igured why should I give it back?
Just move it someplace else and let the vines and creepers grow over it
for a few days."

"Didn't the crew come back looking for it?" asked Loring.

"Did they?" chortled Shinny. "I'll say they did! Almost drove them poor
fellers crazy. I guess they searched for that old wagon for three months
before giving up."

"And--and you mean it's still there--and in good condition?" asked
Loring.

"Needs a little fuel," said Shinny, "and probably a good overhaul, but I
don't think there's anything serious the matter with it."

"By the craters of Luna," exclaimed Loring, "we'll blast off
immediately!"

"Hold on," said Shinny. "I didn't say I'd give it to you."

"Well, what do you want for it?" demanded Loring.

"Now let me see," mused Shinny. "I figure that if _you_ figure to get as
much as twenty million credits out of the copper, a full quarter share
ought to be about right."

"Five million credits for a--a ship that's been rotting in the jungle
for fifteen years!" exclaimed Loring.

"She's in good shape," defended Shinny. "I go out there every six months
or so and turn over the reactors just to keep 'em from getting rusty."

"Why didn't you try to do something with it before?" asked Loring.

"Never had no occasion to," answered Shinny. "Well, is it a deal, or
isn't it?"

"Too much," snapped Loring.

"That's my price," said Shinny.

"I could take the ship and not give you anything," sneered Loring.

"If the Solar Guard looked for three months in that jungle, with a
hundred men and instruments, do you think you'll find it?"

"I'll give you a fifth share," said Loring.

"Nope," said Shinny, "I've named my price. You either take it or leave
it!" He glared at Loring.

Mason finally spoke. "Take it, Loring," he said, "and let's get out of
here. I'm getting jittery over that investigation that's coming up on
the station."

"All right," said Loring, "it's a deal. One quarter share for the ship."

"Done!" said Shinny--"Now I guess we'd better go talk to that boy
Manning, eh?"

"Don't you think it'll be a little dangerous taking him along?" whined
Mason.

"Yeah, maybe you're right," said Loring.

[Illustration]

"If it was me," said Shinny, "I wouldn't give it a second thought.
You're going into _deep_ space. It ain't like a hop to Mars or Titan.
This is as deep as you can go. If I was you, I'd want the best there is
in my crew. And from what I've heard about that young f