He closed the
door, leaving it open an inch.

"Why is Roger in the hospital?" asked Astro quickly.

Connel told him of the fight with the tyrannosaurus and Roger's injury,
ending with their capture by the patrol.

"You know what's going on here, Major?" asked Astro.

"I sure do," said Connel. "And the sooner we blast them, the happier
I'll be."

"One of us will have to escape and get back to the _Polaris_ to contact
Commander Walters," said Astro. "But they've got radar here as good as
ours. That has to be put out of commission or they can blast any
attacking fleet."

"You're right," said Connel grimly, and turned back into the room.
"Tom!" he called.

"Yes, sir," replied Tom, coming up to the door.

"Since Astro and I speak Venusian--" said Connel, and then added when
Tom gasped, "Yes, I speak it fluently, but I kept it a secret. That
means you're the one to go. Astro and I will have more of a chance here.
You escape and return to the _Polaris_. Contact Commander Walters. Tell
him everything that's happened. We'll give you thirty-six hours to make
it. At exactly noon, day after tomorrow, we'll knock out their radar."

"But how, sir?" asked Tom.

"Never mind. We'll figure out something. Just get back to the _Polaris_
and tell the Solar Guard to attack at noon, day after tomorrow. If you
don't and the fleet attacks earlier, or later, they'll be wiped out."

"What about you, sir?" asked Tom.

"If you get back in time, we'll be all right. If not, then this is
good-by. We'll hold out as long as we can, but that can't be forever.
We're fighting smart, determined men, Tom. And it's a fight to the
finish. Now hurry up and get into one of those uniforms."

While Tom turned back inside to put on the uniform, Connel returned to
Astro outside the door. "Think we can do it, Astro?"

"I don't see why not, sir," replied the big cadet.

A moment later Tom returned, dressed in one of the guard's green uniform
and wearing a helmet. Carson was with him, similarly clad. "Astro better
show me the way out of the base," said Tom. "Carson will stand guard
until he gets back."

"Good idea," said Connel. Tom and Carson slipped out the door.

"All set, Astro?" asked Tom.

"Yeah, there's only one thing wrong," replied the big cadet.

"What's the matter?" asked Connel.

"I don't know the way out of the base."

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 15

"I can tell you the way out of the base."

Adjusting the plastic helme