"Because you and your gang tried to jump my claim. You know that as well as I do." "Me? I never jumped a claim in my life. I'm a navigator, doing a little prospecting on the side, while my ship is laid up." And since she seemed doubtful, he showed her his credentials and told her the story, even telling her about the yacht on Luna that he wanted to buy. * * * * * "Oh," she said. "Oh ... I'm sorry. I had located an outcropping of quartz, and three men tried to take it away from me, and I thought you were one of them.... I'm very sorry." "Quite all right," Andy answered awkwardly. "A perfectly natural mistake." "Phooey!" Oscar snapped. "Women!" Andy glared at the _thlot_ and turned to the girl. "Prospecting is a mighty tough occupation for a single woman, isn't it, Ma'am?" "My father was a prospector. I was born in a mining camp on Ganymede, and I followed my father from the time I was able to walk. Yes, it's a hard life, but it's better than being a sissie and having some man support you because he happens to be married to you." "Um--" said Andy thoughtfully. "Um--" "You got something there," Oscar interpolated. "I was just getting ready to eat," the girl said suddenly. "Will you join me?" "Only too happy to, provided you tell me your name." It was a magnificent effort, for Andy. "Frieda Dahlem." "Frieda--Ah, nice name." "Poppycock!" said Oscar. "Let's eat." Conversation languished during the meal. Andy glared at the _thlot_, but Oscar was busy with his cube of sugar, too happy to say anything. "Have you--have you found anything in your prospecting?" Andy asked. "No. Oh, there's the outcropping of quartz I told you about, but the vein isn't rich enough to make it profitable. To import extraction machinery would cost a small fortune. The hills here are full of caves--dark, gloomy places that looked like they would make good hiding places for dingos, and I've been afraid to venture into them. Have you had any luck?" "Naw. I guess I'll be a navigator until the end of my days," Andy answered dolefully. "More sugar, Boss. One more lump, please," Oscar queried. "Sugar costs a fortune here, you glutton, freight rates being what they are. No more for you today." "Aw, Mr. Horn, one more lump, please." "Give the horrid thing another lump, Mr. Horn." Oscar sulked at being called a "horrid thing." Fearful of an outburst of _thlot_ profanity, Andy hurriedly produced the requested sugar. Oscar grinned happily. The grin and the happiness both vanished as something hissed through the air over their heads. It struck several hundred yards beyond them and the explosion sent debris showering in the air. Andy and the girl jumped to their feet. "It's those men who tried to jump my claim," Frieda said. "They have come back." The air hissed again and another explosion followed. "Home was never like this," Oscar wailed. "Where are those caves the woman was talking about? Me for them."