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lingered a while； we performed the same crucial experiment。 Neri would send his message to the airport at Cisneros： 〃Beacon in view。 Put out your light and flash three times。〃 And Cisneros would put out its beacon and flash three times while the hard light at which we gazed would not； incorruptible star； so much as wink。 And despite our dwindling fuel we continued to nibble at the golden bait which each time seemed more surely the true light of a beacon； was each time a promise of a landing and of life…and we had each time to change our star。
And with that we knew ourselves to be lost in interplanetary space among a thousand inaccessible planets； we who sought only the one veritable planet； our own； that planet on which alone we should find our familiar countryside； the houses of our friends； our treasures。
On which alone we should find 。 。 。 Let me draw the picture that took shape before my eyes。 It will seem to you childish； but even in the midst of danger a man retains his human concerns。 I was thirsty and I was hungry。 If we did find Cisneros we should refuel and carry on to Casablanca； and there we should e down in the cool of daybreak； free to idle the hours away。 Neri and I would go into town。 We would go to a little pub already open despite the early hour。 Safe and sound； Neri and I would sit down at table and laugh at the night of danger as we ate our warm rolls and drank our bowls of coffee and hot milk。 We would receive this matutinal gift at the hands of life。 Even as an old peasant woman recognizes her God in a painted image； in a childish medal； in a chaplet； so life would speak to us in its humblest language in order that we understand。 The joy of living； I say； was summed up for me in the remembered sensation of that first burning and aromatic swallow； that mixture of milk and coffee and bread by which men hold munion with tranquil pastures； exotic plantations； and golden harvests； munion with the earth。 Amidst all these stars there was but one that could make itself significant for us by posing this aromatic bowl that was its daily gift at dawn。 And from that earth of men； that earth docile to the reaping of grain and the harvesting of the grape； bearing its rivers asleep in their fields； its villages clinging to their hillsides； our ship was separated by astronomical distances。 All the treasures of the world were summed up in a grain of dust now blown far out of our path by the very destiny itself of dust and of the orbs of night。
And Neri still prayed to the stars。
Suddenly he was pounding my shoulder。 On the bit of paper he held forth impatiently to me I real： 〃All well。 Magnificent news。〃 I waited with beating heart while he scribbled the half…dozen words that were to save us。 At last he put this grace of heaven into my hands。
It was dated from Casablanca； which we had left the night before。 Delayed in transmission； it had suddenly found us more than a thousand miles away； suspended between cloud and fog； lost at sea。 It was sent by the government representative at the airport。 And it said： 〃Monsieur de Saint Exupery； I am obliged to remend that you be disciplined at Paris for having flown too close to the hangars on leaving Casablanca。〃
It was true that I had done this。 It was also true that this man was performing his duty with irritability。 I should have been humiliated if this reproach had been addressed to me in an airport。 But it reached me where it had no right to reach me。 Among these too rare stars； on this bed of fog； in this menacing savor of the sea； it burst like a detonation。 Here we were with our fate in our hands； the fate of the mails and of the ship； we had trouble enough to try to keep alive； and this man was purging his petty rancor against us。
But Neri and I were far from nettled。 What we felt was a vast and sudden jubilation。 Here it was we who were masters； and this man was letting us know it。 The impudent little corporal！ not to have looked at our stripes and seen that we had been promoted captain！ To intrude into our musings when we were solemnly taking our constitutional between Sagittarius and the Great Bear！ When the only thing we could be concerned with； the only thing of our order of magnitude； was this appointment we were missing with the moon！
The immediate duty； the only duty of the planet whence this man's message came； was to furnish us accurate figures for our putations among the stars。 And its figures had been false。 This being so； the planet had only to hold its tongue。 Neri scribbled： 〃Instead of wasting their time with this nonsense they would 'do better to haul us back to Cisneros； if they can。〃 By 〃they〃 he meant all the peoples of the globe； with their parliaments； their senates； their navies； their armies； their emperors。 We re…read the message from that man mad enough to imagine that he had business with us； and tacked in the direction of Mercury。
It was by the purest chance that we were saved。 I had given up all thought of making Cisneros and had set my course at right angles to the coast…line in the hope that thus we might avoid ing down at sea when our fuel ran out。 Meanwhile however I was in the belly of a dense fog so that even with land below it was not going to be easy to set the ship down。 The situation was so clear that already I was shrugging my shoulders ruefully when Neri passed me a second message which； an hour earlier； would have been our salvation。 〃Cisneros；〃 it said； 〃has deigned to municate with us。 Cisneros says； '216 doubtful。〃' Well； that helped。 Cisneros was no longer swallowed up in space； it was actually out there on our left； almost within reach。 But how far away？ Neri and I talked it over briefly； 。 decided it was too late to try for it （since that might mean missing the coast）； and Neri replied： 〃Only one hour fuel left continuing on 93。〃
But the airports one by one had been waking each other up。 Into our dialogue broke the voices of Agadir； Casablanca； Dakar。 The radio stations at each of these towns had warned the airports and the ports had flashed the news to our rades。 Bit by bit they were gathering round us as round a sick…bed。 Vain warmth； but human warmth after all。 Helpless concern； but affectionate at any rate。
And suddenly into this conclave burst Toulouse； the headquarters of the Line three thousand miles away； worried along with the rest。 Toulouse broke in without a word of greeting； simply to say sharply： 〃Your reserve tanks bigger than standard。 You have two hours fuel left。 Proceed to Cisneros。〃
There is no need of nights like the one just described to make the airline pilot find new meanings in old appearances。 The scene that strikes the passenger as monplace is from the very moment of taking off animated with a powerful magic for the crew。 It is the duty of the ship's captain to make port； cost what it may。 The sight of massing clouds is no mere spectacle to him： it is a matter of concern to his physical being； and to his mind it means a set of problems。 Before he is off the ground he has taken its measure； and between him and it a bond is formed which is a veritable language。
There is a peak ahead； still distant。 The pilot will not reach it before another hour of flight in the night。 What is to be the significance of that peak？ On a night of full moon it will be a useful landmark。 In fainter moonglow it will be a bit of wreckage strewn in shadow； dangerous； but marked clearly enough by the lights of villages。 But if the pilot flies blind； has bad luck in correcting his drift； is dubious about his position； that peak begins to stir with a strange life and its threat fills the breadth of the night sky in the same way as a single mine； drifting at the will of the current； can render the whole of the ocean a danger。
The face of the sea is as variable as that of the earth。 To passengers； the storm is invisible。 Seen from a great height； the waves have no relief and the packets of fog have no movement。 The surface of the sea appears to be covered with great white motionless palm…trees； palms marked with ribs and seams stiff in a sort of frost。 The sea is like a splintered mirror。 But the hydroplane pilot knows there is no landing here。
The ho