undred-kilowatt ray guns are
trained on you."

Winford cut in the microphone and answered with the customary "O. K."
reply; then he turned to the two white-faced navigators.

"Carry on as usual," he said grimly. "Perhaps we can fool them once they
are aboard."

Then he turned to the phone connecting with the crew's quarters. He
hurriedly explained the situation to Jarl and instructed him to receive
the boarding party at the air-lock.

The big battle sphere was drawing close alongside. Magnet grapnels shot
across the narrow space between the two craft and gripped the side of
the freighter, followed by the cable bridge along which the boarding
party presently came wavering their way to the air-lock of the
freighter.

Winford counted fifty men, then turned away dejectedly. This was no
ordinary inspection party, but a prize crew coming aboard. He sat down
wearily. Just as victory seemed almost within his grasp--had been
actually in his hand when he had started to Ganymede--this battle sphere
popped up out of nowhere like an inescapable doom to strike him and his
companions down. He gritted his teeth. Some way, somehow he would still
win out. He and his fellows had come too far to be cheated of liberty
now.

The door of the control room opened, and a smart young officer in gold
and gray of the Interplanetary Council Marine service entered,
accompanied by three privates with drawn pistols who took their
positions near the door. Winford noted the clean-cut lines and fresh
features of the officer and felt that under different circumstances he
would like to know him.

"I am Lieutenant Commander 6666-A," the officer introduced himself,
using the designation the Interplanetary Council required of all their
fighting men. "You are Evan Winford, are you not?"

Winford nodded.

"You nearly got away with it, Winford," complimented the officer with a
boyish grin. "I almost admire you for it. But you made at least one
fatal error."

"What was that?" asked Winford curiously.

"When you put Captain Robers and his men off this ship they smuggled out
with them a hand-operated helio set. Each man carried a part. Within an
hour after you left they had it assembled and were cranking out S O S
signals. We happened to be but a million miles off Callisto and picked
up their message. At once our commander decided to start out and rope in
the _Golden Fleece_ before you did any further damage. And here we are."

Winford cursed himsel