front of the
teleceiver screen.

"_Space Devil_ to _Polaris_--_Space Devil_ to _Polaris_--come in,
_Polaris_." He twisted another dial and watched the darkened screen
anxiously. After a moment the screen blurred, and Tom's face gradually
came into sharp focus.

"Loring!" gasped Tom. "Where's Roger?"

"Never mind him, you punk!" snarled Loring. "Tell that fatheaded Connel
I wanta talk to him! Make it fast!"

Tom's face disappeared to be replaced by the raging features of Major
Connel. "You murdering space rat!" he roared. "I've given you two
minutes to surrender and, by the craters of Luna, you've only got thirty
seconds left!"

"It'll only take ten seconds to tell you that if you don't get outta
here Cadet Manning gets blasted!"

"What?" roared Connel.

"That's right," snarled Loring. "You're the one that's got thirty
seconds to get out of here, or Manning takes a swim in space!"

"Why, you--" Connel's face was twisted with rage. "You can't threaten
me!"

"I ain't threatening you," said Loring, "_I'm telling you!_ If you don't
get started, you'll never see Manning again. Or if you do, you won't
recognize him! Now make up your mind, Connel!"

The Solar Guard officer hesitated. "Give me two minutes," he said, "and
I'll call you back. Two minutes."

"Two minutes," repeated Loring, "and if I don't hear from you by then,
or if you try any funny stuff, Manning gets it!"

Aboard the _Polaris_, the screen darkened, and Connel, his fists
clenched, turned to Tom.

"We're helpless, Tom," he said softly. "Now that we have proof of
Roger's innocence, I have to do everything in my power to save him."

Tom didn't say anything. Suddenly Connel smashed one huge fist into
another. "But by the blessed rings of Saturn, when I _do_ get my hands
on that Loring, I'll--I'll--" He broke off suddenly and turned back to
the teleceiver. "I'm going to do what he wants, Tom. Roger's life is
worth a dozen like Loring, and we'll have to take a chance that Loring
will keep his word. After all," continued the big officer softly, "our
mission is complete. We've tested the transmitter and found it to be
more than we expected. No real reason why we should stay around here any
longer."

"Yes, sir," stammered Tom. "Sir, I--I--"

Connel waved him silent with his hand. "You don't need to say anything,
Tom. It's just one of those things. Still I can't help wondering what
they came out here for." He turned to the dials on the teleceiver an