badly, Sim and Blaney were i out of the game for some time. It jhad been a near thing, but those I dirty swine would have to look up the Red Cross, smart, and stay in hospital for quite a while. Dockling was whistling thoughtfully when he, reached the giris, once more on their feet. Lister was going to have, anyhow, a month before Ingerfeldt would be fit to take the field again. I "We'll get right back," he said cheerily- "These birds . ..." he pointed to the ship riding steadily three hundred yards or so up, " . . . prob'ly see the others. They've guessed our address by now anyway. They're off — for base hospital." He I waved a mocking farewell as the hum of the engines drifted down. "Got to get off to lick yer scratches, Ih'aint's yer, Roger? Ne'mind! Next time you come we'll surely get yer." That was the final occasion of that I eventful day wherein Dockling ser-I iously underrated the intelligence of his opponent. 'Ingerfeldt's hostage ! plan had miscarried without doubt, i His 'fighting strength had been reduced to that of one general and no army Pt to bear arms; ' but he wasn't beaten. In the moment of seeming defeat he had decided to bring up reinforcements.
CHAPTER XVI. : On towards morning Ulysses awoke gradually. He had the faculty, usually, of being wide awake on the instant. but in this particular instance that gift was in abeyance. His eyes opened, and for a space he stared into the gloom, dumbly questioning his own existence, and, in particular, where actually he was. Slowly the full tide of consciousness flowed across the nerve cells of his brain He remembered, and at the same time was aware of quiet breath'ng quite close to him. He felt round cautiously. There was nothing in the nature of bed clothes, but quite clearly the girl who had abducted him was on the same bed. Ulysses listened, every nerve on edge. He was no prude, but the situot'on seemed to him .... Weil, over the fence: She was sleeping soundly, snoring just a little bit, too. He felt on the side opposite from the breathing. That was the wall, and the woman must be out-. "e him then. Ulysses set his teeth. Inch by inch, a-tingle and perfectly still when he heard the woman stirring, he slid down till his legs dangled over the end of the bed, then touched the earth floor. His heart, as it seemed, beat thunderously. He heard the woman mutter something unintelligible, but it sounded menacing. (Almost he decided to spring up and dash for the door, but, keeping rigidly still, he fought down the shriekings of panic. He heard the woman sigh deeply and turn . . . She had settled to sleep again. Little by little he heaved upright, rtood on his feet, and realised that the coat which held his gun was not on him. Must be somewhere on the floor. In the course of an active newspaper career Ulysses had been in one or two nasty situations, but that blindfold search of the hut floor was a nerve-wracking experience he was not likely to forget for a long time. He blundered once against the stone seat, 1 and his heart stood still while he listened. "God be praised for sound sleepers!" he murmered devoutly, and continued his rearch. After what seemed an eternity, he found the coat and shirt, then groped around 'the walls for the door. In the dark the latch gave h'm some trouble, but in the end he was outside with the door tightly closed behind him. j Ulysses breathed deeply-, gratefully. He was nowhere near out of the woods, but it seemed like it to be free, in the open air, out of the clutches of that masterful woman. Faint, greyish light streaked one rim of the sky. Dawn was coming, how soon he could not judge, but before it did he must be as far away as possible. (To Be Continued)

OUlt SERIAL
. VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," -etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVI. continued)
.''Everywhere was still. Ominously still, he thought. And warm. If it had been on earth, he would have known a .thunderstorm was brewing.
Even an these -uplands 'there was no faint breath of wind, and the dim silence was oppressive. Ulysses walked on cautiously. That was another hut. And another. All quiet and not a soul stirring. Like a place of the dead it. seemed. He. came to the clear, central space where he had landed. Gosh! If one. of those plodga | things were handy, he'd take the risk of riding it somewhere, any-jwhero, sd long as he got away from (that darned woman, j . In fact, Ulysses, reflected grimly, he simply had to have one of those !four-winged birds, If. he trusted his i ;legs, they'd ' find him -with the light jas sure as God made little apples . . . There were none on the landing .ground. Where the devil would they keep the creatures stabled? A spasm i of coughing from the nearest hut ! moved him to flight over the brow of.,. the hill.' He'd have to hoof it ; after all and hide somewhere till a chance0 for a getaway showed up. .And, by gosh! there'd he no more cave-woman antics in his young life; He'd do as they did — forget they were women. They carried on like men, or worse, and it was up to him to treat them like men. Like particularly bad men at that. With a hearty fist — the gun if necessity compelled. He, personally, would provide all the cave-stuff the scenario called for. A rustling in the trees changed the current of his thoughts. It couldn't be the wind, because there was none. The light had become stronger, or he more used to gloom. Against the dull sky he saw a long neck, the knek of an ostrich-like head. That was one of them—a plodja, pulling off the . leaves jerkily and chewing them. Well, he'd have to get to it somehow and .trust to the luck of the Andersons that.it had its tail bridle on. From what he remembered, the leather cord was fastened through holes in the tail budge — sewn, weren't they ? Golly, the strings were there, fastened to a strap at. the tail base. . Ulysses crept along the Thing's belly. Once it dropped its .head- and flexed this round inquisitively, then stabbed at, him lightly. That seemed to he merely a gesture > of impatience, a kind of formal protest against being disturbed during meal hours. After that had been registered it returned to the more important business of feeding. It did not move even when Ulysses, with what he Called the rudder-ropes in his hand, felt for the mounting strap with the other. The man swung up light-heartedly. But how did one start the beastly engine from dead cold during dinner hours ?; The girl had. used a knife. Ulyssej, felt in his pocket, then pricked the 'skin between his, knees, as he remembered the girl had done. Nothing happened. . The beast grunted, mildly, encouragingly so it seemed, but continued its steady, munching. That big frame needed outside stoking,, On the hilltop someone called. , Ulysses tried again,, harder, savagely. .Of Of a sudden, with an angry grunt, the big reptile reluctantly conceded that the business of its rider might be more pressing than its own. It lurched back to gain room. The four wings beat slowly, more swiftly. They rose above the . trees, higher, yet higher, and drove forward. .Wisely Ulysses decided not to experiment with the cords till they had gained considerable altitude. Then, tentatively, observing, as best be could the relation of the ground to his position in the air, he tried each of the four cords. He was , clumsy at first and , nearly came to grief, but found to bis relief that when he let all slack the creature soon righted itself from dangerous angles. He got the, , hang of it at last. Two cords, on each side, controlled elevation and descent; the other two were for steering. He pulled the rising cord and rose still higher, then swung forward on a steady, level drive. It was easy. Ulysses grinned as his spirits, rose. And darned exhilarating, too. Beat horseback riding all ,to ,a frazzle. Of course, it was blind flying in the semi-darkness. Couldn't tell which way you were going like you could along a road. And it wasn't yet light enough to see the hills behind which were his friends. Nor .the sea either — that would have been a fine. guiding mark. Just the same he must lteep going, wherever he was heading.,, Had to get away as far as possible from that hill-top. .. Light seemed everlastingly slow in coming. , He should have beep over .the water now, if he'd been going in the right direction. He peered ahead. There was a loom of dark masses against the dull sky. Those must ho the hills. Certainly were — not more than just a few miles away. Ulysses relaxed. Everything was going mighty well. He'd soon he back with Lister .... and Dacia .... and .all the rest of .them in the canyon. They'd surely be surprised' to see him flapping along like this. He whistled cheerfully then, slacking the reins,, searched, his pockets. It' was a long, long time since he'd had a smoke, hut he believed he could light the old pipe and steer, and feel good all over at one and the same time. ....... They drew nearer to the hills, and as they drove closer, gradually the light strengthened. Ulysses puffed happily, watching the stone battlements take tops and bulbous domes — like a- city of minarets- against a twilight sky. (To he Continued) ''I'— — i ' 1 i —

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
i BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVI. continued)
i But there was no sea, no sign of water. Beyond the rolling country he had flown the hills rose sheerly, cutting sharply athwart the whole nne or ms horizon. He rose steeply. .Evidently he'd hit the back end of ith.eir chain of hills, and must get above them to find the canyon. The thought of Ingerfeldt crossed his mind, but was dismissed as swiftly .as it came. He surely would not run into him. This clearly was one of the Anderson's lucky days. They rose still more sharply and swung above the rocky ramparts. Ulysses laughed blithely. There was a sheen of water below, a big body of it, and .... Ulysses ceased his laughter and grew very thoughtful. It didn't look like the same place at all. Hills too kind of knife-edged. He looked along the range, turned his beast and surveyed the line in the opposite direction. There wasn't, anywhere, room for a valley of the sort they had first found. And. the water wasn't a sea cither, hut a lake. A fairish sized lake — but no sea. Day leaped forth, full grown. They coasted along the top of the range, and with dismay Ulysses noted that :the podja's wings were beating less I vigorously. Quite clearly it was tiring. Perhaps the steep climb over | those mountains had exhausted it, or maybe the Thing couldn't travel so , far after all. They'd have to get down soon, somewhere — and eat. Gosh, he | was hungry, too. I-Ie remembered I with surprise that he hadn't touched a thing since those nuts round mid day yesterday. "Not so good," Ulysses growled. He knocked out his pipe and filled it again. Tobacco was mighty scarce, but it helped a fellow to sort things out. . The wings moved quite feebly. They must get down pretty darn soon — and this was a poisonous country for a novice to make his first landing. They swung out over a projecting cliff, and Ulysses squinted down at the plain far below. Hello! That was a town, quite a big town, by the lake shore. "I'll make it," he muttered defiantly, and sloped sharply down. "He-man medicine for those folk down there. I'll make 'cm jump when I say so — or go up in blue smoke." The wings stood out stiffly, without movement. They planed down, steadied, and planed again. Down in an open space by the lake-shore Ulysses glimpsed people running, gathering and gesticulating. There were others in the lake who r'an hastily ashore. Down .... He laughed as they ! scattered .... to the heart of the crowd; a last upward tilt, then thud! The podja grunted sharply and turned a reproachful eye on its amateur rider. Ulysses wasn't interested in the reptile's fcel'ngs. For a first attempt, he felt that he'd made quite a decent landing in any case. Pipe still . in mouth, he hopped briskly off, and as a precaution hastily examined his automatic. There were six cartridges — that should be more than enough. He straightened up. Hands on hips, he faced the close ring of spectators with impressive jauntiness. He'd make them take him at his own valuation— and that would be pretty high.' ! In the first village he had discovered the difference between the sexes. .The women were bigger, better built; ithe men scrawny little chaps, with a -down-trodden, hang-dog look. These folk he . faced were women, all women, except, perhaps, one or two who peeped curiously under the arms of those, in the front row. "Well, folk, I'm here," Ulysses stated vigorously. He blew a great whirl of smoke as he advanced steadily. "And don't you forget, any of you girls, if there's any rough-house, I'm a wild and woolly rip-roarer from Aurpraville. Get out of- the road you, Sally Horner," He puffed a blue cloud in the face of the nearest woman, and she jumped back in alarm. -Thev formed a lane, and Ulysses walked jauntily down its centre 'ooking neither to right nor left. From behind, someone's arm clutched at his shoulder. He spun round like a flash and drove a tightly-bunched fist into a surprised face. The width of his lane increased after that, and no more hands stretched out. The crowd melted in front of him as he advanced. He had marked the largest hut in the vicinity, and towards this he strode purposefully. The door of the place was wide open, but as Ulysses came to it a small man emerged and stood irresolute. "Out of my way, brother," Ulysses shouted, without animus. "These barracks are commandeered for use of the troops. Hop it, sonny!" He gave the little man a friendly push. A woman sprang from the crowd behind the high-handed visitor. Her shrill yelp of anger brought Ulysses spinning round. Standing in the doorway that was apparently hers, he raised his automatic menacingly. She came plunging at him, and, aiming high, Ulysses pulled the trigger. That was the final touch. The crowd melted as by magic. The former owner of the hut slumped back sharply on her haunches, then, with wonderful speed, scrambled up and bolted. She had no intention of being left alone with Ulysses. "Not so popular as one might wish," Ulysses muttered with relish. He searched the hut. found it empty of living things, and returned, chal-lengingly, to his own doorway. Thirty yards away the people, respectfully curious, were gathering in scattered groups, ready for flight again if necessary. (To be continued).
our serial
VENUS CALLING
"BY FRANK II. BODLE " ' (Author of "The Te Itooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVI. continued)
"Glad you folk arc so reasonable," Ulysses shouted cheerily. He remembered that he was hungry. "Hi, youi Bring me' something to eat. Food.' i< -doubie-o-dee. He pointed 'significantly to his mouth. "Food! Confound you, I'm hungry as' a shark." When at length his signs made clear his wishes, a shrinking wasp 6f a man brought him nuts and water in a large shell. His dangerous errand, accomplished, the' small' man .was all for immediate flight, but Ulysses caught his arm. He patted the small fellow's back genially, and instantly the Venus-man grinned back. "Why, you're all right, old scout," Ulysses declared emphatically. Ho dug the other gently in the ribs, and laughed when, the little man giggled back. ' ' "You need a bit more — or — . backbone to handle these absurd she-males the way they need, but I'll tip you olf byc-and-bye. Your heart's certainly where it should be. If you ask' 'me, Billie boy, you and I are going 'to be, chums. An' believe me, son, we're going to knock blue blistered Hades out of1 these girls if they don't learn -their proper plaeo quick and sudden." "
CHAPTER XVII. The adventures and- experiences of a strange day were not yet over for Ulysses. Something ot his weariness -had dropped from him, and strength had been renewed by the food 'he had ' eaten. His swashbuckling mood of determination to put any interfering Venus-woman in' her proper place came back full strength. He strolled to the door when he had, finished the' food, and surveyed the crowd that stood at some distance froiri his , commandeered home. He noted that its numbers had increased considerably, then ostentatiously turned his back on the silent, staring throng. He . tapped thoughtfully, on the large cldy bricks that made the walls of his new residence.
"Stuck together with a kind of asphalt stuff," he mused aloud. '"Won-' de'r how they bake ' those bricks? No 'sun, arid I haven't seen any sug-gesti'on of a. fire anywhere." He wheeled suddenly. The sound of a sharp stir among the people behind had' come to his ears. The crowd parted quietly, respectfully. A plump and frowning female,, followed/by1 a bodyguard of about half-a-dozen /members ' df her own sex, matched disdairiful)y 'along' th'e' nary rovt'lane to the open space in "front of the stranger;/ "' : ' "Well, girls?" Ulysses walked forward/briskly.1' ihore determined Chan ever ' to dtand ho rionsense. ' "What's the trouble now? D'you folk want war— or have -you just come along .to pay a friendly call? Let's start on the last assumption, shall we?
Of course, I don't really mind which it is," but i think we ought to give the League of Nations idea just half a chance before we start punching each other's heads, don't you? We'll do ,.jt in-- regular, disarmament conference style." Holding his .automatic in his left hand, he walked steadily to the large woman, ' who was obviously the leader, gravely grasped, her hand and shook it warmly. The little man who had brought food 'to Ulysses slipped forward fussily and. stood by his side. Seizing his new friend's hand and pointing with it to the' large woman; he announced, solemnly: "Molo!" He was so pompously the master of ceremonies that, in spite of himself, Ulysses smiled. "Well, well!" he murmered easily. "This is surely an historic occasion, isn't it? The man from New Zealand, not amid the ruins of London, but chattering with the Queen of Venus. I suppose that's your job, Molo? Not to waste any more time on these pleasant formalities, what in thunder do you want, anyway? Don't be Parisian now. Say it quite slowly." ' Molo had a lot to say, but not much of it was said slowly. Words came from her in a swelling torrent, quite unintelligible to this man from another world. Her anger and her exasperation grew with her inability to make herself understood. What little self-control she had suddenly gave way. She . plunged forward and, seizing Ulysses by the shoulders, shoojt hiria vigorously. "You would, would you!" Ulysses set his teeth. He remembered his determination to treat those people like men when they behaved like men. His clenched right fist shot tip smartly and accurately. It caught Molo squarely on the point of the chin, and she sat down violently. I There was a stir among the ring of spectators; it swayed inward, then naked uncertainly. Two of the bodyguard sprang forward, and, unhesitatingly and enthusiastically, Ulysse3 slapped their faces with -his open nrind. It was a curious scene under that sombre sky, in the midst of 'that cluster of people and brick domes that wore their houses. Ulysses was nominated by the feeling that at all costs he must show himself master, or life would be impossible. He stepped back,' ready to meet any emergency. Molo was the o.ne who oroke the almost intolerable tension. Holding her jaw ruefully, she sat up slowly, then stumbled to her feet. Holding her jaw, she swayed; she broke into a peal of laughter, and the infection of it swept round and round the circle in an' increasing gale of mirth. Ulysses had made a genuine hit. Molo took his hand again, timidly this time, and shook if in-' iihitatiori of their first greeting. '"All' frieh'd$>again,' are we?" A grin of infinite relief stole across Ulysses face. He pump-handled vigorously, then stood clear. "What's the.pext move, Billie?" . (To be continued)
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To ICooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVII. continued).
Billie capered joyously. He was bursting with faith, , hope and proprietorship In this strange being, who j had come to them as a god from the ' say, and, godlike, had smashed all traditions of female overlordship With a swift flst and a quick smile. In some queer fashion lie sensed ( something of the stranger's question, and rose to the occasion so far as .was in his power. "Plodja! Plodja!" he called importantly, adding a string of words in his own speech;-I "Plodja!" Molo repeated with sudden decision, and Ulysses, too, joined in the call. Almost it seemed as if I they might be willing to take him back to his own people. Four of the .flying reptiles were ridden, over the heads of the crowd, and dropped into the empty space before the commandeered hut. Molo and four of her bodyguard climbed on three of the beasts, Billie urged his new friend to the fourth, and sprang up behind him. The little squadron , circled round to gain height, then struck out across the lake, flying away from the mountains of the morning descent. | "You're going the wrong way, : Billie," Ulysses shouted indignantly. "They're not over that way at ail. (Turn her round and climb those hills." The little man patted Ulysses' shoulder: reassuringly. He was clearly charged with some sort of tense excitement, but his tones suggested that -he had no least fear of the ultimate issue, and was backing Ulysses to the uttermost limit. That, at least, was the . impression gathered by the bothered young Earth-man. j He listened attentively to Billie's I string of words, and finally decided to let things take their course and see whatever was going to happen right through to the finish. In the meantime, since there was nothing special to do, he relaxed and looked around. They flew in a line abreast over the marshy edge of the lake. Looking down he saw a fleet of plodja in full enjoyment of their liberty, playing clumsily in the waters below. Obviously they were originally water animals that had come ashore and ultimately, in that heavy atmosphere, discovered that it was possible to use the air as well. They flew over sedgeland to rising downs, over lightly timbered country with occasional knolla, crowned by small villages and surrounded by suggestions of primitive cultivation. The general level of the ground rose steadily, and the flyers with it. The course seemed to he toward a rift in the line of hare hills ahead. As they, climbed the slope towards this, the number of trees below increased until they flew over a forest, till the floor below them was a silent, uneven wall of very light green. There was no trace of any breeze, and at first the stillness and movelessness robbed the picture of reality. It seemed, in fact, too much like a picture to be anything but paint and canvas. Quietly he pinched himself to make quite certain that he was awake. Then suddenly he sat up very straight, staring eagerly , down the long valley that opened before them. "The most human country yet," Ulysses muttered. He caught a quick glimpse of a small grey shape that might have been a bird — or anything, planing among the tree-tops. It was real and no picture, and it was beautiful, the first really lovely sight he had seen on Venus. They had climbed to 'the crest of their slope arid Incited - down the reverse s'de of a widening pass between the hills. Rough-edged, cruelly bare, these hills walled in each side of the long funnel; almost, it seemed, as if giant hants ljad hewn this path through the hilt barrier to make a garden. The pass dropped steeply; it was a narrow tree-fillod gully, perhaps a mile in length. It ended in open space! in a far wider valley at right angles to it, deep down and inviting, whose floor, was a chain' of lakes, whose farther limits were stupendous, sheer red cliffs. It was almost- as if in a land of scanty trees one glanced down a forested road to the Grand Canyon, or, better, to that wonder of Africa, the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. And, something that had been lacking hitherto, there was color in the prospect. The tree green was faint, but among this green were masses of white flowers, like the - crests of breaking waves in a sombre sea. -Abruptly, while this picture still filled and pleased his eye, Ulysses found that they had swung from the main pass to the right, into a narrow gorge. They drove down the darkness of this, and, as suddenly as they had left the smiling scene outside, found themselves in yet another world. So lightning sudden was the change and the contract that Ulysses caught his breath sharply. That glimpse of tree and flower and lakes and pleasant valley floor had been a happy surprise; the side-scar thev had traversed swiftly had repelled; but this basin in the hill was strange and wierd past all hope of telling. At first Ulysses could see nothing beyond a mist of cerulean blue around a well of crimson haze. Then, before details had time to clear, his beast bumped to the ground and. neck and tail extended, lay silently still. I When the others .dismounted, the Earth-man .did not move. He could rot ti'l he had mode some mental readjustments to these new surroundings. (To be continued)
OUR SERIAL
! VENUS CALLING
! BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVII. continued)
"This -certainly beats everything," Ulysses muttered, dazedly, and rubbed his eyes to . make sure that he saw aright. It was real enough. His beast squatted in a bed of giant con-vulvulpus-like flowers of a tender forget-me-not blue. The growth below was waist-deep. The flowers themselves formed an unbroken mass ' right down to and around the cen-
tral pool that was, at a guess, a quarter of a mile in length, and half as much In width, and that pool's contents were red, flecked with a scum bf steam, and smoke. It was a lake of fire, prisonqd in a rocky basin, and guarded by a blue sea of flowers. Last of the party to dismount, Ulysses climbed down slowly. At once he noted the warmth of the ground.. , "Must be something in this volcanic soil and the : heat that makes up for the lack of sun,'.' - he muttered, and stooped . to examine the flowers. A call from Billie drew, his wandering thoughts back to his companions, and he hurried forward, taking in new details. A number of people and some plodja were working at one end of the oblong pool. He stopped a moment to watch them. They were dashing up . and down rocky steps that led to a low platform, or rather ledge,, at their end of the lake of fire. The watcher laughed aloud. Of all things, they were carrying, down raw bricks to he baked. It. must be pretty hot there, and yet the dancing red waves seemed a long way from the ledge where the clay cylinders were being placed. He stood pondering this till once more a call from Billie roused him . to action. The others had walked down toward the farther end of the lake, the end opposite the natural bakehouse. And, by Jove, near the edge of the pool there was something seven or eight feet high, very like a shining metal image. Behind this glimmering statue was a small domed building, open in front and pillared. Like a summer-house, he reflected. His brain raced, sorting out the implications of all he saw. "I'll bet that's some sort of a temple," he muttered slowly. "And that .... that metal queen of the chessmen is some sort of god, or goddess, more likely. ' Swiftly he considered what the acceptance of this theory involved, tracking down the possibilities so far as they concerned himse'f and his friend". He cast back to the beginning of t.h's ' journey, and' recalled tlit BTiie, who .was .certainly his "lly lr'd suggested the trip. That seemed to be their goddess, all right, "it. he couldn't bel'eve his escort had brought him here, at Billie's instance, to. throw him into the lake as a sac-Inspiration came suddenly; be smashed his fist into open palm. "Got it," he shouted gleefully. "This a womnn-god, the embodiment of "'1 the!r woman-rule traditions. Molo ""its to introduce us, so that I'll be put in mv proper place, and Billie . . . . " he laughed joyously, .... "h"s some faint hopes that I may bust up this goddess person and her myth. He thinks, maybe, that is a necessary prelude to a sex-equality campaign. I'll bet something . like that " He grinned widely. "And iirt as sure as I live, Billie's got the '"bt 'rlea. I'll carry out his programme." all hes'tation slipped from Ulys-es He swung down the pathway of blue "n the track of his companions, noting that they waited for him below the steps of the summer-house. To the pointed arch doorway of this stood a forbidding figure, old. wrinkled, sunken-eyed, whose long wh'te hair hung down around, the a'o"k of blue flowers that seemed to be her on'y rlrcrs. In his first swift rian-c the newcomer caught a hint-->F famt'r! madness in the brooding vol's th-t .wore her eyes. "That. " raid Ulysses reflectively, "rent bo th»s eroh-Druideps, or high o">st or .whatever she calls herself. r fV-n't like her, looks a little bit. "ffio'n rot a vicious eye, and," he added, halting beside the shining metal 'mage "T don't like this. Never did "lm little tin gods — or big ones.
either." He examined the thing elnae'v. S'lver, or silver-lead, and rathm well worked. It 'was the first metal thing he'd seen ahiong these ueowle. and there was nothing crude about the way they'd worked the folds of the dress and the frilly ornamentation that had suggested a chess-piece. By jove. that pool was sending out some- heat! Seemed to be rising — like the stuff in a boiling pool at Rotorua. Rising right up to the ledge at the other end'' where they'd placed the bricks. He closed his eyes to . blunt the sting of the hot, red glare as the flaming tide swept up and up toward' the rocky edge where he stood. "Hickuk! Hickuk!" Billie's shout of terrible warning brought him sharply back to the realisation of a new danger. Things had happened in the . short space that his eyes had closed. The metal goddess had faced across the red lake. r Now it was turned towards him, The blind, metal face was void of anger, pity, or any other emotion, but there was definite menace in the metal arm that lurched at him, . and without doubt shrill calls of hate came thinly through a small opening in the soulless face;|- |- Ulysses jumped back, avoiding narrowly the thrust of the . hand and .the trip of something resembling a metal foot. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the red flood surge up ' and up, felt the soar of its heat, and 1 caught the reflection of its glow in the hateful blank face that overtopped him by a couple of feet. Half-consciously, too, lie hoard the old | crone in the temple chanting savagely, triumphantly. Arid Billie was calling to him urgently, with a desperation of appeal. Ulysses' jaws snapped together. He shut eyes and ears to everything but one. The fire was hot as Hades' se)f, but he could not stand back from it.' There was just one job in all the world he had to do — to smash utterly this metal thing that moved. In a frenzy it seemed to him that all his hopes in this strange world, the safety of his friends, and all that he held dear and possible depended on him now. He sprang forward savagely as sometimes, aeons back it seemed, he had done when playing wing three-quarter for his province. His arms wrapped desperately around 1 the metal skirts, and he, and it rock-'ed and toppled towards the liquid tide of crimson.
More than half-dazed, Ulysses got up slowly and without elation. 1-Ie looked down at the fallen goddess-Tlie thing was moaning as if it were alive and sorely hurt,, and suddenly Ulysses felt ashamed of his rage. I-Iis brain cleared. It was alive, or, rather, there was something alive inside the shell. He seized a metal leg that wriggled futilely, and- tugged. He heard, as in a ' dream, the wild scream of the high priestess, the sudden, high-pitched laughter of Billie, and tugged still harder. The metal frame caught in an inequality of the rdeky slope, and what had been inside came slowly and painfully to him. The swift relief of anti-climax forced a burst of hysterical laughter to his lips. It was nothing but an old hag, a p'tiful, moaning old hag, naked and ashamed, masquerading as a diety, and now unmasked as a trickster before them all. While he looked she sprang, frantically to her feet and stumbled blindly, her arms groping at unseen things, her white hair streaming as she ran to hide from her shame. (To be continued) ,,
OUR SERIAL.
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "TIio To Kooti Trail." etc.. otc.)
(Chapter XVIII. continued)
-'Theyrc a buncha' live wires, those boys. - Oakley waved . in the general direction of the drowsy mechanics.. He - was optimistic, but non-committal.. "What are you go-"ing to do about oil?''
1 -Can do.- Lister picked up a piece of nut-husk. "There's some in j this, and bettor stuff still in the nut itself. I took, time off to try it." I -We II build you a plant then." Oakley took time to consider. ''That f means a shift to Docltling Palls — for all. With things liable to happen sometime soon, we've got to live right alongside the iob." Theres iron up tlierfc." Docltling struck in. Most of the conversation had been above the limited range of his scientific knowledge, but if he ; could not argue- about evolution and jmechanics, he knew minerals when the. ran into them. "Truck-loads of it." I . "We'll have to shift," Lister agreed. "Would have to, anyway. We've worked out the handy fuel. Docltling tells me there's sandstone strata quite close to the falls. We can excavate a cave that will provide shelter and a refuge if we're attacked, at the same time commanding our works. What's the range qf the air-guns, Docltling?" "Drill a man at a hundred paces. Give him a nasty jar at two." . "Then those and a good old olec- ftric fence ought to keep the power I plant safe," Lister said quietly. "We'll start in to-morrow and dig out the cave. When that's done, we'll carry up all the stuff we've got, including your iron ore, Oakley, and I roast it near the works site. With nine or ten. men working at the cave ' we should have enough protection to move to-morrow evening. While we dig it out you girls and the rest qf the men must stay here in the cave, just in case Ingerfeldt returns." The working party set out early the next morning. Dockling, Skimpy and three of the mechanics remained behind as guards under a pledge that no-one was to venture from the cave .till the others returned. The garrison of seven — Dacia and Esther had practised with the guns — were un- feignedly glad of the respite. They had, each of them, worked hard and willingly. Even Skimpy, totally unaccustomed to the steady grind of high-pressure work, had, shown up ;w.ell. The whole party, frankly lazed on the entrance platform, and felt they'd earned it. The others were working now, but so, they would be soon; and once started again there would be no let-up. , Conversation was scrappy, and finally died away. Except for. Dock-ling, who felt his responsibility, all dozed. Even the commander, who had also made himself watch, felt an overpowering desire for "sleep. That' desire melted suddenly. From easy somnolence every fibre of him was ' instantly and acutely awake. He lis. 1 tened intently. " I "Ingerfeldt's coming," he announc-ed dourly. "From the sea. That's his engine you hear. Better get back puta' sight so we can see what his game is— without him seeing us." They saw the ship at last. She was working slowly up from the sea against the further wall of the can yon. There were five people on lier deck. One of these was clearly In gerfeldt. The others were total strapgers.
-Chummed up with the ..natives Roger lias.". Dockling spoke guardedly, though the enemy was some distance away. "That surely gums things, up. some:" How?" Dacia looked the new people over , with, interest. They wore skins like their first aboriginal visitor. Theyve stopped, see." Dockling pointed across- the valley. "Coming down. Now, if I guess, right. Roger will send those birds to look over the cave while lie stands off in safetv
And that don't suit our book at all see, miss. We don-t want to start no fued with these Indians. H'm! Roger thinks, he s. beyond pistol range, don't he? Well, maybe he is, hut we'll take a chance; This isn't one of our visiting days." The veteran of a European war dropped flat on the floor and took steady aim with his recently fashion-ed air-rifle. "He's persuading those people to get down," Esther muttered uneasily. "And pointing to our cave," Dacia amplified, quite unnecessarily. Came; a hiss — as of a sharply out-flung- breath. Dockling broke his gun and, recharged it with air and buliett. Ingerfeldt, seemed startled, but apparently not hit. He swunrr away from the cave, staring behind him in evident surprise. "Pretty close, but these sights need knowing for a long shot," Dockling grumbled, cuddling, his gun again. There was no doubt of Ingerfeldt's surprise after the second shot— and something more than. that. He danced wildly on the deck with an agility astonishing in, one so bulky. Alternately he shook one hand, and press-ed it tenderly under the opposite armpit. . The man was hopping ' mad, and at the same time obviously puzzled, He had heard, no sound of ,any shot, and yot had been hit, in the hand. The four natives spi'ang back from him in alarm, terrified by the unaccountable and appalling fervor of his speech. . They understood not a word of the fluent torrent, but plain- I ly the more room he had, the health- I ier it was for his associates. A third I bullet that grazed Ingerfeldt's leg I gave the man- a saner outlook, and a clearer realisation of his own danger. "Up with her; damn you, Sim," he bawled. He danced behind the dome, and from that shelter shook his sound fist at the cave. "All right, you,- lister," he bellowed savagely. "I know where you- arc, and I'll get you — when I'm good and ready. You,, can't get- away from me. I'll get you, make no mistake." (To. Be Continued)
OUR SERIAL
i VENUS CALLING p
BY. FRANK H. B0DLE r . \ (Author of "Tho To Kootl Trail," etc., otc.j
(Chapter XVIII. continued)
, "There's more'n you will have the say-so in that, Roger," Dockling said, very quietly. He had no intention of showing his hand by shouting buck. Far better to keep Ingcrfeldt guess-ing. "So long! You'll surely find a warm welcome whenever you call round:" The ship spun about and sped back for tho coast. The reconnaissance had told Ingerfeldt painfully the exact location of his opponents' lair, and possibly had warned him they could hit at a greater distance than he had thought possible, hut had yielded no other practical result. Dockling pieced the meaning of the visit. "I reckon Roger came snooping round on the off chance o' grabbing Mr. Lister, an' yes' t' make sure where we was. Sim can sit up 'n' handle the engines, but Blanoy's still outa' gear." He grinned at the happy memory. "I guess that lad's not sitting down right cosy yet." "What about the other people f " Dacia asked quickly. "Hired for war, I reckon." Dockling loaned out to watch the ship swerve seaward, out of sight beyond the farther cliff. "But surely he can't talk their language," Dacia odjected. She and the others returned to their former seats on the platform. "It wouldn't be possible to learn it in the time." "Simmy, he's de wooz at chinning wit' people too- dumb ter talk English," Skimpy explained. "An' Ingerfcldt's got the stuff to talk with," Dockling added. "All the stores in that boat c'n be used for prop'ganda purposes. Why, he probably gave each of them recruits a package of tinned lobster, or one of your Sunday frocks, miss, as wages. Sump'n like that done the trick, dead easy." They settled down to rest and wait again, but once more came interruption. The heavy air and the silence was doing their work when of a sudden Esther decided that it was time to eat. She smothered a yawn and stood up. "I'll bring out the nuts,"' she offered; it was a relief to do something after the strain of Ingerfcldt's visit. She looked round, without much interest, up-valley, and stiffened. "Look! Look! Dacia!" she called excitedly. "Here's Ulysses come riding back. With soneone else. There are two of those queer flying things." "Well, what do you know about that?" Dockling squinted towards the sea. "Said this wasn't a day for callers. I was nutty. Ulysses 'n' his friend it surely is. Better show ourselves." He slipped off his jacket and waved it vigorously. "There! They see us!" The party in the cave stood up and watched the two flyers beat up slowly toward them. Dacia was the first to notice their mistake. 'That's not Ulysses," she declare..! positively. She inspected the approaching riders critically. "One o .them might be the creature who carried him off; but the other is much too small for either." "Say. de little bozo, he's wavin' to us kinda' friendly," Skimpy stated. "Let h'm wave." Dockling felt h:s pockets to make certain ammunition was plentiful. "We'll take no chance; they may he some of Ingerfeldt's troop. Indian flying squadron. But don't shoot till I say. We ought to be able to handle that pair with the gloves On." The flying things dropped down he-low the cave, commg to rest with evident relief. Their tails dropped down, then their long necks, till cech was extended full length along- thc-ground. The riders were less their ease. They glanced at enrb other doubtfully, then slowly the smaller one dropped off. Standing rigidly beside the great beast he ha:' ridden, he unfastened a leather bag hung round bis nock, grinning plac'at-ively at the group above. His l'ps moved. He muttered, shook his head, and tried again. "What the devil does the chap th'nk lie's doing?" Dockling muttered, completely baffled. The answer came clearly: "For Dacia frin Lissic," the little man colled triumphantly, his face one immense grin. "For Dacia frin Lissie."
he called again pndelully, and flung the bag to the platform. "Well, I'll be hornswoggled," Dockling shouted, catching, the bag g'ee fully. He handed it to Dacia with o flourish. "Postal d'livery parcel fer you, Miss Hatrick." "For Dacia frin Lissie," the little man below repeated in the manner of a prize pupil repeating an exercise j learned painfully by heart for the' school break-up. | "Sur»st thing you know, sonny," Dockling declared, with relish. "Not a thing' wrong with you, is there?" (To he continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CAtUNd-
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVIII. continued) .
Dacia tpre open the lid of the sack. Her fingers. -trembled as they dived inside. "It's a letter," she cried happily. "Frpm IJlysses. And pencil and paper for a return npessage." '
"If he cpuld send a letter, whyever couldn't he come back himself?" Es-, ther grumbled. Dacia did not hear. Possibly, she did not hear. She had no interest for anything but the scribbled, message/ No-orie spoke again till, she .had skimmed completely through the message. She sat down on the ledge, her. eyes shining. The whole atmosphere of the valley had changed. Almost she persuaded herself the. sun shone and the'' birds were singing. "I'll read it to ypp," she said hap-, pily. "There's nothing private in it." Her cheeks flushed; that last statement was only half true. The letter, started with "My dearest Dacia," and ended with "Yours ever." But these being superfluities, she decided to keep them to herself. "Well, why don't yo.u ?" Esther demanded acidly. She had been, she considered, extraordinarily patient in waiting for news that was of general interest. "This is what he says," Dacia began. " 'I'm all right, and hope you,' folk. are. Can't get away yet, though I'm working hard on the people here.' I'm stuck in a fair-sized town, and believe me these people think I'm' seme sort of a god, but they won't let me go. Not yet, anyway. However, little Ulysses is planning a sort of revolution, and it's working. Suffragette stuff, and . t'other way round. You see, women .run this world.'" "And ours, too, eh, -Skimpy?" Dockling murmered, sotto voce. : " 'They boss the unfortunate men so it makes you sick to see it,' " Dacia went op palmly. " 'I'm trying to inject enough spunk into the boys to register a kick,' good and hearty. The whole .scheme's a novel idea to them. Being a he-deity helps -some, but I'm telling you old customs die1 hard. "They've never tasted animal' food, you know, and don't know anything about fires. The consequence is that the men never have had to hunt, and the women, " having no housekeeping to do, ; have" just taken' charge. Maybe the nut diet makes; them peaceful, too, for I don't believe they've ever had a war of any; sort. The men are just back numbers.' ""Don't "Don't make you feel like marrying a Venus-girl, does it, Skimpy?"-, Dockling suggested. "That postman, now, surely looks, sat upop." " 'I could teli you a lot of things,' " Dacia resumed; " 'how- 1 had to, tread on; the pet corns of the Queen here,:j slap, some of the Grand Duchesses, and push a goddess off her perch, but, that will keep. The po,int is, they keep their flock of plodja— they're, the flying dragon things — well away from me, so for the moment I'm tied down. But I'll be coming along to you -befpre long, with a squadron of huskies .just perishing to assert th,eir; manhood. That's the line 'I'm taking. 1" " 'In the meantime, Dacia, I'm learning tpem lingo like a house on fire. Billie.-Boy — that's my trusty messenger, takes me for language; tuition about half the hours of the day. He's recently been promoted to. bo Grand High Arch Thihgumijig of-' the- new gd> and I'll "admit he's, a'-good lad. What's your 'fiews? I'm' hungry to know, and, in case you're short, a Rap.pr- and pencil. A: good -reporter ' always has some to, spare in his jacket pocket. Don't forget, I'm all right, and holding my.' end up. -Yoii can trust Billie Boy tp the lirpif. He'll wait for your reply-paid plpdjagram.': That's, all,'-' Dacia finished, her face flushing again. "I'll write to him how." "Theafs great news," Dockling declared with enthysiasm. "You'll not forget to bring him up-to-.da,te about Ingerfeldt, miss ? And his hired troops,? And we'll send him back an airgun and a pile of bullets. He may. find' 'em useful in- that rev'lution he's up to." , (To be continued)
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tho Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XVIII. continued)
Billie Boy and his shy friend, fed with nuts, and the former rewarded with a copper axe— which the canyon people hoped soon to replace with steel ones — started hit on their return journey. Their mutual expressions of goodwill were not lingually intelligible, but the broad smiles and hand waving made their purport abundantly clear. With the departing guests went one air-rifle and one hundred rounds, also a letter that coTe1--eu every available blank page And curiously, its beginning and its end With an mvertion of names, was exactly the same as that which tho bag contained on its inward journey CHAPTER XIX. After some thirty' days of intensive studying Ulysses was able to speak and understand fairly well the simple language of the people of the lane. He had natural aptitude, a remarkably good memory, and in addition he put all his energies into the work. Billie Boy had been back from his canyon visit three days, and the interval had been more than sufficient for Ulysses to learn Dacia's letter word for word. The news it brought was disquieting. Lister was working wonders, and more was promised if he were left alone, but he didn't like the word about Inererfeldt. For the hundredth time he drew out the letter and considered its contents-The feuow was evidently planning trouble, and seemed to have the backing of the people on the far side of the canyon range. Ten me about those people. Bune Boy,- Ulysses commanded, using the simple speech of his friends. The pu.ir. and two other men of the new priesthood, sat on a tree-covered ridge above the lake-snore. To the left - the town that Ulysses had chris-. tenon Taupo was buzzing with unusual preparations. So that he might be less conspicuous if infer-feint trd come along. Ulysses had adopted the skin costume of ids fellows. The heavv smock and pointed icathem cap had converted him into an outsize edition of ins neighbors. I Any oi them ever come here?" I Not come. Bune Rov shook n s i head with empnasis. "Not come our | eonntry. He pointed to the mountains hemnd them. "I-lieTi lulls, more tan than this. stop. But they want our piodia." Got none themselves, eh?" Ulysses suup-ested interestedly. Piooja breed here, in this water." Bhiie Boy indicated the mite. "We change he-plodja for he-kitry. You know? This skm belong him. None my country. Only few; he-kitry. We change." "I catch your drift." Ulysses saw daylight and laughed. "They hang to the females; so do you. No chance of either s'de — how the mischief do you say busting the monopoly? Never mind . . . . I know, Biliie. How do you get enough clothes, then?" "One road, high up in mountains,!' Billie explained eagerly. He held up two fingers. "Twice a season there b'g korakoo.' You know— big talk-time. We change. One he-plodja, hundred he-kitry. Other things. Knife and nut and berry." He laughed squeakily. "And women try to steal men and bring back home." "Nice- goings-on," Ulysses muttered severely. He considered the information "Kind of fair," he muttered. His forehead puckered. "I'd like to take a run tip to that pass to find out just What Ingerfeldt's doing. What'3 all the st'r in town, Billie?" ' "Go up to High Road to-morrow." Bill'e giggled with excitement. "Guard there say big stranger, man come. Want to make gifts. Want too many plodja. Soon, we catch some." r "The devil you will." Ulysses sat up. "Ingerfeldt buying cavalry horses, is he ? Well, it's certainly up to me to burr that little game. And that's one of the places where bride-, grooms grow on gooseberry hushes, i waiting to be pulled. It surely looks I as if I must drop my revolutionary I propaganda awhile, and start a little private war of my own. Got to do so that Al. has time to settle down comfortably. Now, how in thunder I shall I plan my campaign ? If only I could catch that dog— but he's too wily to come to the fair. And probably save all his gas for the Big | Push. He'll send Sim and Blaney to barter for the mounts."
"What you talk, Lissie? Bulie Boy asked anxiously. "I can't know him." "You take me to Molo, the Queen, little man." Ulysses sprang to his feet. "I talk to her. Big talk. Make her— how the devil do you say it ? — eat my talk, do what I say. Come along. Get some of the boys, too." He patted the little man encouragingly. "Going to stage a suffragette demonstration. March of the oppressed. Don't know that talk, do you? Don't try to. Get the gang." Queen Mola was a plump creature with a heavy triple chin. When I Ulysses and his followers gathered outside her big hut, she was not pleased, but she had learned a wholesome respect for the new god. Her previous experience of Ulysses in cave-man mood was that it saved a heap of trouble to do as near as possible to what he wanted. Royalty was no defence. She came out hurriedly, .her royal consort following with the state chair of stone. Molo sat down and looked at Ulysses uncertainly. "Your talk, Lissie," she commanded heavily.(To (To be continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To Kooti Trail," etc., otc.)
Chapter XIX. continued '
Ulysses liad' a lot to say. Some of it was persuasive; some frank bullying — as. when the citizen of a distant planet lifted the royal dame from her seat and shook her vigorously. During this particular interlude His Majesty retired with all haste inside the palace. He could not hear t" watch this indignity, or more probably he anticipated fireworks. There were none. Molo, in fact, seemed appreciative. She smiled encouragement on Ulysses, rather to the latter's confusion. He desired no encouragement from adipose royalty. "You be a good girl, Molo," he said with unnecessary severity. "Do what I say, and maybe, if everything runs smoothly, I might give you a brotherly kiss. Sorry, I forgot for a moment you didn't understand English." He relapsed into the local dialect, continuing with his alternatives of coaxing; and intimidation. "All right, "then," he ' concluded cheerily, "that's done. To-morrow I go With you to the High Road. And nobody will tell the Kitry people you have a new god here. You get new coats for nothing, Molo, and . . . . " lie returned to his native tongue, I maybe I'll get something out of the deal, too." : uiysses was permitted to ride his ' own plodja next day, but, had he .wanted to, there, was little chance of J his getting away: He rode in the midst of a big troop of them. Four or five hundred, led by the Queen's pwn particular charger, took the air soon after dawru They were the rear division of the people bound for what , Ulysses had called the fair. Many others afoot and carrying loads, and still others with laden plodjas, had set. out, the previous evening. It was a cheerful journey, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. There was much talk and laughter, and 1 what Ulysses described to himself as the real thing in skylarking when a) jocular matron rode over the tail of the next in front and sent it into a sharp head-spin. Keeping the ranges on their left, they passed over level .country with marshy patches here and there, and occasional hillocks. Once they flew over a considerable, village, squatting on the summit of a low hill. Here, as on his flight to the Fire Lake, Ulysses noticed a primitive. sort of cultivation. During his lake-side sojourn he had cation many round berries, brown and i luscious, and a welcome change from the perpetual, nuts. Below him, round the flanks of the hill, were rows on rows of canes. People were working among them, and stopped to wave to the flying squadron. Hp watched with interest the little people below return to their work. They , were picking berries he judged. He must certainly take a kitful back to the girls when he returned to the canyon. Grimly he devoted all attention .to the business in hand. The berries would have to wait until he found out something more of inger-feldt's gome. Toward midday they swung in over upland country for ' the mountain range. This range, continuation of the' ridge over which Ulysses liad flown a month before, was in this area of ; far greater height. The summits . of the tall spurs and peaks were invisible in the heavy pall' of clouds. "Pretty stout barrier, all right," Ulysses. .muttered,, eyeing the taller tops. "Don't wonder these folk don't mix much with each other." Their route became well defined .They passed over tlie procession of Laltesiders, who had started earl'er. These were not so playful as their more fortunate comrades of the air. They trudged sober1 y and steadily along up the mountain slope, and had1 no energy to. spare even for a waved; greeting. The' flyers drove beyond them, upward into the gaping mouth of a gorge. J "High Road!" Billie Bey called across. "We come to Change Place soon." "Not too mtich of a road at that," Ulysses muttered. He ' had found squadron flying far more difficult than his 'solo effort. It was never ' quite certain what one's neighbor ' would no- next, . and ho liad constantly to , be on guard against jostling. It .would; be worse in that gloomy hole. (To be. continued)
OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING ,
BY FRANK H. BODLE j (Author of "The Te Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
Chapter XIX. continued
The squadron entered the gorge six abreast, and followed the ascent of the High Rqad into a realm of grey mist that thickened speedily into something worse. They ran into thick swirling stuff that rolled endlessly along the draughty funnel of their ravine. There were moments wnen tne soupy fog blotted out all view even of those right alongside. Then for seconds the grey mist thinned, and it was possible to see, perhaps, thirty yards. Flying in such circumstances demanded tense concentration. Ulysses sniffed. Queer smelling stuff that fog. Or was it fog? They were among the clouds, and this stuff in the gorge was all mixed with them, but he didn't believe it was merely the lower strata of clouds. He swung an open hand through a dense eddy of grey black. It was thickly gritty,, and it smellcd — sulphury. A thinning' of the pall immediately below indicated that the gorge was dropping down. "Shaking Flat down there," Biliio Boy screeched. "See!" Ulysses saw. A red glow shot, up through the murk. It vanished, but another spurt of flame, and yet another followed the trail of the first flash. Keeping touch with Biliie on his right, he dropped rapidly, and, like the lifting of a curtain, ' the fog fell from 'them. They were above a sunken plateau that had mountain heights at either end and on each side. His eyes wandered irresistibly to the right flank of the depression. Midway along that flank a squat peak belched forth masses of dirty grey smoke. An angry cloud mushroomed from its summit, and the heart of that cloud was red flame. "Volcano!" Ulysses said softly. "That explains the brimstone stink. Where to, Biliie Boy?" "There!" Biliie indicated a stone wall nine or ten feet high that cut across the flat from rim to rim. A couple of hundred yards beyond was another wall of roughly the same height. Between the two walls were some hundreds of people. The squadron from the lake circled over these people, wandering above them in what Ulysses thought to he a rather aimless fashion — until he caught sight of one particular mem-ber of the gathering. He was mighty relieved when they swept back and landed behind their own wall. ' Ulysses jumped off and stretched cramped limbs. He danced a brisk step or two, humming softly. Outside there, in no man's land,; between what seemed to be the defensive lines of the two peoples, Mr. Gustavus Blaney was ponderously waiting to handle the simple aboriginals. Couldn't mistake that fat man in any' sized crowd on Venus. The little incident Dacia had mentioned hadn't reduced Blaney's paunch. That remained unmistakable. "Now all I've got to do is to get hold of you and make you talk, Gussie," he murmered happily. That shouldn't be so almighty difficult. Here, Biilie, go and tell Molo I want her. Big talk. And who's that violent party, the one who's always in a blue fit, ready to crack anyone at the flicker of an eyelid. The old maid? I got her. Billy, bring Tixy here, too. Tell her if she behaves I'll give her a husband. Bring them along, Biilie Boy." N CHARTER XX. , Gu3 Blaney felt more cheerful than for a long time past. He had adopted rather a jaundiced view of life and. affairs on- Venus ever since Dock-ling's final shots had made both sitting and lying down' distinctly uncomfortable. Nor had. Ingerfoldt's outspoken contempt. of what ho described as bungling tended to soothe either travail of spirit or sufferings of body. However, that was all in the past, and, though Blaney still felt hot resentment if ho recalled certain incidents following his misadventure and Ingerfoldt's cynical laughter, he was not straining his memory at that moment. A warm glow of something akin to satisfaction was upon him. In the course of a variegated career Blaney had played many parts, but the role of an honest or practically honest trader carrying the fruits of civilisation to a simple people were entirely "new to him. He looked over his pile of trade goods with complacency. There were blankets, sheets, knives, spoons, jugs, cups, two bottles of scent, and a liberal assortment of tinned goods. He surely was giving good value for those flying lizards. Well, they were worth it. With them Lister's crowd could be safely rushed or, if not, starved out. And when, finally, Lister had been made to close the hatch bf the boat, they would go back: And you bet Sim and he would hold Roger J. to his third share contract. Blaney looked round ho man's land the fiftieth time, with fifty times the distaste of his original unappreciative glance. The place was a stinking hole — damp as the Atlantic Ocean, with something in the beastly air that started a fellow's es'hma whooping up. Still, whet r'vl that matter? The plodja people '--rl come up to do business on a cash ha's. Tint parade was a fine showing. What were they waiting for? "They eat," one of li s aide's explained. Blaney had not labored as diligently as Ulysses, but he had picked up scraps of speech and suf-I ficient leading words to make his requirements known, and to be understood a little himself. "They certainly eat a husky meal," be growled impatiently. He was anxious to get the business over. The 1 - — chill of the place was getting into' his bones. In inverse ratio to this increase of chill, the glow of benevolent satisfaction diminished. He waited another long half-hour, then all his patience evaporated. "Tell him come quick," he ordered disgustedly. "Say I angry." A messenger ran to the narrow gateway and shouted Blaney's demands. She returned hastily with a curt reply. Apparently Blaney's anger was of small moment. The queen was resting, and could not he disturbed. When she was rested, trading would begin. No sooner. Blaney cursed violently, but that helped nothing except an overcharged spleen. He sent another messenger later, and the same answer came back — with an excess of acidity. .A drizzle set in late in the afternoon. There was no shelter in the area between the walls, and, after seeing his pile of trade goods protected with all the available skins Blaney returned to cover behind . his own wall. His American suit compelled something less than the utter indifference to weather conditions affected by his skin-coated neighbors. Darkness closed in heavily. Them could be no trading until morning — if the fool women was rested up by I then. He considered carrying back , his goods, but was dissuaded. His I associates had no love for unneces- 1 sary work, and they assured him that it was a never-broken custom that no person should tread the neutral zone | after dark. Wheez'ng unhappily, the fat man sought shelter "under the wide roof of a large fungus and , went to sleep. Ulysses, on the contrary, did not | sleep. He had some qualms of con- 1 science about his wakefulness. He felt that as a god he was setting an eject-able example. He was about to establish an immoral precedent that might have far-reaching effects,' possibly cause international complications, at the worst, even war. Still, he reflected, he had a perfectly good alibi. All that stuff outside had been stolen from h'm and from his friends. H's ownership in it amounted to twenty-five per cent., while Blaney had no rights whatever. (To be continued)

(OUR SERIAL ,
ymm calling
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The To Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XX. . continued)
It was wet and dark as, the outside of a tar barrel out there between the (walls, but no living soul was stirring. Till this break of his,, stealing, except of husbands,, which was legitimate business, had apparently been unknown on Venus. Well, when you got right down to it, he wasn't stealing either. He . was merely recovering stolen property. The skins, not being his, he left where they were, but in three hours Ulysses had carried in all Blaney's barter goods, had seen them safely loaded on several plodjas, and these protesting animals . despatched ;in the dark for the distant lake. Then, with . the consciousness .of a good deal well done, he sought all 'the sleep that was left to him. In fact, Ulysses, just before unconsciousness came, . felt something greater than the glow that had, -earlier, suffused Blaney's corpulent being. Not only had stolen and useful property been recovered for its rightful owners, hut one more day of respite had been gained for Al. and the boys in the canyon. More than that, Blaney was so obviously irritated by the delay, and would certainly he so much more so by the discovery he was due to make, that he'd surely fall into an indiscretion. Before he knew it, the wedding, bells would he ringing for him, and like as not the bells would be accompanied by stars. Ulysses slept really . well. Billie Boy had considerable difficulty in rousing him from the tail of this refreshment after daylight. He. proceeded finally, with considerable diffidence, to roll- the deified revolutionary from side to side. Under this' heroic treatment Ulysses sat up,, rubbing heavy eyes. "What the ....?" he demanded sleepily. "Oh, it's you, Billie Boy. Why you do that?" "Fat fellow big angry;:' Billie: giggled with joy. "Hit the wall, , the door. Want to hit who take his change-things. Molo says, i what she do?". . . Ulysses got up; ' "Tell , them Molo eats; and she will make; : trade when she has done. Tell the 1 fat man when he complains that none of your people touch his stuff." Ulysses grinned, and reverted to English.- "Which is perfectly true, little man, even if Gus won't believe lit. After, breakfast I'll set the stage — and: leave the rest to Tixy." . > : \ ; . That was the programme,.- and Blaney, in spite of- furious protests, had to abide by it. There was an etiquette about these 'gatherings, his own people explained patiently- and at some length. Blaney didn't give two; hoots about etiquette; he: wanted his goods, and, what was, more, he was going to have them. He was entirely unimpressed', by the expressed opinion that if the. plodja people said they hadn't taken them, they hadn't. That they were always truthful, though hard in their dealings, was an estimate Blaney found himself quite unable to accept. Still;, though he boiled Inwardly, and ton some extent boiled over outwardly; he had to 'wait. ; It was mid-morning, before i Queen Molo sent word that she 'was feady to begin business. According to inviolable custom, Blaney's people withdrew behind the1 central line of the neutral zone. Blaney himself ' was,, however, no slavish follower of' immemorial custom. In fact, he did not give one .immature and ailing, curse for all the- customs in this new world. He wanted his goods, and he wanted i them right away. Inspired by wrath.' and the knowledge that his1 gun' made ' him an equal match for an- army, 'corps of these people, he . strode grimly for the narrow door, as soon as announcement was called from the wall that Molo was ready. The watch above eyed bim curiously, but said I nothing. , ... ' j Blaney waited the opening of , the door with impatience. He was cer-i tain these people had taken his stuff, and just as certain hq- was- going to get it hack if he had to - go in- alone I after it. The, narrow door opened a few inches. As it gave no indication of swinging wider, the fat man thrust, a large shoe into the gap and heaved with his shoulder. Automatic in-hand1, red-faced and furiously angry, -lic-bui-st into- the land of the Lakesiders. ; A small apologetic man barred- his-way. Blaney raised a foot' to kick, him out of the way. "Get the . .' . " he roared, but never completed the sentence. Nor did his foot reach any effective destination. One of Ulysses socks,- magnificently laden withi gravel, sand and volcanic clinkers,' swung by Miss: Tixy's. capable; if ; bony arm, caught him heavily on"the back of the head.' The lady perform-. ed her portion of the ancient rite of marriage, according to Venus, with simple and hearty efficiency. , '' ."VWien. Blarney's wits returned,, after a . considerable hiatus, he was: secure-, ly bound, and astride a flying reptile, with a compelling, violent female immediately behind' him. A gag was no :part- of his equipment, and Blaney said all he thought with no regard for maidenly delicacy. Possibly this' vocal freedom saved him from .apoplexy, but it produced no other i tangible result. Not in the direction I' he.- desired: ait any- rate-, r A small' Ihand patted his cheek, as one might sooth: a fractious child. He- turned lihis head' and bit vigorously. The-Iblow behind the ear that succeeded tthis pleasantry convinced the fat man that he had made a mistake. His l'lands were tied with leather throngs, but he drove an elbow down each sr.de to feel for his gun and the spare cartridges. The swine had been through him and drawn his teeth. (- . (To be continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XX. continued)
They'd done rather better than that. They had secured material which, with luck and good management, might immobilise Ingerfeldt, to|, at least for a time. While Blaney rode dismally on his wedding journey — though he didn't know it then — Ulysses was particularly busy at his old trade, too. He was giving the public the news — but not all the news. One , couldn't always do that with safety. Scuffling through Blaney's pockets he had discovered two old letters and a 1 pencil end. He was glad to see the pencil because, though he had a much better one of his own, its discovery indicated that there was no possibility of Ingerfeldt knowing that Blaney was without writing materials. "Gone over border," Ulysses printed with careless lettering. "Hope to get 200 flying reptiles. Will take fortnight, maybe more. Do nothing special till I get b.ack because I have the goods. Yrs Rptfly, G. Blaney." | Ulysses turned the opened envelope on the back of which he had printed his vera'cious message, carefully crossed out the name G. Blaney in its address, and substituted: "To Roger J. Ingerfeldt." "That ought to . look circumstantial enough for Roger," Ulysses murmer-ed contentedly. He pocketed the original contents and also the spare letter; they might be useful for further letters to the enemy. "And I miss my guess," he added, "If I don't keep Roger tied to his base for quite a while." He and Billie joined Molo, and that amiable lady gave orders for the delivery of the letter to the other side, with directions for its despatch and destination. Molo added that the business on hand would start at once. The fair was, however, less than its usual bright success. The life had gone from it. It speedily became flat, stale and unprofitable. Berries, knives, skins and a few other simple articles of manufacture land the fields changed hands in half-I hearted fashion; but the edict that no plodjas were available then for trade removed all interest from the gathering. It had been a bad breeding 'season. There were young ones to spare near the Lake city, but the flat stranger had gone to buy those. Barter languished. There was disappointment on each side; there was no animation in the scene — not even a half-hearted attempt at liusband-I stealing. Ulysses soon tired of it. Besides, he had other fish to fry elsewhere — about one hundred miles elsewhere, he judged, in a city he'd christened Taupo. . | The Queen, too, soon lost interest in the dull proceedings. She had .been promise'd as reward for general I compliance a variety of wonderful things, and, since all these had already preceded her to the capital, there was little sense in remaining here in the skirts of the fog beside the Hill of Red Anger in Shaking Valley. Beside, Liss'e had promised her an entirely novel kind of adden- J dum to the ordinary wedding cere- . mony of her people. She and all her i escort left immediately after the j noon meal. i
Early next morning, in the privacy of his own dwelling, Ulysses returned to his role of givmg the public' the news. This time he wrote in his ; own undisguised hand on clean paper, and, contrary to his former effort, he held back little for a subsequent edition. " 'It was really rather funny, Dacia,' he wrote, while Billie looked wonderingly over his shoulder. 'Fitch dark inside, you know, when Blaney was brought into the Queen's hut. They sat him down on the floor, and I bet he wondered what was going to happen next. I was standing on I the throne, well up. He couldn't see me, of course, but I rubbed some damp phosphorus from a match on one hand. I held it up high, and believe me he saw that. He didn't know what to make of it; don't be-lieve he does yet. Then Billie Boy and a specially augmented choir of I squeaky male voices got off a rous- I ing psalm of hate I'd written my- | self in their own lingo. They put some extra frills of their own into it, I and I'll say it nearly made my flesh creep. In the thick darkness, you | know, with that little hand waving round near the ceiling. And the tomtom orchestra hitting the lvgh-spots, too." Ulysses broke off to laugh. "Ho, Billy!" he cried joyously, "you're surely a Number One First Chop Caroi'st. What I mean is," he finished, changing to the local idiom, ,"you sing very well, too big." / "Rlllin e-rinned back. He. too. Had pleasant memories of the sparkling ceremon'es of the wedding of the night before. "I like that sing," he admitted pridefully. "So did I, old son. But don't interrupt. Can't you see this is mail day." Ulysses returned to his report. " 'Well,' he wrote, 'Blaney stood it pretty well, give him credit for that. . It was up to me to jazz things up some, so I roared 'soft pedal' in the local dialect, and the choir shut down ' to a gentle lilt, like the whine of a1 hungry tiger. The Royal Orchestra,-led by the Queen herself, rubbed the skin top of their tom-toms moderate, so it sounded like five people dying slowly of the most horrid tortures. Some of their muffled scream effects would be worth a million dollars in the United States as an orchestra piece entitled 'Hades.' When it started to get, even on my nerves, I took a hand myself. 'On your knees, Gus-tavus Blaney!' I shouted in English, and his missus and two other sporting dames saw he did as requested, though I heard the poor devil protest doggedly. I heard the bas3est voice you ever heard. In fact, I'm so hoarse with strain right now I can hardly, write.' " , (To be continued)

OUR SERIAL -
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE
(Author of ".Tlio . To Kooti Trail," i etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXI. continued)
"There is something coming," Dacia said suddenly. She stared intently down the lower valley. From the post they could see almost half its length, and eyes had grown accustomed to the dull light. "Better cell Alvin. I'll wait Here and sec. They may be Ingerfeldt's advance guard, of scouts." i Work was instantly suspended 'at i che falls and on the lode beside them. Bringing much of their working gear 'with them, . the' men hurried to the emergency entrance and stood hesi-itant, awaiting further report. "Come down,; Miss Dacia." Lister had -run through' the cave to the main entrance.' "If they belong to . . . ." "All right, I believe," Dacia declared. . "Looks like. Billie the postman. It is; he's waving." The three flyers swung round tlie bend and landed in front of the main entrance. Billie Boy sprang down. All smiles he gleefully recited his formula, "To Daeia from Lissie," then handed over his small mail-hag. Then, with a sharp; order to his fellows, Billie set to work unloading his considerable- cargo. They made a rapid job, of this, merely unhitching the parcels and allowing them to slide to the ground. The crash of crockery that accompanied1 the descent of one bundle did not deter them, arid the others were too interested in Daeia's reading to talce much liotico. When all was down, Billie and his friends joinhd the circle round Dacia, and when the laughter of the others rang out Billie joined in joyously. Thq memory of recent events was still green with him, and laughter came easily. "Now you know the position, what are you going to do about it, Alvin?" Dacia asked when she had finished reading.. There was a note of deep anxiety in her voice. "Have to think that over." Lister spoke . slowly, weighing his . words. "Ulysses has sort of drawn their fire on himself, away from us, hasn't he?" "I can't bear to think of liim facing them alone." Dacia broke out. '!If they find him and the trick he's played ; < "That certainly would be tough on Ulysses," Lister agreed soberly. "But don't; dwell on that side of it. That boy has the knack of taking care, of himself, as I said once before. Don't forget "that, Miss Dacia?" . "I don't forget anything,". Dacia answered tartly, her cheeks flushing. "Under ordinary circumstances I should say nothing, but he has deliberately loaded the dice against himself—to buy time for us. We must use that time, every second of it, but I think those crooks would stop a t' very .little. Are we going to let h'm take the risks he's accepted and do nothing?" "No, I think not. What do you suggest?" Lister asked quietly. "Hasn't the danger spot shifted to another front?" Dacia demanded eagerly. "We don't want to split forces, but couldn't we spare a man to back Ulysses up in an emergency?" "My idea was that Dockling and Hague might go." Lister's level tones soothed the girl's taut nerves. "We could spare a dozen rifles now and a pile of bullets. With those, and Ulysses' pull at court, it might be possible to -organise a reconnaissance in force. If Ingerfeldt doesn't come to them, they might . . . . carry the war into Africa." "Africa sounds a long march away," Dockling grinned. "But you lemme have Skimpy as well an' we'll trail down Roger if we have to ride to Hades." Dockling had been turning the problem over in his mind. He was of the school that believes that attack is the best form of defence. "Could you spare the little man ? He's a good boy in a rough-house." "I thought of that," Lister answered gravely. "Skimpy is certain what; any person would call a good hoy. He risked . his life for- us on two occasions. But . . . . " (To bo continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H BODLE j (Author of "The !e Koott Trail,": ' etc., etc.)" - |.
(Chapter XXI. continued) ' :
"Aw, -fergit -it, Mr. Lister," the little man- broke in. His thin face flamed. "Dat was nutting. -Parta de: game. Youse fink I work fer Roger, don't youse. Made yer put 'em up, didn't I ? Well, that's right. I did. but no more. That dog done me dirt. 'N' Skimp Dritzen don't fergit quick, either way. Youse bin square1 wit' me. Dat's me, -too." "All right, .Skimpy," Lister said quietly. "We trust you to the limit. You join the expeditionary force." Double-banked, with four rifles! apiece, a considerable amount of am-: munition and the best wishes of the canyon people, the squadron set out: on its return voyage. Billie would: (not listen to the invitation to wait for a meal. They would have difficulty,' he indicated by signs, in reaching; Ulysses by night, and would certain-! ly have to rest on the way. At least, that seemed to be the interpretation, of. his urge for speed. The canyon folk returned to their! work with fiercer energy, but an access of misgiving. Each man realised that the division of forces was wisdom, but it increased the feeling of insecurity. Dacia was especially sober, feeling that the gay slanginess of the letter was meant to .give greater assurance than the facts warranted. Reading it over on the lookout post she smiled wanly, but a1 frown of anxiety chased away the feeble tendency to laughter. Dacia, in fact, felt nearer to tears than merriment. Billie, in command of the flying squad, pushed the mounts "to the' limit. They drove down the valley rapidly, shot past the sea-bluff, and sailed across the downland. j "That must he the village where Ulysses was taken," Dockling shouted as they passed over a mound-topped hillock. There were people between the huts, but these took little; interest in the flyers. As -a matter of fact, orders had been received from, the capital to attend strictly to their; own business. They -flew on. It was well toward, evening When the party approached the a-amparts behind which, Dockling judged, 'must -be the city of the Lake-Here .-Billie dropped down among the, foothills. In the last stages the pace, of the reptiles had slowed down appreciably; it was clearly essential, that they should rest before tackling the steep climb over the mountain. The reptiles heeded the half -hour spell they were grudgingly given. The three' stretbhed out fiat on the; ground. Their bulging, ' scaly sides, heaved in arid. out, rapidly and deeply; they had been taxed to' the limit. The men. resting. ate hastily of the nuts they carried— but each was fretting, to be off. The feeling that they were; needed at once dver the hills oppressed them all. Even Billie, -cheerful-soul, caught the' gloomy infection. He inspected the beasts at short inter-; vals, and finally gave the order to mount before he whs fully satisfied that the mounts were fit for the climb. They weren't. Near the summit, almost 'with the last -of -the daylight, they were forced down once more. This time, however, the rest was much shorter. They swung heavily over the last ridge and planed down in the deepening dusk for the half-seen lake. The landing, outside the darkened town, brought no sign of; welcome. There were no people about, and wben tbey walked in, none in the nearer houses. Yet clearly the town -had not been deserted, nor were all asleep. As they drove down, dangerously, in the dusk, a tumult. of confused shouting had risen up and beat about them. There was wild excitement farther in toward the heart of the place. Stumbling on through the darkness, keeping close to Billie, the guide, the party made the best possible pace towards thi disturbance. (To be continued)

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.) .
(Chapter XXI. continued)
"Sounds like A riot," Dockling mumbled. He put the best face on it, though for a reason he could not tell his heart was , like lead within him. "Mebbe Ulysses' has started his litle old rev'lution."
"De cops here is no good," Skimpy grumbled.. He was breathing heav-ily, hut razor-keen for any emergency. Billie led them briskly, to the door of a large hut on the fringe of the shouting mob. He pushed them hastily inside, shouting into the darkness : "Lissie! Lissie!" "These must be his quarters,' hey?" Dockling brightened. He pushed the guide outside the house. "He's not at home. Go and find him, Billie. Bring Lissie back here." Billie could not, of course, understand, but he too had realised that his friend was away, and ! he set off briskly. "Wish't we had a light here," Dock-ling said sourly. He slapped his pocket. "Matches, but nothing for a torch. Can't see who's who if any 'fresh lad butts in." i "Dere's some wood here." Skimpy, with his gift and training for deeds of darkness, had silently prospected the hut. He came back with something to lighten the gloom. "We'll try it." Dockling struck a match— several matches — and finally-there was light. Skimpy waved the torch slowly to assure combustion, and the trio walked round the single room. "That's his bed." Dockling pointed to a raised pile strewn with . skins. "And this surely is his writing table. Writing pad all ready, see." He walked over to inspect. Half a sheet had been torn from the pad. There was writing on the half that remained. 'Dockling bent over. The torch flickered, and he read with diifflculty. "Here, hoys," he shouted excitedly, "this is a message to us. It says: 'Ingerfeldt coming. I am going That's all there , is; - What in blazes does it mean?" "Lissie!, Lissie!" , The shout came from . outside and they 'faced about. Billie, followed by a stout woman, oursc mrougn tne aoorway, uui checked violently at sight of the torch. "Where the devil is Lissie?" Dockling demanded roughly. The strain of the journey, the noise outside, and me uncertainty oi it. an iiuu wuiu 'his nerves rather threadbare. I "Lissie Billie pointed to the roof, '" . . . . koropo." He pan-tomined the episode as it had been explained to .. him, seizing his own neck, then pointipg upward" again. His bunched list indicated his silent companion. "Molo," he stated briefly. The large woman eyed Skimpy, the torch-bearer, with glistening eyes. He was about her own height, but much less bulky. In addition, his appear-once at the moment was nothing like so amiable as hers. Skimpy had seen the same glint in other eyes far iW", and took instant alarm. "Keep away, youse," he warned, waving the torch threateningly. "No way to talk to a queen, Skimpy," Dockling said sombrely. "Better treat her pretty, son. She's given you the glad eye, see. An" , if this coon is right, we're liable to need all the help that girl can give." "Dat's a queen, hey?" Skimpy relaxed. A twisted grin crept across, his face. "Where's de gold crown fella? Aw, all right! I'm de goat!"-He swung his torch to one side and patted the royal dame on her plump shoulder. "Attaboy!" Dockling encouraged. "She's eating it up!" tie .sobered suddenly as his thoughts returned to iUlysses and his fate. "Wish t'heck I je'd talk their dam' dialect." He picked up Ulysses' pad. "Anyone here got a p'encil? Have to try out a diagram o' what happened, I reckon."' ,Dockling's Dockling's action stirred a chord of memory in the queen. She thrust an ample hand into a slit in her smock ; and produced a " crumpled half-sheet of paper. Dockling spfang forward, but the woman evaded him. Dockling was of no importance to her. Skimpy was her only joy. To him she presented the paper. -"Friii Lissie!" she stated gravely. Dockling and Hague bent over the little man to read the brief note. In the uncertain 'light the leader of the party spelled it out slowly. MT«-i n-nnfnl/14- noma " ha Vflfl rl "T)o_lllgLllLlUb CUlllUj Uw l uuvit O'' rnands Blaney or hostages for his stolen goods. He's taking the King 'and me, though he don't know it. Face greased up and hair dyed beastly. Molo now being a legal widow, 'watch your step or she'll grab some of you. And I'm going to try and grab the boat — Ulysses." "Say, dat fella sure is some guy," Skimpy stated admiringly in the silence that followed the finish of the message. "Certainly is." Dockling rubbed his scrubby chin thoughtfully. "But we can't leave him to it. Got to stage a rescue somehow. Look out for that confounded widow, Skimpy. She surely does let her glance rest on you. An' you heard what Ulysses wrote, didn't yer?" For answer Skimpy took two steps and slid his free arm round the Queen's plump waist. He faced Billie. whose eyes almost popped from h:s head, and his companions of Earth with complete defiance. The careless waving of the torch held h'gh in his other hand put the final touch of bravado. "I heard youse," the little man rumbled. "It don't cut no ice wit' me. If dat boy . c'n— well, youse know what I mean. Say, I guess Skimpy Dritzen can face- up to kinging it. An' say, I'm gonna be king, at dat. Till we kick de stuffin1 outa llngerfeld'. I'm gonna be King jskimpy de Oneth. You bring along yer preacher right off." | (To be continued) I

lOUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. B0DLE (Author of "The To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.) ;
CHARTER XXII.
"Check it up to insurance," Inger-feldt said grimly. "If Blaney is ac- ! tually operating in a distant area, as ' these people said, all right. He'll 1 come back to us with toe flyers when he's yot 'em. An' these two hunks o' I putty can yet back to their women, | an' be beaten up as per usual r schedule." He lit a cigar and regard- | ed the two silent hostages across the saloon with extreme disfavor, especially. the taller one, who smclled abominably. "The girls do treat, 'em rough, for a face," Sim admitted. He cocked an ear, listening to toe smooth beat of the engines. His gaze . wandered to the cringing hostages, who squatted against the opposite wall. "Look at 'em. Why/there's not enough energy left in that pair to provide works for a new-born flea. I s'pose it was worth I toe gas we're using!" I "Not on their looks." Ingerfeldt's I stare was packed with contempt. ' "The king's a poor fish, but that shaman with his hunch back, filthy face j an' toothless gums seems to be worth about -five to toe cent. But it's insurance, Sim. Insurance, as I said. For some reason I can't fathom, their people seem to think a heap of this pretty pair. That is, if you can judge by the hallaballoo they . made when we took 'em off. They'll . produce Blaney somehow. From what bur folk said, these people hooked his stuff all right, and he went chasing it. .'At that, there's the off-chance . they may he , on the level. In any case this little 'deal of ours , will help them to play square ..... Your junior : pilot in the , pilot-room wants you." A live-looking young woman, dressed in skins stood in the doorway. She c'alled some words in. a speech that was strange 'to Ulysses to the more unlovely ,of the hostages. Sim left the room. Ingerfeldt, wrapped in gloom, contemplated the ceiling thoughtfully. For all his talk he was weary of the slowness of his campaign. Every move he made seemed to meet a check. "She say: 'Go oVer the pass now,' " toe king translated wearily in answer to Ulysses' question. He had been scolded and schooled so much that he had no spirit left for anything. He was frightened of his strange surroundings and of these strange people. He was' still riiofe frightened of lassie in his ' disgraceful malce-up, 1 while dominating - all his: 'other fears was to him should he trespass in any particular from her many, and . vigorous instructions. His only safety lay in doing arid saying nothirig' until Lisslp bee'rime premptory. " However, Lissie had little to say. He had 'his own small anxieties. He. had brought no ' weapon with him since 'a search seemed a possibility. Not that he felt that he- was in any real danger yet, but there Was always toe chance. And there were other minor worries. The pridding that made a hunch on' his' back seemed inclined to slip. The black strips that /the queen had guriimed on the fronts of moth of his teeth offered a perpetual invitation to his1 tongue to clear them off. Above all, the smell of the dark grease that' streaked his face was almost intolerable. He cer-tainly .was aboard the ship, and In-- 1 gerfeldt didn't recognise him, but, by gosh, life wasn't all one gran'd sweet song for 'the wanderer. Ulysses stood up. He had learned all lie Wanted to know of Ingerfeldt's immediate intentions and the reason for his sudden raid. No chance of his doing anything until Blaney turned up. He ' sfniled inwardly. Tixy, duly warned that the recapture of her new husband was the prime object of toe recent visitation was probably still sitting on her' fat man's head. Once that type got hold' of a husband on Venus they hung'to 'em. There was no call for' 'any real anxiety and since he cqujd do nothing' till either Sim or Ingerfeldt left the ship, he'd better get some'sleep while he could. He strolled across to Ingerfeldt, waving fretfully at the smoke haze. ' Speaking in 'a deep bhss, he asked in the language he ' had' learned by the lake to be shown his- bed/ " ' ' "What's -he want?" Ingerfeldt held his nose pointedly while he called the inquiry to the pilot room. ' The woman there translated arid Ingerfeldt pushed the unsavory pair into one of the rooms and after switching on the light fetched them in. ' It was Dacia's room. Everything was eloquent"bf her— the brushes on the trible, ,,tHe'!tiriy bottles and jars that ' played" 'fhel'r part in the mysteries !'of a feminine toilet, a well-fe-membtfred pair of slippers on the floor' and the 'dresses "hanging- 'on the door— -all .those and a score of- other little/ intimate things spoke of Dacia. the gay, the adventurous comradri. His heart pountled violently then seembd'to st'an'cl still. Undfcr the coat of gi-'ease his face went white, the nails' of liis clenfched fists "dtove into his palriis: He swung about to-.beat upon : the' door, hilt- fie checked himself 'in tirriei;'!ll,'''"! ' Gurtly 'hb toid' the /Kin£ to sleep on the1 fl'ooraridt hiiribelf ls'et the example, using ! a'"'low trilrikf ''as" 'pillow. He could riot take that 'filth greasd' into any bed, and besides Ingerfeldt might come in. Even ''in 'any -otoer room it, would not have done to have seemed too familiar with toe uses iqf these strange things. For a long time sleep would ribt come, though 'Ulysdes wrioed 'the £by nymph- desperately. The hii'nch: and the hdrd 'floor cornbinecT to' make his bed completely uncomfortable. The drone' of the engines, as the' ship drove steadily along, lulled him, but there was something in the very air of toe room-that drew him back, as if Dacinherself stood near and called- him. Ingerfeldt had left the' electric light on and he dared not' turn it off —that would' have .been too 'know-ledgable for a simple savage. The King slept; He snored emphatically, but Ulysses lay wide-eyed, staring at the unwinking light globe. A thousand half-forgotten memories crowded into his mind. He thrust them hack savagely and when sleep still eluded his grasp planned v'dguely 'what he would do when toe well-known and notorious Anderson luck got right down to business again. He dozed and woke and dozed again. Once in his waking he saw Ingerfeldt staring curiously at him from the doorway. Or was it only part of his dreams? When he looked again the big man was not there,1 the door was closed. : And finally Ulysses really slept. He slept and dreamed of Dacia, whose nearness everything in that room proclaimed. ; It was daylight when he awoke again. And once more he found Ingerfeldt staring oddly at him from toe doorway. Sim was behind ' him. The engines were silent. "Get up you," toe big man shouted explosively. Ulysses remained still. He ' opened his mouth in a toothless grin, but otherwise gave no iridication toat: he had heard. '' "Don't be nutty, Ingerfeldt," Sim drawled. "The old devil don't know a word : of English." "He surely 'knows one/' Ingerfeldt stated emphatically," and if my guess is right, a whole heap riiore."-Ulysses stretched lazily. His bones ached, every limb was cramped. There was rio dissembling in the slow actions that indicated that he was bruised and sore all, over. That was genuine enough, but he ' did not prolong his massage and morning exercise to toe limit Apparently unmindful of the pair in the doorway, he stretched arid rubbed and starriped, the ' while he racked his brains trying to remember any word lie might have said that could have given Ingerfeldt a' clue. "I guess that 'ought to be just about enough for 'toe daily dozen, Ingerfeldt said sarcastically. ' Hb whipped out an automatjc and cover ed Ulysses. "Jusf' try to' sham y6ii don't get > me 'when I Wy'''keep still' and see what happ'eris. This is cold business. I mean 'it. I' thoiiglit' so. Shove 'em on him, Sim." Ulysses drew. away' as Sim advanc-ed with the handcuffs, but in spite of a determination to play, the part to a finish, Ingez-feldt's 'cold voice and fidgctting finger halted him'. "As God's my witness, I'll drill you if you stir," the big man called sharply. "The jig's up. Don't be 'a dam'ricd f6ol!" "' ' : ' " ' To the i last'1, UJysses;maintained "some show'; of fkiling to /understand. He protected volubly /In';, the dialect of his friends when Sim handcuffed him, cringed, with feebler protest when Sim -shoved -him roughly, from the' room find forced 'hini'down' in one 'of the saloon 'chairs: ' ' ' / i: "You take the gun, Sim/' Ingerfeldt ordered curtly. "Don't plug liim unless he makes it necessary. He's a hostage, remember— a more valuable one than we hoped for." (To bo continued)

OUR SERIAL
- VENUS CALLING
- s BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "Tho To Koott Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXII. continued)
. "I'll watch him," Sim agreed dubiously. "But I don't get ya at all. You're way ahead of the play, Roger." "He gets me, though," Ingerfeldt chuckled grimly; "Don't you, . Anderson? Oh, you needn't try to look wooden. Your number's up, unless you behave. , What have you got to say about it ?" "Just this," "Ulysses dropped all pretence. "I.'d like, above everything to wash this stinking grease off my face. Smell just, about makes me sick." ."Well, for the lo.ve of Pete!" Sim gasped. "How'd yer spot him?" He looked Ulysses over critically. "Seems to me like one hundred per cent, medicine man, just about the age C'lumbus ought to; be. How'd yer tip him off, Roger? " "I'd be interested to learn that, too." Ulysses said very quietly. He was sick with disappointment and the. knowledge that he had let his friends down so badly,- but he gave nothing away to the enemy. "Unless, of course, your information's private." "In a' way it is." Irigerfeldt chuckled again. "Private and sentimental, so to say. Still, if you want it, I'll tell you. You talk too much, young fellow. When you try to match wits VYIwJ. IkUgvl AUgGllOIUb JfwU OlluUlU keep a close tongue in your head." "If that's' meant for a diagram for me," Sim declared dully, "it don't register. I still don't get yer." "Nor I," Ulysses added. He was completely baffled.. "Your tongue's too loose," Ingerfeldt beamed with heavy benevolence. "You said just one word too many, son. You said — Dacia." "I swear," Ulysses began, hotly. '' "In your sleep, son. In your sleep." The big man pounded the table delightedly. "A man who talks' in his sleep shouldn't try to set traps for me. If he does he must take what's coming to him." "What are you going to do about it ?" Ulysses changed the subject hastily. Inwardly he cursed the ill-luck that had let him down; but he wasn't going to discuss Dacia with this .swine. "Depends. Feel like going bail if your friends will come to terms? " "Nothing doing, Ingerfeldt." Ulysses leaned back in his chair. "I take no responsibility for them. They can speak for themselves." "Well, how about speaking for yourself, son ? " "Right— if you want it. You can go to the devil just as quick- as you like. I'll not stir an inch to stop you."- - . "Wfell; well! Didn't really think you .would. .. But .never /mind. ; We'll find ways and means, 3omehow. There's always a way out. isn't, there? Sim run along and see he washes ills tocr as well' as possible. for the wristlets. Off with you. I've got to think tliir out. No! stop a moment, Anderson What did you do to Blaney ? " Ulysses had decided to be cheerful: In spite of his plight he grinned. "You mean Gus?" he asked jauntily. "Didn't he send you any cards ? or a bit of cake ? Too bad. Oh, yes, Gus is' all right, not a hair of his head injured. He's off honeymooning right now with the niftiest little Venus you've ever seen. He's the happy man. I'll tell you some thing of the high-class ceremony when. I've scrubbed off this .grease tretwork. Ana men, i nope, you u have breakfast ready/because I'm so darned hungry I could eat— well, bacon and about four eggs."
CHAPTER XXIII. Two hours after his arrival at the hut' Dockling was still seeking the solution of his problem. Somehow he had to find a way to go in force after Ulysses— but till morning it was
not possible to do m-ro than plun. And the planning wasn't easy. First of all he had to overcome the language difficulty, and do that at once. The ' excitement outside simmered down; for the most part the people scattered to their homes. -Skimpy and the Queen departed as soon as ' the wedding ceremony had been explained to the little man. Billie, morose- and evidently much upset, remained in the hut. Dockling decided to learn the most useful words of the language of the people with whom he had . to deal. Billie squatted grumpily and answered questions with obvious reluctance. Finally he got Dockling's drift and something of the idea behind it and there after worked with a; will: The original torch burned out and another, and -then another was Jit. The discovery of a pencil-stub— it had been Elaney's — made matters much easier, and using Ulysses' note-book, DoCkllng wrote, out lists of words and their equivalents in the native language. The work demanded concentration and both were tired. Dockling decided, for a short spell, and resting idly turned the pages of the notebook. Kind of diary an' gee-whiskers what a fool he'd been not to look before. Ulysses had written out a regular school-book, sort of dictionary with, maybe, a thousand, words, all plain sailing and no . shoalwater. The boy surely had a wise head on him— and that solved the talk problem. Skimpy returned on the .heels of this discovery. , On his heels came the Queen. Skimpy's sharp features had been considerably rounded, but they looked the worse- for wear. The skin had shredded away from' one cheekbone; the other side of his face was UliSbiXlLllJf < pUilji ilvYClbUClvijO UIC little man was uplifted, carefree and yet full of purpose. " "What yer been doing to yerself, Skimpy?" Dockling asked curiously. "You got all the earmarks of a bad railroad accident. Looks . . . " He caught a glimpse of the- Queen's face and whistled softly. Molo wore a very notable black eye, and one side of her mouth was swollen beyond all belief. Yet, curiously, she too, seemed 'eminently satisfied , with the course of events." Her eyes constantly followed her consort's every movement,' and she made no effort to conceal the admiration they held, "What you an' the missus been scrapping, about ? " Dockling finished. ' ' ' ' " 'S ail' right! "cDritzen swallowed painfully. His . throat, as - external evidence suggested, was' still ' tender. "She's de tough dame, .im/, but' I bet ya she knows where;; she gets off now. Me! I'm de boss 'n she knows it. Ya gota strat wit! a1-, sldrt like ya means ter go on. I'm de- King 'h' dat's not maybe . : . I told her to rush Gus up here." ' ' "Council of war, eh, "King? " Dockling walked across to the wood Ulysses had evidently stored . for torches. "Want some more for a long session." He ' came back ' and turned- ;over the pages of the dictionary, till he -found what he wanted. Then: "Wood, /Billie, " -he ordered/ '' - >i" Billie slipped .out. He was some ten minutes. He bustled back heavily loaded with sticks jind jimportanee. immediately ahead of Tixy and her spouse. In the interval the new King had set the stage. He pushed Molo. unceremoniously to a' seat beside himself on the bed and commanded Dockling to sit on his other hand. Blaney slouched ' in apprehensively. Life had been hard for the portly Gus. and ' he expected nothing pleasant from this late command to Court. He glared savagely at his prosecutors, then as recognition dawned, the words he had framed died on his lips. His thoughts were confused and not entirely happy. -Skimpy had a queer temper and might stll1 be peeved that he had been left behind when Inger-reidt strucK. me rat man punea nun-self together. (To Be Continued)
OUR SERIAL, I
VENUS CALLING j « —
,BY FRANK H. BODLE (Author of "The. Te Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXIII. continued) '
" 'lo; Bkimp!" -Blaney spoke uncer- < tainly. j "Don't you Skimp me, Fat-face," | the. little man snarled. "I'm de King here/ an' don't youse forgit it." He neglected the rifle that lay, as a sceptre, on his lap, and picked up the automatic that rested between himself and Dockling. "When youse talk t'me, Blaney, call me King. See?" "All right, Skim ... I mean, King." Blaney muttered uneasily. He did not like the look of the gun nor the careless fashion in which his old associate played with it. He edged behind Tixy. "Come outer that when I speaks t'ya," the King roared. For so dwarfish a body it was a giant voice. "When I talks ya'd better pay 'tention. Where's dat skunk Ingerfeldt? " "I dunno-er-er-King." Blaney shifted his weight- from one foot to the Other. He came here, before sundown, but she ..." he indicated Tixy distastefully. "... she-er-didn't let me see him. He's gone." "Where's his base camp?" Dock-ling asked sharply. "Speak up youse," the King added. "'N' keep ya feet fast. Makes King dizzy when a buncha grease like youse don't keep still. 'N' when Kings get dizzy they shoots, see? " Blaney's feet froze to the ground. Of old he knew what slight provocation it took to make the little man's finger press the trigger, . "He stops in a town ov.er the hills," he muttered sullenly. , . , .. : "How.. far off? By these plod jas? " Dockling demanded. "How should I . . . " Blaney began Irritably, with a flicker of spirit. "Ya. better remember — quick," the King spluttered viciously. "We ginna get Ingerfeldt, anyway. If youse won't come clean now, den I'll ... Here, Molo.", He- gave the Queen a push . in the direction of Blaney. . . . bust- dat guy on de bean. I don't like his looks, see." . A happy understanding had clearly been established between the Royal pair.r.i. The Queen's desire to please was keen and her intuition quite remarkable. She sprang at Blaney, in spite of Tixy's .anguished squeajts, and seizing the most prominent portion of the man's face with one hand and pushing with the other, sought with all her strength to withdraw his nose by the roots. Blaney added the screams to those of his wife and swung a fist — but halted it in mid-air. "Drop that," Skimpy ordered explosively. Youse touch de Queen 'n' f drop ya. Dat's endjhgh, -Molo. C'm here." He patted her plump shoulder approvingly when she returned to her former seat. "Now d'ja know how fur off Ingerfeldt is? '' the King demanded acidly.: "Out wit': it." "I guess-say put .that gat down Sk-e,r-King— about twelve hours maybe." Blaney felt bis nose tenderly and seemed, astonished and relieved to find it still there. s "Dat's better." The King signified his Royal approval by acceding to the request. He dropped the gun in a bandy position on the bed. "Dat's far better. But if der's too much 'mebbe' about dem twelve hours dere'll sure be somet'ing coming to youse, Blaney." "Mustn't mind the -Queen's playful ' little ways, Gus." Dockling put .iii softly. "She's all right, like your own rSissus, if yer behave pretty. But; gosh, isn't she the holy terror if: you're the naugthy boy. And yer might be interested ter learn she led the orchestra the night ya was married. They tell me she made a first-class job of it, too. So mind yer act nice — or the King'll turn her loose on yer again. Wouldn't like to have two lively girls like those playing Hail Columbia on yer, would yer?" Blaney swallowed nut said nothing. There was nothing he could say with safety. Matrimony had been a soul-searing experience for him and the prpspect of an additional fury on his trail left him beyond the power of speech. "Get out!" the King shouted suddenly. "We're gonna take ya ter Ingerfeldt to-morrow. 'N' by jinks, if yer don't act straight ya'll be a stiff this time to-morrow. After a lotta things has happened to youse first. Get- out! " The conference sat for another hour, without Blaney's assistance. Helped by Ulysses' vocabulary, the newcomers explained their requirements and their plans. The Queen, when she understood, agreed to furnish the forces and flyers they needed, ana expressed her intention of coming along, too, to see the fun. In more ways than one Skimpy had made an Undoubted hit with her! His smallest desires were immediately and graciously granted. When the Royal pair finally decided to call it a day, plans were well prepared; messages had .been sent out and Billie had been despatched to muster a dozen men he knew. Doclcling's work was not yet done. When Billie's half-sqore recruits ar- 1 rived the General became a drill instructor. The troops were sleepy and bubbling with indignation. The day, had been exhaustingly exciting for11 them, but being dragged from their beds and the bosoms of their families round midnight did not appeal to them as at all a reasonable method of passing the hours of darkness. They felt, unanimously, that they had been provided with sufficient excitement ,to last till the sun rose again. They were raw recruits, in more than one sense. (To be continued)

OUR SERIAli
' VEWUS CALLING i
BY FRANK H. BODLE i (Author ol "The To ICooti Trail "1 etc., etc.) '1
(Chapter XXIII. continued) II
I For a anil instructor. Doclding kcnl his temper surprisingly. He pcr5|I vereel with his stubborn pnpii3 '.gave them an. hour,.- of loading aaH .aiming with the spare rifles. At tlj end of that period, when liis mc|j snowea taint signs of enthusiasm h allowed each one a shot at a blan piece of paper fixed to the wall wit wooden splinters,. It was not exactl a lugu-ciass exhibition of marksman ship, but at the -finish the men wen usefuuy intelligent -and keen. They', neip in a pinch, at least. D"""'"6, ""= "<= uuicrs drifte off to sleep, but many in the Lak City were less fortunate. All throug: the night there were hurried comin; and going. Messengers flew over thi hills, across the do'wnlands, with deS mands for distant villages and town! There was to be war; the Quee: Appealed to all her people. Some four hundred flyers starte from the lake before dawn. Thj Queen, mounted behind Skimpy, lcj the way. Billie was Dockling's pilo arid Tixy and her husband in fron of her. The others, . mounted singly tallied nearly - four hundred. It haj been arranged that fresh mounti should be ready for them at the erf trance to High- Road, They made a hurricane journey o, it, with no slackening pace till thej dropped down at the entrance of thi dark ' gorge. Here they change mounts arid- were joined by aiiothel two hundred women armed witj spears, as were- the people of thj Lake: Here, too, Doclding ana Skimpy put on skin clothing. The were not conspicuously big' among these people and it did not seem wist to attract attention by their clothing Before they started, Dockling had j Word with Blatiey. | "When, we get- through here, yo| take over as guide, Gus," he state coldly. "Heaven-help yer if yer miss the way; Or if yyer don't act to in| structions when ive get to Ingerfeid! Because, I'm tellin' yer, the King'll bg right nex' to yer ori one' side an' I'U be t'other. If you think we'll stani for any break jes; try it— once. Theri won't be any twice. Think that oven Gussie." .. j , Blariey ciid, all through the dart clamminess of the gorge, as the wung : pvbr. the Availed lines of Shail trig Valley, arid while they, went dow the farther side of. the Divide. H racked ; his. brains for a way of e Cape, but co.uld find' none. He'd \vl lirigly risli hls neck to slip tlie shrc\ bbhiind him, but there didn't seem I be any loophole anywhere. He wa still witliout yhope when tliey swiih over a stream whose waters, bor hear the volcano, tossed up a mist c steam above scorched banks. The followed this steadily a.nd when it Iia idened "to tT'fairsized river those ij advance saw_ distinctly the low round ed liouses of a corisidenible town. . ".He's there," Blarney grunted soiir (y. "Anyway ihat!'was his licadquart ers." ' '..A,'" ,j Fljiirig 'in ' ciose: formation, the, sped on, bver;'a: country of. maii; trees. Nuti' predominated, but ther seemed to bey other fruit-bearers he hides the jnflammable pitchy tree arid endless - rings of giant fuiig Around tiiefieJlast. the' flyers notei quite large flocks ' of the queer beast whose skins they , -wore. Little peoph capered excitedly, round tlie fririgis of . these flocks. :/,. ! ; "jiids'. herding'; .-.thern," Docklinj stated. 'tWririeijin toybe exciting tin youngsters. Lookiht-''erii, see." Dockling . took1 in "the situation ol their objective . and planned quickly. He was- ail"- for --swift action. Tfc idea was -to get busy immcdiateh without any preliminary skirmishing, (disregarding altogether the people o! a town considerably larger thai Paiipo, set ;ori hillocks extending ! couple of miles back from the stream "Blariey ,.;'iririds beside her, as at ranged," rie,.;s.t.a-tedi: running over hi dispositions.; ''You- and ma, Skimp; and the one next to me, drops pluiil bn the deck; there's lot of rpom. Tha we shoot. Get it clear?" With sign knd words lie explained to Billie an the order was passed albng. The oil ers were to, get as near the ship i possible 'arid rusli. (To Be Continued)

OUIt SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE «; (Author of ''Tito To Itootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXIII. continued)
"Ingerfeldt on deck," Skimpy announced. "Got : de glasses on us. Wave, you . Blaney. Dat's right. He's seen ya." There was another on deck with Ingerfeldt, and as the squadron drop-
ped down and manouvred for landing positions, it did not take Billie's grunt of "Lissic" to make him known. It was Ulyss«s— with his wrists in irons. Ingerfeldt leant back against the dome of the pilot room, Watching with keen interest. "That little : lot ought to bring your friends to their senses, Anderson," he remarked with satisfaction. "Gus seems to have got ahead of you, after all;" Ulysses was not so sure. He had recognised Billie and Tixy. It didn't seem reasonable to think that Xixy would bring Blaney back like this, and yet, what else could it' he ? "Good for you, Gus," Ingerfeldt called gleefully. He became a little disturbed, though still unsuspicious, by the nearness of" the clumsy reptiles. "Tell 'em to keep off,- you fool," he added sharply. Tixy came down first. She needed no special care in landing and her beast touched earth three seconds before the appointed trio dropped on the deck of the vessel.- It was his chance and, in a flash, Blaney seized it. ' "It's a plan, Roger," lie yelled hoarsely. "Get up, quick," He jumped clear of his flyer and dived for the bottom step of the ship's ladder, beyond the reach of bullets from deck. Ingerfeldt acted with prompt decision. He jumped from the compan-ionway, yelling to Sim. A bullet ripped alpng his arm, another sang over his head. Sim, in the pilot room, wan equally prompt. The boat shot upward with tremendous velocity. "Stay where you are, Tim,' Ulysses called joyfully. "No sense in rushing below now they've ready." He ran across to his friends. "Watch the companionway. You can see better from the back of the plodja. We'll get them yet." Dockling considered, his eyes fixed on the opening of the stairway. The swift up rush of the vessel had nonplussed him. Skimpy and he had each fired a shot and one had hit, but the surprise had been the wrong way round. And now they were up, high among the clouds. Ulysses walked warily to the- companionway and peered down. He turned and beckoned to his friends. Dockling swung a.leg to descend. Ho ' leaned over, to slide down — but Billie i grabbed him savagely. They were no longer on the vessel's deck. The boat ; was shooting down as swiftly as she had shot up, dropping from under her unwanted declc-load. Came the splutter, then the drone of the engines. The "Venus" leaving her freight flapping above her, drove away into the cloud wrack. "Ditched!" Dockling groaned bitterly. Struggling back to his riding position he caught a fleeting glimpso of a fat man in an American suit clinging frenziedly to the side ladder and of Ulysses clutching the railing of the companionway. Then tho "Venus" slid off into the murk. Ho hung desperately while Billie righted the spinning plodja, then full of bitterness saw the grimy clouds drop away, the distant town take shape and leap towards them. He was to sick to speak, even when Skimpy, who haccome down alongside said all he thought of Blaney and all that he hoped to do to him in due season. It was Tixy and none of the leaders who drew their scattered senses together. Their uprush and descent, swift though these had been, had given that ardent female sufficient time for vocal expression of her emotions. She was still burning angry, but deeds, not words, were now her prime desire. "I go get my man," she announced with a grim determination. "You come?" They went, with no explanation to the wondering townspeople. They came, like sudden rainclouds and an suddenly drifted away. "To Dacia, Billie," Dockling ordered. "Ingerfeldt's going there. He must act quickly now, with Gus spilling everything. You know? To Dacia!" Billie swung his flyer up once more and the entire squadron followed. "To Dacia," he agreed, heading for the hills toward which the river ran. "Hell-bent!" Skimpy added venomously. "Der's a fella I wanta see dere, quick." "If you mean Gus," Dockling suggested with the faint edge of a grin, "you can safely leave him to that girl o' his. Nothing yer 'could think up Skimpy 'ud match what's she's gonna do' ter him- . . . Nex' time we're gonna make sure."
CHAPTER XXIV. "Almost, got. me that time, didn't they, Anderson ? " Ingerfeldt's manner was- dangerously calm. There was a sardonic friendliness in his tone that did not fully accord with tho cold glint in his eyes. His left sleeve bulged where the arm had been bandaged. ' "Seeing that I can't decently hold you personally responsible for recent regrettable happenings, let me give you a word of friendly advice. Don't go below. Gus is there. And, between ourselves, he's mad to the marrow, quite properly, with you. He'd like as hot push, you overboard right off, if I hadn't ordered him to stay below. I had to explain that you, were a hostage — and required for a most important mission." "What d'you mean, ' Ingerfeldt." Ulysses had remained, on deck during the flight, of the "Venus." He had seen Blaney climb limply in, in mid-air. For a. mad second he had thought of trying to beat him back, then as reason asserted itseif, had drawn aside. Bound as, lie was,, the attempt would have been sheer futility and could have done him or liis friends no good. Now, with the ..universe crashing about him he was too ' sick at heart to talk, even to think coherently. ; "Going to do?" Ingerfeldt's snarl brought Ulysses hack' to realities of tho position; "Why, that'- ought to be plain, even to a fellow who . talks in his sleep. I bold the cards, sonny; I'm going to play out my hand. We're, off to your friends — to put you ' out of business permanently insight of them, unles they come to terms. You've had a; dip into two worlds, young ' fella; You're facing a look into another where there's no coming back. If I can't stir 'em from that cave of theirs,1 it's good-bye to you." There was no answer to that. At least, Ulysses' found himself in no mood to frame any. He had to think quickly, clearly, and for the moment the less he said the better it would be. Not only his own life, which didn't seem to matter so much somehow now, but the safety of his friends — of Dacia — was at stake. He strove with all his might to plan, but nothing that seemed to promise even the faintest hope of success would come to him. Perhaps his brain was too numb from the shock of the two successive blows ho had taken; perhaps, actually there was no way out. They ran down he-low the clouds, over the skirts of the ranges. There were dark ravines in there, deep wells of gloom where no life lurked. And yet, perhaps — but their canyon faced the sea. Gosh, there she was. He pulled himself together angrily. The sea, the sea, the open sea, the open sea. He dragged up a twisted grin. He was going to keep the old flag flying. Ulysse's walked jauntily to the rail and looked down. They were - over the sea, running round to the mouth of the canyon, of course. -His hands gripped the rail till they whitened, should he jump — and trust to the luck of the Andersons and the kindness of the sea? He raised his hands in the attitude of a diver, then dropped them suddenly. It had not been Anderson's shout that had halted him but the sudden realisation of bis . helplessness. He'd forgotten the handcuffs. Some people, he'd heard, could swim with them, but it was beyond him."Keep "Keep your shirt on, Roger!" he mocked when the big man clutched at him savagely. "Just trying out what you'd do. Whole lot o' shots in the locker yqt before I start planning suicide." They drove round the wing of the mountains into the valley of his friends. Afternoon was lengthening into evening; there was not much daylight left. Under instructions Sim; rati up to full speed, then at a word from his chief shut off the motors. , . ' (To Be Continued)
UR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING j
BY FRANK H. BODLE . I (Author of "The To Kootl Trail," etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXIII. continued)
They drifted between the skeletons of two trees, in full sight of the cave.-When, finally they had manouvred into the desired position, Baney and Sim's assistant slung the rope high up from one tree to the other. From the centre of this cross-rope dangled straight down a rope with a noose at its lower end.
"You get the idea, Anderson," Ingerfeldt suggested unpleasantly. "I take it your friends in the cave, though they keep quiet, have box seats on this performance." "Don't hold me responsible for what you take," Ulysses retorted shortly. He had decided to play for time to the limit. As once in Belgium, many years gone by, prayed England's Iron Duke, so Ulysses prayed for the coming of night — or Dockling, for that Tim would now make direct for the canyon he never doubted. "I asked if you caught the idea?" Ingerfeldt persisted coldly. j"! seem to grasp the main principle," Ulysses said slowly. "That noose, I gather, is for me. If Lister doesn't come out,' then I presume you and the ship drop from under." . "Exactly. A college education does help, doesn't it?" Ingerfeldt' examined the. run of the noose.: "Between this and the handcuffs you "should have a smart iournev if your friends don't come along. ' Feel like giving them a call in case they have any lingering doubts that it is you plumb in the centre of- the stage?" "Don't mind at all." Ulysses spoke as lightly as he cohld, though the waiting game was taking toll on his nerves. With satisfaction he noted' that the shadows were deepening. "Lister! Lister!" he called loudly, and when no answer came he repeated his call. .' "Don't 'seem disposed to tune in, yet," Ingerfeldt remarked' comfortably. "We'd better try the effect of a little persuasion. Put that noose round his neck, Gus. He's surely entitled to the, privilege, isn't he, Anderson?" Ulysses stood rigid. "He had worked out the course he would take, and resistance had no part in it; it would have been' merely futile to attempt anything in the nature of a fight. The waiting game was the only winning game — if there were to be any winning for Ulysses. The leer of triumph in Blaney's puffy eyes broke his resolutions; it was. with difficulty he fought down the impulse to slash his bound hands across that sneering face. Prudence just managed to tilt the scale and even when the fat man propped- the rope over his shoulders and jerked it tight under the chin, Ulysses remained passive. "Feels good, don't it?" the fat man gloated. He drew the noose sharply tighter. "Say, fella, I'm gonna get a little something of me own hack — as part payment fer what ya dine ter me." "Quite so" Ulysses spoke with difficulty. He saw the high cliff walls reel ; the level floor of tj;e valley tilt and slide — but with a supreme effort pulled himself together. "I reckon you're entitled to a little bit. Gus. Look here, Ingerfeldt, I'll tell you now — this won't do .any good." "We'll see about that," Ingerfeldt chuckled sardonically. "Never know, do you? It may work — if your friends think anything of you. If they don't, well — it's bad luck for you, that't a'l." Standing close to Ulysses to minimise the risk of any sudden shot from the cave, he cupped his hands. "Lister! Lister!" he called, "if you don't come across in five minutes — : Anderson .will be left kicking unless you give yourself up in five minutes." we'll stand from under. You hear me ? The cave was dark and utterly silent. Those on the boat more than half expected a shot, but none came. The place seemed dead as the canyon itself. The shadows deepened, breathlessly. There was no whisper of breeze, no murmur of insect, no call of bird. It was a world of dead rock and shadowry, with one of them on the brink of the Great Shadow. Ingerfeldt muttered an ugly oath.
The gloom and the brooding silence was beginning to drill into his nerves. He took out his watch and held it ready. Sim, on a muttered order froni h's chief left for the pilot -room, and seemed glad to get away. Ulysses set his teeth aftd waited as long as he dared. The dim su was now well beyond the western tip of the canyon wall. The chill fingers of night drew curtains of gloom swiftly over grey weed and stone and river. The gaping mouth of the cave was not even a blur of deeper blackness. Darkness swept down. In spite cf his resolution Ulysses shivered. "Four minutes- gone," Ingerfeldt announced . coldly.' He raised his voice toi its loudest pitch. "One -more minute, sixty seconds, to save him, Lister!" Ulysses moistened his dry lips. Time was up — and his nerve just about through at that. But the darkness, the blessed darkness, was all about them. "You can hang me here, if you like, Ingerfeldt," he stated as boldly as might be, "but that won't do you any aood. 'There's no one in the cave.
They left.it a week back; after you discovered them." "He's lying, Roger," Blaney growled. "Drop her down a '.couple of. feet an' see what happens." "T don't liel'eve he is." Ingerfeldt said slow'v. "Peon thinking for some time if there'd h"f-i anyone in thnt cave they'd snrelv have shown up or shot before this. T'n. Gus, he's fooled "a th'-r t'T-p. Wp'"o been playing to »n po'fif'T ho"e " Up turned savagely on Uvrbc-' "Where the hell are they then? You'd better tell. You won't, \ eh? So much the worse for you, then.
We'll find them, anyway and stage the second act — with trimmings. Take that rope off, Gus, in the meantime ... Anderson, get below. If you try any hopping off in the darkness we'll. shoot, and shoot to hit, see?" Fifteen minutes later, the ropes up her deck again, the "Venus"' crept clear of the trees and dashed forward, up-valley. The cover had been taken from the small search-light forward and Blaney squatting beside it, flung its beam to right and left. They moved rapidly, following Sim's : original idea of taking the canyon people by surprise. They did." Swinging round- the final bend of the valley, the glow-, of the outdoor forge told that the quarry had been run to earth. Lister and his party had been working late, but the roar of the approaching engines and the eye of the light had given some warning. All were safely inside, but there- had been no time to put out the fire. "They're here!" Ingerfeldt exaulted, then . dropped flat. A bullet sang over his head— good shooting/considering the conditions. "Yes," he added, "they're certainly at home." He crawled back beyond the dome and tapped on it. "Back a little, Sim," he shouted. "And you bring up Anderson, Gus. Let '"m shoot liim, if they've a mind to." They hacked across and down the canyon. There was silence, then Blaney, handing over the prisoner to Tngerfeldt swung the light and found' the entrance to the cave. "There!" he shouted, and dropped flat only just in time. He swung the light round to the vessel's deck. Ulysses, handcuffed and very white in the blinding glare, stood beside the dome. Ingerfeldt, behind it, had a firm grip on his legs. Ulysses stood .erect and waved. "Keep the flag flying, Al." he shouted through dry lips. "Don't let those swine bluff you." Those in the cave saw the heavy figure of Ingerfeldt rise swiftly. A heavy fist struck Ulysses lull in the mouth. He swayed and the light was switched off. The "Venus" rdse higher against the cliff wall. Her' light, low-powered, quested along- the rock face, wavered, and went put. She rose still more, backed, then came forward and was silent. Those anxious watchers at the entrance of their cave could make nothing of her actions. She moved, and once again was still. An eternity of endless slow minutes rolled by."Isn't "Isn't there anything we could do?" Dacia groaned brokenly. The impotence that gripped them tight and bruised her to the core of her being. "For God's sake, do something, Alvin!" (To he continued!

OUR SERIAL
VENUS CALLING
BY FRANK H. BODLE I - — I (Author of "The Te Kootl Trail," j . etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXIII, continued)
"If we fired, likely as not, we'd hit Ulysses," Lister said soberly. He too,, was nearly, numb with despair at their impotence to help his friend, the dear, gay-hearted wanderer. "We can't get un those cliffs." His voice broke. "I don't believe there's anything we can dp— but wait." "Look!" Esther gripped her friend's arm so that the nails dug into flesh. "The light! See, Dacla!" Dacia saw. They all saw— and swore deep-throatedly at their power-lessness to do more than stare. A rope, slung from a point in the wall, had been stretched across a small bay. in the rock face to another projection. From the centre of this rope another was suspended — with a noose at its end. That noose was around Ulysses neck. Ingerfeldt had set the stage for act two with all the skill of a theatrical producer, and this time there could be no doubt that he had an audience. Out; of the darkness Ingerfeldt's Voice drove down and rang in their ears. "In ;five minutes, Lister, we drop from, under," it called, with the pitiless clarity of the white light., "We leave him dancing here — unless you come clean." There was a slow, pause, then the hard voice crashed on." In five minutes — Anderson goes ' out — unless you agree to come to us. Unconditional surrender for you — or we leave Anderson, here,, high up where you can -never reach him. Five minutes from now."
. "You- must, Alvin," Dacia besought frantically. "Tell him . . . " : "Don't you < do it, Al." Ulysses had some difficulty in shouting; the rope round his neck was cruelly tight. His voice came to them as the faint croak of. one in 'the final extremity. "Don't do it. He'll take you off and leave the: others behind. Don't . "
There was a Sudden silence. . . Lister groaned. His clenched fist beat, a tattoo on the rock floor. ' He did not know till it was over that his knuckles' were raw and bloody. "Ulysses is right," he muttered bitterly. -."They'll take me — when I. gp aboard— to make sure of the navigation and leave you all here. I-I can't do it.": Blindly he groped for Esther's hand. His glasses were glazed with the salt spray of tears he could not hold back. , "You must go," -Dacia stormed. "What does it matter about us? You must go, Alvm Lister. Tell him: — tell you will." "One more minute!" The voice came out of the darkness with the utter flnal'tyofa? decree .of immutable fate. "Drop her down an inch, Sim-." "Tell him you're coming, Alvin," Dacia pleaded, beside herself with anxiety and.strain. She turned from the blinding glare on the cliffs where Ulysses, rope taut about his neck, staggered on the balls of his. toes to hold his balance. "Teil him," she screamed. "Something's happening up there," E?ther called suddenly. There was a faint edge of hope in her excited tones. "Listen!" The light had been shut off. All was darkness, but there were sounds, many sounds, that swam down through the blind night. The leathery rustle of many wings, noises of conflict, shouts, the crackle of shots, faint, choked cursing. "Oh, whatever is happening?" Dacia cried distractedly. "I ... I can't bear this!" "S-sh! S-sh! dear." Esther slid an arm rounrl her friend and drew her --rotect. ngiv cicse. "Hold on, just a little longer, darling. I'm sure he'll "omc safe'y to lis.- They've been attacked, I'm certain, and that could only mean our. friends. There! Look!" The light flashed on again, wavered and came to. mat. It splashed on scores of circling plodjas, sweeping to and fro com mandingly above the white deck. It shone .lovingly on the man in the noose. And that man was ">ot Ulysses, but Ingerfeldt. Weasel-faced Skimpv Dritzen grinned li s hands. Docklmg adjusted the noose with meticulcu3 care. There was no ajgn anywhere of Ulysses. The cheer from below died down. If anything had happened to Ulysses, the: victory. and the recapture seemed not worth wh'le. ".Where is iic?" Dacia murmered brokenly, and the others took up the crv she had not the strength to make heard, "Where is he?" they shouted in chorus. . , Dockling. looked down. "Ya mean Ulysses?" he shouted. "Billie's got him. Fainted,' but he's going to he afi right." He swung round on Ingerfeldt. "Keep still, you dog. You gotta take yer , medicine." (To' be continued)

OUR SERIAL
I; VENUS CALLING :
BY FRANK H. B0DLE, (Author of "The To Kooti Trail," J , . etc., etc.)
(Chapter XXIII. continued)
"Drop that. - Dockling;" Lister, ordered shortly. "We'll have- no rpore hangings. I'll' come up . and bring, her down."
A 'plodja, swung down- before the cave. -By- the light of -torches they saw Billie spring off.- He -Staggered towards the cave, a limp form in his arms; Dacia reached, the pair first, though the whole garrison was at her heels. She snatched Ulysses from the little man and. Essie helping, stumbled to the shelter of the cave. Billie wished to linger, but Lister's insistence prevailed and. for the first time in many weeks the inventor trod again- his own deck. "Sim s dead." Dockling reported briefly. "Had to plug him, Blaney's gone off with his missus — some girl that. I'll say. An- here's Ingerfeldt — all that's left of the syndicate. .What ya gonna do with him. if you won't let me string him up?" "Well done Tim:" Lister slipped the rope from Ingerfeldts neck. "Just in time weren't you? We ll deal with Roger all right. Try him properly. once we see how Ulysses goes;"

EPILOGUE
(Extracts from a letter received from, my friend. Ulysses Anderson) .
Well. old. boy. that's the end of my diary. -If you can do anything with it. -Its yours. Scrappy, of course, but-as a write-up man. if you can't ex-pand it into something readable you ought never to look a scoop in the-face: never no more. Publish it. of yOuLQc, cnd jveep aUj. pi - uiuugh I bet you right now a. plodja to a pumpkin no living .soul will believe you. And yet, they may. Al. is tak-itip\ rarefilllv TMP.lrpfT 'fhr trnn«sif rvnn plodja's egg, as an honset to goodness witness. For the love of Mike, don't try cookiiig it. They're ' stronger— thain Samson, Delilah' and the late, lamented Hercules, ' hydraulic-pressed into one; You're wanting ' to know why we didn't all come back. 1 Couldn't, sonny! On account of something Napoleon said. What with the unexpected large 'party we took ofiginally, the lavish way Ingerfeldt had handed out; the tinned goods' to' buy recruits, and the fact that these kuki nuts' don't last well' over' a couple of weeks, we decided - we coiildn't "march on our-- little stomach's. Not' if we all went, that is. There's plenty for a small fetiirh' party. So I'm staying, with' others; tb see that King Skimpy he-haves- as a high-principled citizen of a Republic should, ' Only hC won't hear' "of calling 'congress. Says that he and Mold, with advice from me," can- dish up' a ' square ' deal ' without :the help' of any political sharks. Al. had to go, of course. He is the-navigator, and then he wants to bring back a whole heap of things that, with- all- his smartness, can't be made here yet,' Some electric gear, machines, light globes, and seeds — all sorts of seeds'. "Jhese people here eat only nuts and fruit, and they don't have . fires ever. There aren't any; except in the volcanoes and that fire lake, on this Whole globe. But we aim to produce some dinner next ; Christmas, and Al's to- hrirfg back grain and potatoes-, and pumpkin and tomatoes,- arid a- whole lot more. Maybe that doesn't' convey anything; to you, sonny, but it means a lot . to some of -us. You she, several of the boys- are settling; They've taken- unto themselves wives; or rather; they've let themselves be taken in approved and strictly legal fashion. ; Skimpy— you'd love that little runt — is king-ing it in great style. His ex-Majesty hopped it when we were 'hi- the' river town and some unattached damsel there nabbed him. He sent word he was never coming back— -which is just as well. We don't want to start any female Henry the Eighth business here, and Molo is .properly wrapped up in Skimpy. The little man is planning a new palace, with ; electric light- and fancy fittings generally, What he says goes, I'm telling, you.Which Which brings me back to the trial scene from ".The Merchant of Venus." We . buried Sim, poor devil, and then Skimpy and Molo took their seats as joint judges. Dispenser of the law was some new role for the little man, but he never batted an eyelid and took all obstacles in his stride. We empanelled a jury of twelve women. iNice people they wqre, in spite of their possessive ways. They do hate meanness above everything else, so we dropped the charge of attempted murder ' which, outside former religious accidents, was new to them, and called it constructive selfishness instead. I was interpreter and though my neck was sore, I swear I gave Roger a straight deal. Well, the court was striking. Rows and rows of people squatting on their plodjas outside the cave, down as far 'as the stream. Skimpy and Molo, as ' cehtrepiece,' sat on the deck of the boat, their eldns just above the railing and' their legs dangling. The jury, ditto — all solemn as semaphores. Essie was state prosecutor. Had to be a woman, according to their custom, and Dacia was all for hanging 1 without a trial. A wonderful girl, J I'm .telling you, but for the time being ' iwithsno trace of the judicial mind, j But I digress- — and that's a subject j I have to steer away from, or you'll , believe I really am cracked, and all ( this the fruit of a full and vernatum moonshirie' party. To cut the cackle, that jury found Roger guiltv of theft i find " meanness in the first degree. They do the sentencing, too, and capital punishment being unknown, they awarded him ten years on the first charge on the second, the prisoner to be deported to Red Island. (To Be Continued)

OUR SERIAL.
VENUS CALLING
' BY FRANK H. BODLE
(Author of "The To Kooti Trail," etc., etc.)
That, if you'd like to know, is a largish island twenty odd miles out to sea. It isn't named Red from any Soviet sympathy, but because it houses seven virulent volcanoes spout-ing . fire and brimstone, to the ex-Jtreme salubrity and inconvenience of the neighborhood. That, bv the wav. (is one of a good many exactly similar reasons why you can't possibly see me, even if you turned the Mount Wilson telescope right on to yours truly. There are enough nut trees and shell-fish on the infernal place to last Roger till his gaol, term's up. And — there's one other prisoner there. A woman who beat up another woman and stole the latter's husband. She still ha3 the bigger part of a ten '.year's term to work out. It will be interesting to see what happens to that sweet pair. i That seems to bring us about up-to-date. We're all holidaying by the lake at present. Some of the boys are working on a fall in the hills back of the town and they're hoping to rig some sort of electric furnace. Al. has planned out plenty of work while he's gone. Just Al. and Dacia and Hague are going back — not enough provisions for more. « I told you why Al. goes. Dacia takes the trip because of the money that will be needed. There may be trouble handling her funds if she stayed here — as she wanted to do. But they're coming back, I'll say, laddie, just as quick as they can. Bring'ng with them a young parson lad I know as wedding solemniser and Archbishop of Venus. In the meantime Essie and I are going to be pretty darned sick and sorry. But that doesn't mean anything in your young life, so I'll drop that aspect. And, anyway we're among real folk. Stone Age savages with some queer custom, but the heart's sound and where it should be. They do hate meanness; they're as honest as a golden guinea and spilling over with Kindliness, rsut tney sureiy are a riaaie. This place is in the Reptile Age, and they're mammals — the only mammals we're found here. Which doesn't seem reasonable to Al's scientific mind. He's worried sick trying to figure it out; I had to promise, to do some scouting along this line while he's away. And I'm fretting to do some exploring in the glorious valley I just glanced; to find out a few things about- the old religion and where they got their.- silver goddess from. For the last time, that seems about all— except that Roger had to give Dacia power to attorney over his affairs. She's to put his business in the hands of trustees, and — you'd never guess — she plans to build a popular observatory in Chicago with some, of it. Introduce crooks to, thr celestial regions; see what gunmen think of gaseous nebula and the rings of Saturn (we're going there some day), just to give them a rough perspective of Creation. Well, busy days, old scout. If you should happen to feel like a little trip, "et m touch with Al. He's handing out no inteyviews, and. he'll be away before you can publish this, but if you're prompt you could get in touch with him at one of Dacia's places. I'm handing you this for- old time's sake, the school-kid games we used to play-together: remember back in Wai-kato. And because you're a square-shooter. I can trust you not to embitter Al's young life by any premature publicity that would only earn you the-emoluments and entitlements of Anan as Antipodeus, a rare and loathsome animal. . Here's to you, old fellow; and should you feel like it, 'phone up Al-vm. There surely is an opening fo. a lugh-grade newspaper In this neck o' the woods. Vnurs in tho hnnrta of Venus.
, ULYSSES.
ADDENDUM By registered parcel I have received a package, which, on being opened revealed a pulpy mass of yellow-green lellv, together with numerous pieoes of dark brown stuff of the consistency and as tough as shoe leather. Which may mean anything or nothing. Ju3t the same, very seriously, am I tempted to investigate on the lines suggested by my comrade of my only moderately wild youth. For one thing, years back I swore solemnly that I and none other should be best man at the old son-of-a-gun's wedding. THE END

Item sets: Vintage Science Fiction from Australian Newspapers 1901-1939 (Australian)

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