of the pressure creep slowly toward the
eight-hundred mark. In all his experience he had never seen it above
seven hundred. Shinny, too, his merry eyes shining bright, watched the
needle jerk back and forth and finally reach the eight-hundred mark.

"Eight hundred, sir," bellowed Astro.

"Fire all stern rockets!" roared Connel.

Astro threw the switch. On the control board, Connel saw a red light
flash on. He jammed the master switch down hard.

It was the last thing he remembered.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 21

Tom stirred. He rolled his head from side to side. His mouth was dry and
there was a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He opened his eyes
and stared at the control panel in front of him. Instinctively he began
to check the dials and gauges. He settled on one and waited for his
pounding heart to return to normal. His eyes cleared, and the gauge swam
into view. He read the figures aloud:

"Distance in miles since departure--fourteen thousand, five hundred ..."

Something clicked. He let out a yell.

"We made it! We made it!" He turned and began to pound Connel on the
back. "Major Connel! Major, wake up, sir! We made it. We're in free
fall! Junior's far behind us!"

"Uh--ah--what--Tom? What?" Connel said, rolling his eyes. In all his
experience he had never felt such acceleration. He glanced at the gauge.

"Distance," he read, "fifteen thousand miles." The gauge ticked on.

"We made it, sir!" said Tom. "Astro gave us a kick in the pants we'll
never forget!"

Connel grinned at Tom's excitement. There was reason to be excited. They
were free. He turned to the intercom, but before he could speak, Astro's
voice roared into his ears.

"Report from the power deck, sir," said Astro. "Acceleration normal.
Request permission to open up on hyperdrive."

"Permission granted!" said Connel.

"Look, sir," said Tom, "on the teleceiver screen. Junior is getting his
bumps!"

Connel glanced up at the screen. One by one the white puffs of dust from
the reactor units were exploding on the surface of the planetoid. Soon
the whole satellite was covered with the radioactive cloud.

"I'm sure glad we're not on that baby now," whispered Tom.

"Same here, spaceman!" said Connel.

It was evening of the first full day after leaving Junior before the
routine of the long haul back to Space Academy had begun. The _Polaris_
was on automatic control, and everyone was assembled in the messroom.

"Well, boy