ld be seen taking place
around the shack. Two huge jet vans, filled with every possible piece of
emergency equipment, were parked near by. The _Polaris_ had been taken
over as a temporary headquarters and the area was crowded with
scarlet-clad enlisted men. Astro could hear the hum of generators on the
_Polaris_ and immediately felt concern for his power deck.

Proceeding to the shack they were again challenged by a guard and again
had to produce their identification disks before entering. Once inside,
they were amazed at the transformation. An aluminum tripod, ten feet
tall, had been erected over the hole in the floor, and several steel
cables, connected to a motor-driven steel drum, were looped over the
apex of the tripod, one hanging straight down into the shaft. A thick
plastic hose hung over the edge of the shaft, jerking spasmodically as
air was pumped into the dark hole.

"By the craters of Luna," cried Hawks, "what's going on here?"

A young lieutenant stepped up to the commissioner and saluted sharply.
"Lieutenant Silvers, sir. Second-in-command to Captain Allison of the
emergency crew."

Hawks returned the salute and Lieutenant Silvers continued.

"Captain Strong, Cadet Corbett, and Captain Allison are at the bottom of
the shaft, sir. The cage will be up in a moment and you may go down if
you care to."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," said Hawks.

"Congratulations, Cadet Manning," said Silvers. "I understand you had a
close call in the shaft."

"I did, sir," said Roger. "It was _very_ close."

A light suddenly flashed on and the four spacemen turned to watch a
large wire cage rise out of the shaft. It was built in three sections,
each seven feet high. A ladder on one side of the cage gave easy access
to the higher and lower levels. Astro climbed to the top section while
Hawks took the lower. Roger stepped into the center section to avoid a
climb. An enlisted man secured the gates and turned on the motor. The
cage dropped through the shaft with sickening speed.

A minute later it began to brake slowly, finally coming to a dead stop
at the bottom of the shaft. They were met by a Solar Guardsman who
directed them into the tunnel, now illuminated by a row of flowing,
self-powered emergency lights. Silently, but with rising excitement, the
two cadets followed Hawks through the brightly lighted shaft, a thousand
feet below the surface of the planet.

Turning the last corner in the tunnel they came upon Strong,