p is still out there, probably closing in for the kill."

"A blasted lot we can do about it," Roger growled.

"I've got a plan that might work," said Tom half-heartedly. "It's about
the only thing I can think of, unless Connel and Astro have a better
idea."

"What is it? Whatever it is, it's better than sitting here like a dead
duck, waiting for that rat to come in and finish us off!" said Roger.
"Look, I've just got to see what he's doing out there." He flipped on
the scanner switch and while he waited for the set to warm up he turned
back to Tom. "What's your idea?"

"Well," began Tom, "the only thing we've got on board that we can use to
fight back with are those projectiles."

"How can we fight with projectiles?" demanded Roger. "They don't carry
warheads!"

"No," agreed Tom. "But they're big and heavy. They pack a wallop if they
hit anything."

Roger's eyes brightened suddenly. "Say, I think--"

The scanner began to beep and Roger turned his attention to the screen.
Tom leaned over his shoulder and watched eagerly. They both saw Devers'
ship flying in a slow circle around them.

"Probably looking to see which would be the best way to let us have it!"
snarled Roger.

At that moment Major Connel climbed into the radar bridge, followed by
Astro.

"Time to go," announced the officer.

"Go where?" demanded Roger.

"We have to abandon ship," declared Connel. "The power deck is shot.
We'll never get under way, and we're just sitting ducks if we stay
aboard."

"What's to prevent Devers from picking us off while we're outside?"
asked Roger.

"Nothing," said Connel. "But he'll have a harder job and maybe he won't
get all of us."

"Then, sir," said Tom with a glance at Roger, "I have an idea."

"Let's have it," said Connel.

"The projectiles, sir," replied Tom.

"What about them?"

"We can still fire them off the emergency batteries, sir."

"Will you get to the point, Corbett?" growled Connel. "Devers is liable
to send another torpedo our way any second and--" Connel suddenly
stopped and his eyes widened. "A torpedo!" he gasped.

"Exactly, sir!" exclaimed Tom. "We have five projectiles! We can use
them as torpedoes!"

"Jumping Jupiter!" exclaimed Astro. "What a terrific idea!"

"What a terrific pipe dream!" snapped Connel. "Those projectiles don't
have any warheads!"

"They could still do a lot of damage if they hit that ship," asserted
Tom.

"And how do you expect to aim them?" demanded C