“There is danger,” he said in a low tone, not low enough to escape Eveena’s quick ear when my safety was in question.  “Another balloon is steering right across our path, and one in it bears, as we see through the pavlo (the spectacle-like double field-glass of Mars), the sash of a Regent, while his attendants wear the uniform of scarlet and grey” (that of Endo Zampta).  “Take, I beg you, this lightning-piece.  Will you take command, or shall we act for you?”

Parting slightly the fold of the mantle I wore, for at that height, save immediately under the rays of the sun, the atmosphere is cold, I answered by showing the golden sash of my rank.  We went on steadily, taking no note whatever of the hostile vessel till it came within hailing distance.

“Keep your guns steadily pointed,” I said, “happen what may.  If you have to fire, fire one at any who is ready to fire at us, the other at the balloon itself.”

A little below but beside us Endo Zampta hailed.  “I arrest you,” he said, addressing me by name, “on behalf of the Arch-Court and by their warrant.  Drop your weapons or we fire.”

“And I,” I said, “by virtue of the Campta’s sign and signet attached to this,” and Eveena held forth the paper, while my weapon covered the Regent, “forbid you to interrupt or delay my voyage for a moment.”

I allowed the hostile vessel to close so nearly that Endo could read through his glass the characters—­purposely, I thought, made unusually large—­of his Sovereign’s peremptory passport.  To do so he had dropped his weapon, and his men, naturally expecting a peaceable termination to the interview, had laid down theirs.  Mine had obeyed my order, and we were masters of the situation, when, with a sudden turn of the screw, throwing his vessel into an almost horizontal position, Endo brought his car into collision with ours and endeavoured to seize Eveena’s person, as she leaned over with the paper in her hand.  She was too quick for him, and I called out at once, “Down, or we fire.”  His men, about to grasp their pieces, saw that one of ours was levelled at the balloon, and that before they could fire, a single shot from us must send them earthwards, to be crushed into one shapeless mass by the fall.  Endo saw that he had no choice but to obey or affect obedience, and, turning the tap that let out the gas by a pipe passing through the car, sent his vessel rapidly downward, as with a formal salute he affected to accept the command of his Prince.  Instantly grasping, not the lightning gun, which, if it struck their balloon, must destroy their whole party in an instant, but my air-gun, which, by making a small hole in the vast surface, would allow them to descend alive though with unpleasant and perilous rapidity, I fired, and by so doing prevented the use of an asphyxiator concealed in the car, which the treacherous Regent was rapidly arranging for use.

The success of these manoeuvres delighted my attendants, and gave them a confidence they had not yet felt in my appreciation of Martial perils and resources.  We reached Ecasfe and Esmo’s house without further molestation, and a party of the Zinta watched the balloon while Eveena and I passed into the dwelling.