Paulette had collapsed suddenly across the table, her shoulders shaking with sobs, her face buried in her hands. "Go away, please go away," she cried, as Adam touched her shoulder. * * * * * _"Hello, Earth! This is Paulette deVries reporting progress aboard the_ Goddard _by recording for later broadcast. The first dig ended in a failure this morning. Fifty feet down, and Dr. Perkins reports the composition of the rock strata remarkably uniform in character, but no sign of beryllium in them, nor any formation that looks as though it might contain beryllium. We're on our way from the North Pole of Pluto to the South Pole, where Professor Reuter thinks we stand the best chance of finding the metal we need. Just reached the half way mark.... Hello, the motors have stopped! I'll find out what the reason is for you in just a minute. What's going on, Rossiter?... Hello, Earth! Our motors have stopped, the fuel in the special tank we had set aside far exploration purposes is exhausted. We seem to be somewhere near the equator of Pluto.... No, the fuel didn't run out, they've found a leak, a leak in the fuel tank. It's all right, folks, we've set aside enough fuel to ride home to Earth on, but we'll have to dig here instead of at the South Pole. I'm going to ask--"_ "Isn't it a curious coincidence, Mister Mate, that this leak should bring us down over the equator--just where you wanted to dig all along?" Captain McCausland's voice was biting. "Yes, sir." "Curious coincidence, too, wasn't it, that when those shutters were being put on the workmen's radiophones went out of order? Listen here, Mr. Mate, there have been too damned many coincidences around here to suit me. A few more and you're going to find yourself working in the engine room. That's all. Get out of here and get the digging lock rigged." Adam saluted mechanically and left the cabin. He knew with sickening precision what the captain meant. Demotion to the engine room would mark him forever in the space service as an inefficient mate. He could never hope to obtain a command of his own, and throughout the rest of his life, wherever he went the record of it would follow him. Even now, the unfavorable report McCausland was sure to turn in when they returned to Earth would block his way to any higher command, any other rating. He felt sick at heart as he joined the group at the main lock, helmet in hand, as they were about to launch themselves into the green ocean below--six men, armed with the bomb-spears Jake Burchall had provided. He was surprised to note that Paulette deVries was standing waiting with the others, helmet in hand and her face deathly pale. "Paulette," he begged, "do you really think you should go? Remember what happened last time. Does McCausland--" "He knows I'm going." "All right. But keep with the men please. For my peace of mind if not for your own sake. All ready? Close lock!"