mossy carpet was dry. An ideal
shelter. Here Ulana might find the rest she so sorely needed, and in
comparative comfort.

She curled up beside the huge stem and, half buried in warm, dry moss,
immediately fell asleep. The Earth men sat gazing solemnly at each
other; speechless. In the dim distance the roar of a monorail car rose
faintly at first, then grew louder and louder, only to fade away once
more into the whispering silence. A steady patter of jungle rain
drummed on the mushroom top.

"God!" Tommy muttered, after a while. "I'd give my right eye for a
cigarette."

"Me too." Blaine was hugging his knees, nodding drowsily. "A nice rare
steak with mushroom sauce wouldn't go so bad, either," he drawled.

"Aw, have a heart. I'm so sick of these vitamin pills of theirs I never
want to see one again."

"Yeah, but they're better than nothing. We haven't any of those even."

"Say!" Tommy jumped to his feet in sudden remembrance. "I saw a bush,
back there about fifty feet, with bunches of big red berries on it.
Like grapes, they looked. May be good to eat."

"Sure, they _may_ be. And then again they may be poison. We can't
take any chances like that. Leave 'em alone."

* * * * *

Tommy growled unintelligibly and fell to walking around their shelter
with nervous strides, keeping just within the dry area and glaring
savagely into the steaming jungle. Blaine smiled grimly. Nerves! Tommy
always was like that; always had to be on the go and doing something.
His own nerves were jumpy to-day. They were in hot water this time, for
sure. Had to keep on though; they were still alive, or at least half
alive; and the solar system was intact as yet. If only Tom Farley would
quit his infernal tramping!

"Cut it out!" Blaine snapped peevishly. "You'll have us both bughouse.
Can't you sit down and take it easy?"

Tommy stopped in his tracks. "Sorry, Blaine," he said. But he remained
standing, staring off into the jungle. Then, suddenly he exclaimed,
"Say, I'm going for some of those grapes, or whatever they are. I'll
bring a mess of them back and we can wait till Ulana wakes up. She'll
know whether they're poison or not."

"Oh, go ahead. But don't get yourself lost. Yell out if you can't find
us and I'll answer."

"Okay. Don't worry about me." And in three steps Tommy was swallowed up
in the undergrowth.

Blaine stole a glance at the girl and something caught at his throat.
God, s