The three Connies were standing between him and the boats. To the left of the boats was the second crater. Rip studied the ground as best he could in the Connie belt lights and decided on a plan of action. Calling to Dowst, he circled again. Presently they were approaching the crater. The Connies were about 25 yards from the crater’s opposite rim. Rip said, "I hate to do this, Dowst, but I can’t see any way out. We have to go into the crater." Dowst merely said, "Yes, sir." The extra radiation might put both of them well over the safety limits long before earth was reached, and they both knew it. Rip didn’t hesitate. He reached the crater’s edge and walked right down into it. They were out of sight of the Connies now. Rip walked up the other side of the crater until his bubble was just below ground level. The chunks of thorium he had ordered thrown in to block some of the radiation made walking a little difficult. "Santos," he said, "we’re in the second crater." "Sir, I’m beyond the first, between two crystals. Pederson is near you somewhere." "Good. When I give the word, turn up your helmet light until they can see a pretty good glow. Keep watching them." The bubbles were equipped with lights, but they were seldom used. He outlined his plan swiftly. Both Santos and Dowst acknowledged. Koa reported in. "We’re after two more Connies near the wreck of the landing boat, sir." "Be careful. Pederson, go help Koa. Nunez, how are things at the cave?" "Nunez reporting, sir. Two Connies in sight, but they haven’t seen us yet." "Let me know when they spot the cave." "Yes, sir." "Santos, go ahead." For long moments there was silence. Rip felt for a solid foothold, found one, and flexed his knees. He kept his back straight and his eyes on the crater rim. His hands were occupied with two air bottles taken from his belt, and his thumbs were on their valve releases. He waited patiently for word from Santos that his helmet glow had been seen. Santos yelled, "Now!" Rip’s legs straightened with a mighty thrust. He flashed into space headfirst, at an angle that took him over the crater’s rim and 50 feet above the ground. He caught a glimpse of Santos’s helmet, glowing like a pink balloon, and of the three Connies facing it, one with gun upraised. Rip’s arms flashed above his head. His thumbs compressed. Air spurted from the two bottles, driving him downward, feet first, directly at the heads of the Connies! CHAPTER TEN - GET THE SCOPRION! From the corner of his eye Rip saw Dowst’s heavy space boots and knew the private was right with him. As they drove down, one of the Connies stepped a little distance away from the others, probably to get a better look at Santos. The Connie sensed something and turned, just as Rip and Dowst flashed downward on his two mates.