ratively. Snap it up, guys! Our armor is stored with the
pieces of the pirates' lifeboat, and I'll feel a lot better when we've
got it on and have hold of a few Lewistons."

They hurried down corridors, up ramps, and along hallways, with
Costigan's spy-ray investigating the course ahead for chance Nevians.
Bradley and Clio were unarmed, but the operative had found a piece of
flat metal and had ground it to a razor edge.

"I think I can throw this thing straight enough and fast enough to chop
off a Nevian's head before he can put a paralyzing ray on us," he
explained grimly, but he was not called upon to show his skill with the
improvised cleaver.

As he had concluded from his careful survey, every Nevian was at some
control or weapon, doing his part in that frightful combat with the
denizens of the greater deeps. Their path was open; they were neither
molested nor detected as they ran toward the compartment within which
was sealed all their belongings. The door of that room opened, as had
the other, to Costigan's knowing beam; and all three set hastily to
work. They made up packs of food, filled their capacious pockets with
emergency rations, buckled on Lewistons and automatics, donned their
armor, and clamped into their external holsters a full complement of
additional weapons.

"Now comes the ticklish part of the business," Costigan informed the
others. His helmet was slowly turning this way and that, and the others
knew that through his spy-ray goggles he was studying their route.
"There's only one boat we stand a chance of reaching, and somebody's
mighty apt to see us. There's a lot of detectors up there, and we'll
have to cross a corridor full of communicator beams. There, that line's
off--scoot!"

At his word they dashed out into the hall and hurried along for minutes,
dodging sharply to right or left as the leader snapped out orders.
Finally he stopped.

"Here's those beams I told you about. We'll have to roll under 'em.
They're less than waist high--right there's the lowest one. Watch me do
it, and when I give you the word, one at a time, you do the same. _Keep
low_--don't let an arm or a leg get up into a ray or they may see us."

He threw himself flat, rolled upon the floor a yard or so, and scrambled
to his feet. He gazed intently at the blank wall for a space.

"Bradley--now!" he snapped, and the captain duplicated his performance.

But Clio, unused to the heavy and cumbersome space-armor she was