ounded and struck with another crash
which was utterly soundless to the stranded men on the outside of the
hull, who, nevertheless, felt the vibration plainly.

Winford halted abruptly. The crew inside the ship would investigate.
Fate was offering the desperate men on the outside another chance. He
turned and beckoned to the others and hurried aft toward the regular
air-lock, which was operated only from inside the ship. Hastily he
placed the men about the outer door. Then they waited.

Five minutes later it opened, and two men in space suits crawled out.
Jarl captured the first man single-handed, and Nizzo and Ragna, with
perfect teamwork, overpowered the second before he realized what was
taking place. Within a minute the men crowded into the air-lock, and
shut the outer portal. Automatically, the inner door slid open.

Winford stepped out into the passageway with his ray pistols, covering
the half dozen members of the crew who gaped at the intruders in
speechless astonishment. One man recovered his wits and started to run.
Winford's pistol stabbed a ray after him, and he collapsed. The other
members of the crew silently raised their hands in surrender and were
herded into a nearby stateroom and locked in, including the two in space
suits who had been captured on the hull outside.

"Overpower and imprison the crew at once," Winford ordered, as he
emerged from his space suit. "Jarl, you take charge, and work through
the ship. Miss no one. Bind them, imprison them, if you can, and if you
must, use sterner measures. Remember you are now pirates, and if we
don't capture this ship, the ship will capture us. I'll go ahead alone
to the control room and introduce myself to the officers there. When you
have cleaned things up, join me."

* * * * *

Captain Robers was peering out through the window at the dark blob of
the space tender near the rear of the big freighter when the door of the
control room opened softly and Winford slipped inside with leveled ray
pistols. The two navigation officers on duty gasped in astonishment.
Captain Robers whirled around. His momentary amazement gave way to
wrath.

"Who the devil are you, and what do you want?" he bellowed.

Winford's eyes blazed coldly. The ray pistols in his hands twitched
meaningly.

"Civility first, Captain. Hands off those instruments, gentlemen. Stand
up. Face the windows. Thank you."

With catlike quickness Winford leaped behin