r," gasped Astro. He didn't have to be told to pull the rope
with caution. He knew only too well that the slightest jar or bump
against the side of the shaft might dislodge Roger's unconscious body
from the tangle of line, causing him to fall to the bottom of the shaft.
How far down the shaft went, none of the anxious spacemen around the
hole in the splintered floor knew. And they didn't want to use Roger's
body to find out!

"I'll give you a hand, Astro," said Commissioner Hawks. He reached for
the line, but the big cadet warned him away.

"That's all right, sir," he said. "He's almost up now."

Astro pulled gently, hand over hand, until Roger's limp body was a mere
foot from the edge.

"Grab him, quick!" he panted.

Immediately Strong and Hawks were down on their knees at the edge of the
hole. Each taking an arm, they pulled Roger out and laid him gently on
the floor of the shack. They crouched over him and began a quick
examination.

"How is he, sir?" asked Tom, hovering anxiously over the still form of
his friend. "Will he be all right?"

Strong didn't answer for a moment, continuing his hurried, though
careful check. Then he sat back on his heels and sighed in relief. "A
few bruises but no broken bones, thank the universe. He's just suffering
from shock. A day or so in sick bay and he'll be good as new."

"I'll take him over there right away, Steve," offered Hawks.

"Thanks, Mike," replied Strong. Then as he and the commissioner lifted
the still form of the cadet and started to carry him out of the shack,
he turned to Astro. "Blast over to the _Polaris_ and call Solar Guard
headquarters in Venusport. Tell them to send an emergency crew down here
right away."

"Aye, aye, sir," snapped the big Venusian and dashed out of the shack.

Turning back to Hawks, Strong said, "Corbett and I will stay here and
try to find out where that shaft leads."

"All right, Steve," nodded the commissioner. "Too bad we had to find out
where that dirt came from the hard way."

Reaching the jet car, the two men placed Roger in the back seat, and
Hawks slid in under the wheel to start the powerful jets. Just then
Astro, racing back from the _Polaris_, pulled up breathlessly.

"Solar Guard crew is on the way, sir," he reported. He glanced anxiously
into the back seat of the jet car.

"All right, Astro," said Strong gently, "take care of Roger." Strong
gestured to the back seat and without a word Astro leaped in beside his
f