That's more than you've got now," snapped Loring. "All right, Manning,
you're in!"

Roger smiled for the first time. "When do we blast off?"

"As soon as we get that space wagon in shape we hit the deep!" said
Loring.

"I think I need a drink on that," said Shinny. He yelled for the
bartender, who brought rocket juice and Martian fizz.

Roger picked up the glass of the sweet water and glanced around the
table.

"What's the name of that space wagon you've got buried in the jungles,
Mr. Shinny?"

"Ain't got no name," said Shinny.

Roger paused, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Then
I propose we name her after the hearts of each of us here at the table."

"What's that?" asked Loring.

"_Space Devil_," said Roger.

Shinny grinned, his frail body trembling slightly from his silent
laughter. He held up the glass of rocket juice.

"I propose a toast to the _Space Devil_!"

"To the _Space Devil_," said the others together.

"And whatever trouble she brings," added Roger softly.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 11

"Cadet _Higgins_!" Major Connel's voice roared over the ship's intercom
as the giant rocket cruiser _Polaris_ blasted smoothly through space.

"Yes, sir," squeaked Alfie in reply.

"Cadet Higgins," said Connel, "I thought I had requested a sight on the
sun star Regulus at fifteen hundred hours!"

"You did, sir," replied Alfie.

"_Then why, by the craters of Luna, don't I have that position?_"

"I was--busy, sir," came the meek reply.

"Cadet Higgins," sighed Connel patiently, "would you be so kind as to
come down to the control deck?"

In the short space of time since their departure from the space station
Major Connel had learned that to scold Cadet Higgins was not the way to
gain his attention. In fact, Major Connel had not been able to find a
way of getting the little cadet's attention in any manner, at any time,
on anything.

"I can't right now, sir," replied Alfie.

"What do you _mean_, you can't?" exploded Connel.

"I mean, sir," explained Alfie, "that I've just sighted Tara and I have
to get a position check on her before we go any farther, to ensure that
we traverse the same trajectory on our return trip and thus avoid the
problem of finding a new and safe route back."

"Cadet Alfie Higgins"--Connel's voice climbed to a frenzied shriek--"if
you are not on this control deck in ten seconds, I'll personally see
that you are fed to a dinosaur when we touch do