"Apparently they knew we were somewhere around," said Mortoch, "but hadn't located us yet."
"Well, we'd better hurry right on up then," said Dynamon, "so that we can get back to our Carrier before they find it."
"Oh, but you can't go!" said the little queen in a shrill voice, "I forbid it."
"I wish we could stay, Queen Diana," Dynamon answered, "but there's dangerous work to be done up on the surface."
"But why go to the surface at all?" the queen demanded. "Why not stay down here and keep away from the danger?"
"No, Queen Diana," Dynamon said, keenly conscious of Mortoch's lurking smile. "Duty calls and we must go. Perhaps when we have finished our work we will pay you another visit. All right, men, here we go."
The centurion, Keltry by his side, led the way back to the entrance to the pit, while the Saturnians, grouped around their little queen, gaped after them. As the little force stood in the bottom of the pit adjusting their helmets and oxygen masks preparatory to ascending to the surface, Mortoch leaned over to Dynamon.
"That wasn't such a bad idea of the beautiful Diana's," he murmured. "Personally, I wouldn't mind spending a few safe years down there with her. It would be better than facing those deadly Photo-Atomic Rays of the Martians."
"If it's safety you're interested in, Mortoch," said Dynamon, dryly, "we'll try and get you, as soon as possible, to the safety of the Carrier. Anyway, perhaps the Martians are just exploring and didn't come equipped with the Ray."