Her FATHER! And she believed he was alive, for it was an excitement instead of hopelessness or grief that possessed her as she talked to him.

It gave him a sort of shock.

He wanted to tell her, with his arms about her, that it was impossible, and that it was his duty to make her realize the truth.

Her father was dead now, even if she had last seen him alive.

The little brown men had got him, and had undoubtedly hacked him into small pieces, as was their custom when inspired by war-madness.