myself, but Connel needs us. Don't forget that bunch of guys
in uniforms back at Sinclair's. Commander Walters and the others don't
hold conferences like that one back in Venusport for the fun of it. This
is serious."

Roger shrugged and started off after Connel, Tom following slowly
behind. Their march through the jungle was made in silence, each hoping
for a miracle. But as the sun grew higher and the deadline hour of noon
approached, they steeled themselves to the fact that they might never
see the Venusian cadet again. A short time later, when Tom was taking
his turn at cutting the trail through the brush, he broke through into a
clearing. He stopped and called out, "Major! Roger! Quick!"

Connel and the blond-haired cadet rushed forward, stopping beside Tom to
stare in amazement. Before them, a large area of the jungle was pounded
down and lying amidst the tangle of giant creepers and uprooted bushes
was the remains of a giant snake.

"By the rings of Saturn!" gasped Connel, walking forward to inspect the
clearing. Tom and Roger followed, breaking to the side, their rifles at
ready. The two boys had become jungle-wise quickly and knew that death
lurked behind the wall of green surrounding the cleared area.

"It must have been some fight!" Connel pointed to the tracks of the
tyrannosaurus. "The tyranno must have stumbled on the snake while it was
feeding," said Connel. "Otherwise it would have lit out for that tree
over there." He pointed to the giant teakwood that Astro had slept
under. The three spacemen saw the makeshift sleeping bag at the same
time.

"Major! Look!" cried Tom and raced to the base of the tree.

"It's Astro's, all right," said Connel, examining the woven bag. "I
wonder if he was here when those two things were going after each
other."

"Yes, sir," said Roger in a choked whisper, "he was." He pointed to the
ragged remains of Astro's jungle suit dangling on the near-by thornbush.
The blood was stiff on the material.

The three Earthmen stared at the suit, each too horrified to speak.

Connel's face was set in hard lines as he finally found his voice and
growled, "Our search is over. Let's get back to our job."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 11

It was not until late the same afternoon that Astro, following the trail
of the tyrannosaurus, realized that the giant beast was seriously hurt.
At first the traces of blood on the ground and underbrush were slight,
but gradually the blood s