Evans, filled by a blind fury, whirled to give Calden the order that would send them in wild pursuit, but checked himself as he realized, despite his rage, the futility of such a pursuit. Once out of sight, the Hawk in his immensely swift rocket could laugh at all pursuit, as he had laughed many times. His face a study of conflicting emotions, Evans turned back toward his second-officer. "Back to our regular course on the space-lane," he ordered wearily. "He's got away again." Silently Calden headed the great Earth-Guard rocket again toward the great disk of earth. But in a moment he motioned toward something outside and above them. "It's the rocket the Hawk was attacking," he said. "He's signalling for a contact." "Let him come on, then," answered the other. Calden pressed the studs that flashed from their own rocket's nose the answering colored signal-lights, and quickly the shining smaller craft drove down until it hung just over the big Earth-Guard ship. It settled smoothly then on the greater craft's back, its nose firing-tubes blasting it to a halt. The ring of metal contact-pins on its lower side fitted smoothly into the standardized ring of openings ready for them on the Earth-Guard's back. Held thus to the greater craft, the little rocket was carried along through space like a pilot-fish clinging to a great shark. In a moment there was the clang of the contact-door opening, as the occupant of the _Pallas_ passed into the Earth-Guard rocket through the latter's similar door. In a moment more Hartley, the third officer, was striding into the pilot-house with the man who had been the little craft's sole occupant. He was a tall young man with dark hair and dark, laughing eyes. He came forward with hand outstretched to Evans and as the rocket-captain grasped it, he introduced himself. "Francis Seaworth," he named himself, "and just now mighty pleased to see you! Indeed, if you hadn't come when you did, the Hawk would have had me in another minute--I didn't have anyone to work my gun and could only try to evade him till you came." Evans laughed. "What in the devil made you start for earth all by yourself?" he demanded. "Didn't you hear two days ago that the Hawk was out?" The other shook his head. "I heard," he said, "but that's just why I chose this particular time for the trip. No, I don't mean that as bravado," he added quickly, as he saw the incredulous smiles of the three officers. "What I mean is that I knew the Hawk was waiting for a chance to jump on me, and when I heard he was out on the space-lanes again, I thought he'd be too busy at his usual trade to think of me." Evans regarded him with more interest. "But what's the Hawk after you for?" he asked. Seaworth hesitated. "Well, I wouldn't want to spill too much." He nodded toward the other officers. Evans straightened with interest. "Anything you want to say you can tell me in front of my officers."