s throw out some scent that
stops their enemies cold."

"It would have to be considerably potent," MacFarland snorted. "To cause
a fuss like that!"

"Well," Gallifa affirmed with finality, "Samuels will have several
specimens for us back at the base. We will find out after we get back."

"I just thought of something," MacFarland exclaimed suddenly. "Do you
think maybe that--that cat--or one like it, attacked Bradshaw? It may
have been the reason he ran through the brambles, figuring the beast
couldn't follow."

"Hmm, I see what you mean," Gallifa replied thoughtfully. "The beast
_was_ sort of catlike, and it _could_ have roughed Bradshaw up some.
Only it doesn't seem logical that the experience could have driven him
to the type of mental breakdown he suffered. Still, it's as good a guess
as any, I suppose. Maybe Bradshaw will snap out of it and be able to
tell us himself."

MacFarland glanced at the sky. "We'd better be getting back," he
suggested. "The other crews will be in, and we have a lot of data to
correlate tonight."

Gallifa agreed and secured the rifle and scope. Before he could turn the
truck around, they heard the sound of a helijet approaching at maximum
speed. Gallifa shaded his eyes and looked at the now hovering craft.

"I think it is Hawkins," he reported. "And I'd say offhand that he wants
to talk to us."

The 'copter landed expertly a few feet away, and the blades slowed to
idling speed. It was Hawkins. He waved excitedly as he ran toward the
truck.

"Mac! Gallifa!" he called. "There's a space ship down a few miles from
here!"

Gallifa gasped. A wrecked ship? It seemed inconceivable. A space craft
wasn't dainty. Damage from a wreck should have been plainly visible even
from the spotting cruiser--ignoring completely their own air maps.

He faced Hawkins. "Are you sure?" he asked incredulously. "How did we
ever miss the wreckage?"

"The ship isn't wrecked," Hawkins said levelly. "It's in the same
condition that it was in when it landed."

"It's not wrecked?" MacFarland repeated blankly. "Now who in hell--" He
turned to Gallifa. "I thought we were the first crew on the planet," he
said, almost accusingly. "It's very strange no one told us of any other
expedition."

Gallifa frowned in annoyance. "We _are_ the first. I'm sure of that. The
other ship must be a free-lance." He turned to Hawkins. "How about the
crew? Are they still with the ship?"

"They're still with the ship," Hawkins s