* * * * * Navel stopped gingerly over the bodies and gazed at Travis with awestruck admiration. "A rare skill," she murmured, "they did flip and gyrate as dry leaves in the wind." "Observe then," Travis said ominously, inspecting meanwhile the long slash down his arm with which Tude had nearly gotten him "and learn. And in the future receive my words with planetary respect." "I will." "And I," added Lappy, shaken. "Fair. Bright. Now attend. How lies the path?" "Through more such as these, I fear. This place in which we trouble lies at a dead end. We must proceed through great halls where many sit waiting, ere we arrive at the light." "No other way? Think now." "None." Travis sighed. "And they talk about luck. Well boy," he turned to Lappy, "give me your blunderbuss. Obtain that one's knife"--he indicated the sleeping Tude--"and let us carve our way out into the sunshine." But as it turned out, the getting free was much easier than he had anticipated. There was only one band, the girl's own, between them and the opening, and these had fortunately just finished their evening meal when Travis stalked, black, gaunt and murderous, out of the tunnel into their large round room. Part of it was the surprise, part of it was the sudden knowledge that big Tude and the other man had already tried to stop him, but most of it was simply the look of him. He was infinitely ready. They were not, had no reason to be, and they took it automatically for granted that a man this confident must have the stars behind him. They regarded him thoughtfully as he went on by. No one moved. They were a philosophical people. When he had gone, taking the boy and girl with him, they discussed it thoroughly. Out under the sky at last it was pitch black and the stars were shining. Travis realized that he had been in the sewer almost a full 24 hours. That meant that the eclipse was done, tomorrow would be a good day. There was not much time. He commandeered the first carriage to come by, routing three elegantly dressed but unwarlike young men who fled in terror. He saw with relief that they thought him only another sewer rat, for if word of an Earthman robbing the local citizens ever got out there would be hell to pay, and in addition to his other troubles he could not abide that. He told Navel to head for the field where old 29 rested. Thoroughly bushed and beginning now to feel a woeful hunger, he sat back to brood. At the ship young Trippe greeted him with haggard astonishment. He jumped forward joyfully. "Trav! By jig, Trav, I thought we'd lost you. Old Dolly's over at the local police sta--" He stopped abruptly and stood slack-jawed as Navel and Lappy clambered fearfully through the lock. Travis glanced back. No spectators. Good. "Now what in the sweet silly name--" Trippe began, but Travis stopped him. "Russ, be a good kid. See if you can get me something to eat. Haven't had a bite in 24 hours."