"You pushed me away from you."
"Oh, that!" Ross was nettled. "A man must fight his ship, Princess."
"Yes." She nodded agreement. "But I was afraid. I thought we were
doomed. And I wished you to be with me. It is not given to every woman
to die with the man of her choice. And you are the man I wish for."
Ross stared open-mouthed. "Say-ay!" he asked cautiously. "You didn't
get a knock on the head, did you?"
She shook her head unsmilingly. "The Earth-girls, they do not speak so
to men?"
"I'll say they don't," Ross assured her feelingly.
"Oh!" said the Princess Illeria in a small voice.
Ross didn't know what to say then. "Well," he exclaimed, "we'll soon be
back at Peak Four."
He was right. But grim news awaited them at the peak.