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ruler, and said: 'Pan-ku.' According to our traditions, 'Pan-ku was the first human being, corresponding to the 'Adam' of your Bible."
    "From which one might deduce," said Ted, "that the people we have just interviewed are remotely related to your earliest ancestors." "So it seems. If you will let me have the phonetic and written records, and a fast electroplane, I believe that by consulting our ancient writings I may be able to render a translation in a few days." "Splendid!" replied Ted. "Both will be ready within an hour."

V. ULTIMATUM OF P'AN-KU
    THREE DAYS later Ted received a radiogram from Peiping, reading as follows:
    Honorable Sir: I avail myself of the privilege of submitting below the result of my poor efforts at deciphering the written characters of the Moon People. The spoken language was, with the exception of a few scattered words which cannot be put together to make sense, wholly unintelligible to me.
    Here follows my sorry translation: Why have you destroyed Ur? You, the people of Du Gong have thrown to us, the Imperial Government of P'an-ku, mightiest emperor of Ma Gong, the tcha-tsi (meaning unknown to translator) of war. We are greater and wiser than you, and can crush you with ease.
    You have demonstrated that you are not fit to govern yourselves-that you are a menace to the people of the great Lord Sun, his eight apostles and their children. The Imperial Government of P'an-ku will send a viceroy to rule over you. Submit, and you will live happily, the subjects of P'an-ku. Resist, and you will be destroyed.
    In my humble and unworthy opinion, the word, "tcha-tsi," means either some instrument of war or perhaps a challenge to war, and has the same symbolical significance as does the gauntlet in English.
    DR. WU.
    The contents of this message were immediately transmitted to the President of the United States, and he lost no time in calling a council of the Associated Governments of the Earth by radiovisiphone. Ted Dustin was a party to the conference, and assisted in drafting a placatory note to P'an-ku. The note, which was sent to Dr. Wu for translation into the Lunite language, was as follows:
    To the Imperial Government of P'an-ku: Greeting: The Associated Governments of the Earth regret the destruction of Ur, and are willing to do all in their power to make amends.
    The destruction was unintentional, as the Associated Governments of the Earth were unaware that Ma Gong was inhabited.
    The Associated Governments of the Earth make full apology for having wronged the people of Ur, and stand willing to pay a reasonable indemnity in treasure, food, raw materials, or manufactured products, but are united in the purpose to resist and retaliate for any attempt at conquest.
    After the note had been drafted and dispatched it was unanimously decided at the meeting that Ted was entitled to the million dollar reward, there being now no longer any doubt that his projectile had struck the moon. The treasurer of the association was, accordingly, ordered to pay him that amount.
    It was late in the evening when Ted called Roger into his private office.
    "Get that translation from Dr. Wu, yet?" he asked.
    "Yes. I had it painted in large white letters on a black placard and mounted on an easel in front of the big disc."
    "Good. We'll go up now. Everything will be ordered off the air in five minutes, and we'll try to get it through."
    They took the elevator to the tower room, where the linguists, scientists, and representatives of the associated powers were assembled as before. President Whitmore was not present, however, because of urgent business in Washington. His place was taken by the Secretary of State. Dr. Wu, who was also unable to be present, was represented by Dr. Fang, a Chinese scholar of almost equal repute.
    At ten o'clock, the zero hour, Ted promptly pressed the button and began manipulating the dials.
    This time he was instantly rewarded by the appearance of the dazzlingly beautiful girl who had faded from