a trap, head for asteroid fourteen, bail
out in a jet boat, and let the scout keep going. We'll pick you up
later."

Simms nodded again and turned to his old partner, Wallace. "So long,
Gus." He smiled. "This is one time the Solar Guard gets it right where
it hurts!"

"Yeah," agreed Wallace. "See you later. Take it easy on that asteroid
and don't get in trouble with the girls!"

The two men laughed and Simms turned to climb into the waiting rocket
scout. The sleek ship had been stripped down until it was hardly more
than a power deck and control panel. She was now capable of more than
twice her original speed. As the little spaceman disappeared into the
air lock, Coxine turned to Wallace.

"We'll give him an hour's head start and then blast off after him. And
remember, the first man that breaks audio silence will get blasted!"

All eyes were on the tiny rocket scout as its jets, roaring into life,
lifted free of the pirate planetoid. When the speedy little ship had
disappeared into space, Coxine turned to his crew and ordered an
immediate alert. While the criminals readied the armed privateer for
blast-off, Coxine and Wallace climbed directly to the radar bridge.

Joe Brooks was hunched in front of the scanner, staring intently. He
looked up when the two pirate officers entered.

"Just following Lieutenant Simms on the radar, skipper," said Brooks.
"He's blasting through the asteroid belt faster than I thought he
could."

"Lemme see!" growled Coxine. The giant pirate stared at the scanner and
his mouth twisted into a grin. He turned away and barked several orders.
"Wallace, stand by to blast off in two minutes! Brooks, get me a bearing
on that ship."

"You mean Simms?" asked the radarman.

"No! I mean that ship, right there," snapped Coxine. He pointed to a
white blip on the scanner. "And after you get the bearing I want a
course that'll intersect it in"--Coxine paused and glanced at the astral
chronometer--"ten minutes!"

Quickly calculating the bearing and working up the course as ordered,
Brooks handed Coxine a slip of paper. The pirate glanced at it briefly.

"What would you say Simms' speed would be if he kept his ship on full
thrust, Brooks?" asked Coxine.

Brooks thought a moment. "I'd say it would be about half of what he's
making now!"

"Exactly!" roared Coxine. "That's why the ship on your scanner isn't
Simms' at all, but another ship!"

The radarman studied the scanner, where, with each s