Abruptly he turned, gave a little hop to his own craft and disappeared.
"What do you make of that?" Myra asked.
"He just remembered a previous engagement," soothed Steve. "What's the matter, darling—jealous?"
In a moment the creature reappeared, carrying a plain black box, about six inches square.
"I told you he played rummy," said Steve. "Look—he brought chips."
He set the box on the floor and threw back a lid. Inside the lid were three fine wires that ended in buttons. He handed one each to Myra and Steve and took one himself.
"Now," said a metallic voice, "we'll be able to understand each other."
The Horns looked at each other, then at the animate piece of bronze fuzz. At the same time the voice had spoken, there had been the hum they assumed to be his method of communication. Steve's eyebrows shot up in inquiry.
"Does that thing act as a translator?"
As he spoke, a hum came from the box.