f his worries Dick lowered his head to hide the smile. If only
Peter's wife knew what that problem was, she might not think it so
strange.

Hardly a man touched his food, and as soon as they were out of earshot
of the women, he spoke what was in his mind. The crew heard him at the
table and many of them gathered to listen. For the first time in their
lives they were worried. Their lives depended on the earthmen before
they even _reached_ their planet.

Yarbro hesitated. "I'm not so sure now, that I _have_ found the answer.
When it came to me, I thought it was simple, but now it seems more like
a dream.

"Since knowing that the fuel was low I've racked my brain for something
that might be used--and it had to be on the ship. Every _other_ man was
looking for a mechanical answer, and my efforts would be of little use.
So I've searched for a chemical.

"_Water_ is the only liquid in any quantity. I discarded it so many
times that it left a headache, but my search always came back to the
same place. It's the only thing we've got.

"All other liquids are in too small amounts, even if they could be used,
and the ship is equipped only for chemical fuel--_in liquid form_!

"At dinner when I became so excited, I thought that water would do the
trick. Now I don't know. It has oxygen in large amounts, which is
vitally needed, but that's the only advantage.

"Even if we dared try, it might injure the tubes. Still I believe it's
the only chance of salvation. It's the one substance on board, in any
large quantity. What do you think?"

There wasn't a sound as the minutes passed. Each man searched
frantically for the slightest hope; searched for the _one_ chance in a
thousand!

Dick finally broke the silence. "What is _your_ plan, Peter? You must
have thought of something?"

"No, that's just the trouble. I thought that water might mix with the
fuel, even fire with it. It was only a brain storm I'm afraid."

After a moment Dick spoke again. "It _can't_ be! Since there is no other
substance--_we must use water_! There has to be a way--and _we've got to
find it_! We might as well use up the water and die of thirst, as to
drift around in space until we starve to death, or die in the dive at
Jupiter."

Twice Mrs. Martin came down the ramp to take her husband to bed, but
Dick sent her away. The men would stay there until they had found a
solution--_they had to_! The fuel was fast disappearing!

* * *