mbent eyes. He controlled himself with an effort,
and continued:

"I have said nothing of any plan beyond that of making our escape in
this prison tender off Mercury, but I had a plan behind that. It is true
that we seem to be off the regular traffic lanes, but space liners
between Venus and Earth just now are cutting in quite close to Mercury,
due to the position of the three planets in their orbits. This formed
the basis of the whole venture.

"During the three interplanetary days we have floated out here, I have
repeatedly scanned the Void, thinking every minute we would sight a
craft we could reach. But so far luck has been against us. All I ask is
that you do not allow yourselves to be discouraged, for sooner or later
we'll get a break."

A chorus of enthusiastic approval answered him. Winford sighed with
relief, then stared abruptly through the window and gave a shout. The
others below swarmed up the ladder and crowded into the tiny control
nest. Winford pointed.

Far off against the black depths of space toward Venus gleamed the tiny,
elliptical, silvery hull of a ship, bearing slightly toward them.
Although sharply outlined, the craft was hundreds of miles away as the
men realized. Winford checked it swiftly through the telescope distance
calculator, determined its speed, and rapidly formed his plan.

"There are plenty of space suits in the lockers," he said tersely. "Get
into them. Stand by the air-lock. You, Jarl, get into the lock and take
a cable with an electro-magnet anchor. Lash yourself to it. When I give
the signal by blinking the lights in the lock, open the outer door and
leap across to the other ship. I know you risk death from their rays,
but it is our only chance. Clamp the anchor against the side of the ship
and locate the emergency entrance lock."

"Suppose there is none?" interrupted Jarl stoically.

"Chances are there will be. The interplanetary treaties call for them on
most ships since those five hundred passengers perished trying vainly to
enter a liner after their own ship was smashed by a meteor out near
Jupiter several years ago. Anyway, it's our only chance. You, Nizzo and
Ragna, enter the air-lock with Jarl so that if he misses, you can pull
him back. Now hurry. I'll have to maneuver this tub around so that I can
approach the ship, if possible, without being noticed."

* * * * *

The others scuttled back down the ladder, leaving Winford to rapidl