sts!" exclaimed Tom.

Sinclair nodded. "I have a plantation right on the edge of the jungle
belt. Things get pretty dull down there in the middle of the summer. I'd
be honored if you'd use my home as a base of operations while you hunt
for your tyrannosaurus. As a matter of fact, you'd be helping me out.
Those brutes destroy a lot of my crops and we have to go after them
every three or four years."

"Well, thanks," said Tom, "but we wouldn't want to impose. We'd be happy
to pay you--"

Sinclair held up his hand. "Wouldn't think of it. Do you have your
gear?"

"Yes, sir," replied Astro. "Arms, synthetics, the works. Everything but
transportation."

"Well, that's sitting out on the spaceport. That black space yacht on
Ramp Three." Sinclair smiled. "Get your gear aboard and make yourselves
at home. I'll be ready to blast off in half an hour."

Astro turned to Keene. "Thanks a lot, sir. It was swell of you to set us
up this way."

Keene slapped him on the shoulder. "Go on. Have a good time."

Shaking hands all around and saying quick good-bys, the three boys
hurried out to stow their gear aboard Sinclair's luxurious space yacht.
While Roger and Tom relaxed in the comfortable main cabin, Astro hurried
below to inspect the power deck.

Roger laughed as the big cadet disappeared down the hatch. "That guy
would rather play with a rocket tube than do anything else in the
universe!"

"Yes," said Tom. "He's a real lucky guy."

"How?"

"Ever meet anyone that didn't love that big hick?"

"Nope," said Roger with a sly grin. "And that goes for me too! But don't
you ever tell him!"

* * * * *

Major Connel had been waiting to see the Solar Alliance Delegate from
Venus for three hours. And Major Connel didn't like to wait for anyone
or anything. He had read every magazine in the lavish outer office atop
the Solar Guard Building in downtown Venusport, drunk ten glasses of
water, and was now wearing a path in the rug as he paced back and forth
in front of the secretary who watched him shyly.

The buzzer on the desk finally broke the silence and the girl answered
quickly as Connel stopped and glared at her expectantly. She listened
for a second, then replacing the receiver, turned to the seething Solar
Guard officer and smiled sweetly. "Delegate James will see you now,
Major."

"Thank you," said Connel gruffly, trying hard not to take his impatience
out on the pretty girl. He stepped t