“But it dinna work as he said it, sor; he had expected to catch th’ Senestro.  Instead, ‘twas th’ dog got th’ Bar.  A foine pup, sor; she saved yer loife.”

“Where’s the dog now?”

“She’s on th’ Spot av Life, sor.  She willna leave it.  Tis a strange thing to see how she clings to it.  Th’ Rhamdas only come near enough to feed her.”

Thus Chick learned that, as soon as he got well, he and MacPherson were to seek the doctor, and help him to get away with the secrets he had found, the truths behind the mystery of the Spot.

“An’ ‘tis a glorious fight there’ll be, lad.  Th’ Senestro’s a game wan; he’ll not give up, an’ he’ll not let go th’ doctor till he has to.”

This was not unwelcome news to Chick.  A battle was to his liking.  It reminded him of the automatic pistol which he still had in his pocket—­the gun he had not thought to use in his desperate struggle with the Bar Senestro.

“Pat,” said he, with a sudden inspriation, “when you came through, did you have a firearm?”

MacPherson reached into his pocket and silently produced a thirty-two calibre pistol, of another make than Chick’s but using the same ammunition.  From another pocket he drew out a package carefully bound with thread.  He unrolled the contents.  It was an old clay pipe!

“Oi came through,” he stated plaintively, “wit’ two guns; an’ nary a bit av powder for ayther!”

Chick smiled.  He searched his own pockets.  First he handed over his extra magazine full of cartridges, and then a full package of smoking tobacco.

“Wirra, wirra!” shouted MacPherson.  “Faith, an’ there’s powder for both!” His hands shook as he hurried to cram the old pipe full of tobacco.  The cartridges could wait.  He struck a light and gave a deep sigh of content as he began to puff.

XLIII

THE HOME OF THE JARADOS

Chick had been grievously hurt in the contest with the Senestro, but thanks to the Rhamdas he came round rapidly.  It was a matter of less than a week.

Things were coming to a climax; Chick needed no lynx’s eye to see that the die had been cast between the Bars and the Rhamdas.  Soon the Senestro must make a bold move, or else release the professor.

Chick had not long to wait.  It came one evening.  Once again he found himself in the June Bug, accompanied by the Geos, the Jan Lucar, and—­the little Aradna herself.  Their departure was swift and secret.

This time Watson was not worried over height, or any other sensation of flight.  The doctor’s safety alone was of moment.  He said to the Rhamda: 

“Are we alone?  Where is the Bar MacPherson?”

“He is somewhere near; we are not alone, my lord.  Several other machines are flying nearby also; they carry many of the Rhamdas and the crimson guard of the queen.  The MacPherson will arrive first.  We are going straight to the Palace of Light, my lord.”