ctly. Suppose you stay here
on the exposition grounds. Have a look around. See the sights, have some
fun."

_"Yes, sir!"_ The boys chorused their reply.

"Just don't spend all your credits at the first booth," continued
Strong. "And watch that Venusian cloud candy. It's good, but murder on
the Earthman's stomach."

"Captain Strong!" A voice called from the platform above. It was one of
the Venusian delegates. "They want some pictures of you!"

"Be right there, sir," replied Strong. He turned to the boys and smiled.
"You're lucky you don't have to go through this. See you aboard ship
later." Spinning quickly on his heel, he made his way back through the
crowd to the platform.

"What a great guy," sighed Tom.

"Sure is," agreed Astro.

"Well, fellas," announced Roger, "we've got twelve hours liberty and a
small scale model of the whole solar system to have fun in! What're we
waiting for?"

Fighting their way through the crowds in the plaza, the three boys
finally reached the amusement area where they wandered among gaily
colored booths and plastic tents, their eyes lighting up with each new
attraction.

Two hours later, stuffed with spaceburgers and Martian water, their arms
loaded with assorted prizes, won by Astro's prowess in the
weight-lifting booth, Tom's skill as a marksman, and Roger's luck at the
wheels of chance, the cadets wearily returned to the Polaris.

As they neared their section of the fair site they heard a harsh voice
appealing to a small crowd around the stand in front of Wallace and
Simms' spaceship. A huge sign spelled out the attraction: RIDE IN
SPACE--ONE CREDIT.

Luther Simms, a bamboo cane in one hand, a roll of tickets in another,
was hawking his attraction to the bystanders.

"Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Step right up! It's a thrill of a
lifetime, the greatest sensation of the entire exposition. Ride a rocket
ship, and all this for one credit! A lone, single credit, ladies and
gents, will buy you a pathway to the stars! Step right up--"

In laughing groups, the crowd around the stand began to purchase tickets
and climb aboard the old freighter.

The three cadets watched from the outer edge of the crowd.

"Hey, fellas," said Roger suddenly, "whaddya say we go?"

"What?" gulped Astro. "On that thing?"

"Why not?" urged Roger.

"But that hulk should have been shipped back to the scrap furnace years
ago!" Tom protested.

"So what, Junior?" drawled Roger. "Scared?"