[Illustration: The grim black rocket, whirling and dipping with an astounding swiftness, was endeavoring to bring the twisting little craft into the lines of its guns. (llustration by Winter)] EVANS OF THE EARTH-GUARD By EDMOND HAMILTON _By the Author of "The Space Visitors," "Cities in the Air," etc._ [Illustration: EDMOND HAMILTON] [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Air Wonder Stories April 1930. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] _The present likelihood is that the first interplanetary flight will probably be by means of a rocket-propelled ship. As far as our knowledge goes the rocket seems to be the most feasible means of propulsion because it will reach its greatest efficiency in the vacuum of inter-stellar space._ _If the conditions on other planets, including our moon, are not too prohibitive, it is doubtless true that these planets will be explored for whatever mineral wealth or possibilities of life they may contain. The resulting interplanetary commerce will call into being a host of problems, such as the protection of cargo and passenger shipments against natural and human agents that might wish to destroy them._ _In that case, the Earth-Guard that Mr. Hamilton describes so vividly will play a most important part in the protection of such commerce._ _Mr. Hamilton, as is usual with him, has, in this story, developed it so that we were unable to predict from page to page what would happen next. And the editors were just as fooled by the surprising denouement as we believe our readers will be._ "All Earth-Guard rockets attention! One-man rocket _Pallas_ speaking. Am pursued by pirate rocket believed to be that of the Hawk! I am running toward earth on space-lane 18, now in zone 44-6, but am being rapidly overtaken!" As the clear voice came from the radiophone before him, Captain Wright Evans slammed over the reply-switch and shouted back into it. "Earth-Guard Rocket 283 answering. Standing toward you at top speed instantly!" Then he was up and bursting into the great rocket ship's squat little pilot-house, where a man seated at the controls turned inquiringly to him. "Full speed ahead, Calden!" he cried. "The Hawk's out again and after a one-man rocket not a thousand miles ahead--it's our chance to get him at last!" "Full speed it is," rejoined Calden calmly, his hands flashing forth to flick down a half-score of the banked shining levers before him.