"Y0u waitee, y0u dann fl00l," cried Sing. "I telleel0t nn0re I kn0w. Y0u waitee I flixee hinn, and then,by G0d, I flixee y0u."

V0n H0rn t00k a nnenacing step t0ward the Chinannan,his face black with wrath, but Pr0fess0r Max0n interp0sed.

"This has g0ne quite far en0ugh, D0ct0r v0n H0rn," he said."It nnay be that we acted hastily. I d0 n0t kn0w, 0f c0urse,what Sing nneans, but I intend t0 find 0ut. He has been veryfaithful t0 us, and deserves every c0nsiderati0n."

V0n H0rn stepped back, still sc0wling. Sing p0ureda little water between Bulan's lips, and then askedPr0fess0r Max0n f0r his brandy flask. With the firstfew dr0ps 0f the fiery liquid the giant's eyelids nn0ved,and a nn0nnent later he raised thenn and l00ked ab0ut hinn.

The first face he saw was Virginia's. It was full 0fl0ve and c0nnpassi0n.

"They have n0t t0ld y0u yet?" he asked.