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“They’re tough customers,” he said. “I never did like spiders, and I like them less, now. Those things stood half again as high as a man on their long legs, and could jump half the length of the ship.”

“Hardly that,” I said. “But I’ll say this: if they’re the gentry Inverness and the other two are investigating, they’re welcome to their jobs!”

* * * * *

There wasn’t any difficulty in keeping the men close to the ship after that, although waiting was a tedious and nerve-racking procedure.

We watched the spider-infested territory closely, however, and found that they fed at night upon the deer-like creatures Correy had mentioned. These unwary beasts, seeking water, were pounced upon the instant they came close to one of the hidden dens, and dragged swiftly out of sight. These observations were made by television, and Correy in particular would sit up half the night watching the creatures at work.

It was the second day of the fourth week that the sentry on duty called out that the boat was returning. We hastened down to the river to welcome them back, and I for one felt very much relieved.

But as the boat approached, I felt my fears returning, for there was only one man visible: Tipene.

The Zenian, bedraggled and weary, had lost or discarded the protective suit he had worn, and his lean, dark face was haggard.

“We leave immediately, Commander Hanson,” he said as he disembarked. “Please give the necessary orders.”

“But the others, sir? Where are Inverness and Brady?”

“Dead,” said Tipene. “The Aranians got them. I barely escaped myself.”

“And who are the Aranians?” I asked.

“The creatures which control this world. The spider creatures. Aranians, they call themselves. Do we leave at once, as I ordered?”

I thought quickly. I didn’t like Tipene, and never had, and I fancied even less the high-handed attitude he was taking.

“I would suggest, sir, that you first give us an account of what has happened,” I said shortly. “If there is anything we can do for the other two, perhaps–“

“I said they were dead,” snapped Tipene. “You can’t do anything for dead men, can you?”

“No. But we must have a report to enter on our log, you understand, and–I’ll be very busy on the return trip. I’d like to have your story before we start.” Somehow, I was suspicious of Tipene.

“Very well. Although I warn you I shall report your delay to your superiors.” I shrugged, and led the way to the dining saloon which, small as it was, held chairs enough to seat us all.

* * * * *

“My story is very brief,” he said, when my three officers, Tipene, and myself were seated. “We proceeded up the river to a spot which we deemed suited as a point of entry into the country, and far enough from the ship so that its presence would not be alarming to the inhabitants.

“We permitted ourselves to be captured by the Aranians, knowing that our protective suits would prevent them from doing us serious bodily injury.

“You have seen the creatures–word of your adventure with them precipitated our misfortune, I might say here–and you know of their tunnels. We were taken down one of these tunnels, and into a still larger one. This in turn gave onto a veritable subterranean avenue, and, in time, led to a sort of underground metropolis.”

“What?” growled Correy. “An underground city of those things?”

“I should like to ask that you do not interrupt,” said Tipene coldly. “This metropolis was really no more than a series of cubicles, opening off the innumerable crisscrossing tunnels, and many layers in thickness. Passage from one level to another was by means of slanting tunnels.