"We have to start the big business--unh--sooner or later," he said. "And if--unh--the Hans have found any way of locating our positions--unh--it's time to start now, although the Council of Bosses--unh--had intended waiting a few years until enough rocket ships have been--unh--built. But no matter what the sacrifice--unh--we can't afford to let them get us on the run--unh--. We'll set a trap for the yellow devils in the--unh--valley if they come back for their wreckage--unh--and if they don't, we'll go rocketing for some of their liners--unh--on the Nu-yok, Clee-lan, Si-ka-ga course. We can use--unh--that idea of yours of shooting up the repellor--unh--beams. Want you to give us a demonstration." With further admonition to follow him closely, he increased his pace, and Wilma and I were taxed to our utmost to keep up with him. It was only in ascending the slopes that my tougher muscles overbalanced his greater skill, and I was able to set the pace for him, as I had for Wilma. We slept in greater comfort that night, under our inertron blankets, and were off with the dawn, leaping cautiously to the top of the ridge overlooking the valley which Wilma and I had left. The Boss scanned the sky with his ultroscope, patiently taking some fifteen minutes to the task, and then swung his phone into use, calling the roll and giving the men their instructions. His first order was for us all to slip our ear and chest discs into permanent position. These ultrophones were quite different from the one used by Wilma's companion scout the day I saved her from the vicious attack of the bandit Gang. That one was contained entirely in a small pocket case. These, with which we were now equipped, consisted of a pair of ear discs, each a separate and self-contained receiving set. They slipped into little pockets over our ears in the fabric helmets we wore, and shut out virtually all extraneous sounds. The chest discs were likewise self-contained sending sets, strapped to the chest a few inches below the neck and actuated by the vibrations from the vocal cords through the body tissues. The total range of these sets was about eighteen miles. Reception was remarkably clear, quite free from the static that so marked the 20th Century radios, and of a strength in direct proportion to the distance of the speaker. The Boss' set was triple powered, so that his orders would cut in on any local conversations, which were indulged in, however, with great restraint, and only for the purpose of maintaining contacts.