Little straightened, dropping the instrument, and saw the approaching guards. He turned to run toward the elevator, and saw another group rapidly approaching from that direction. Knowing the futility of the attempt, he tried to dodge past them; one swerved, reached, and an instant later he was pinned motionless as he had been once before in the first break for freedom. But he was still in the region of geletane-impregnated air.
Dr. Little opened his eyes with that peculiar feeling of having done the same thing before. This time memory returned almost instantly; he struggled to his feet, helped by the men clustered around him. He was on the roof of the fort where a stiff breeze had cleared the last of the gas from his lungs and cell walls. No guards were in evidence.
"How did it go?" he asked, seeing the grinning features of the Dennis brothers beside him. "Did you get through?"
"We did. It took them nearly an hour to get heavy tools and cut in--after all, we had control of their local 'telephone' central. They must have called their own ship back at once; it came in ten minutes ago, and they're rushing stuff aboard. I think they're going to abandon this place before help arrives for us. The Ardomese I talked to promised a squadron in fifteen hours.
"I wish that starfish ship had been farther away--we might have been able to take some prisoners of our own. But I'm afraid they'll have time to clear out."
"You're not annoyed, are you?" asked Little. "After all, they didn't hurt you fellows when they found you in the communication room. I think they're rather good sports, myself. After all, they've been risking all along the chance that we might do just what we did; they haven't hurt anyone; and the _Gomeisa_ is not seriously damaged."
"Nevertheless, they committed an act of war against the Union," cut in Magill, "and they have stolen a lot of valuable information. The _Gomeisa_ carried stuff that could make them dangerous enemies."
"They have had plenty of time to duplicate that armament, and unquestionably have done so," returned Little, "but they seem to have no intention of staying and using it on our ships. I think their curiosity was purely academic; perhaps this was all a game to them. In any case, I can't make myself feel anger toward them. I'm curious, myself, and personally I rather like the creatures. You can make yourself do the same, Keys; the whole thing is only a question of attitude." The doctor traded knowing winks with the Dennis brothers.