“Shut up and keep climbing!” came Kalmus’ voice. “They’re bound to be up there!” Shep was trying manfully to be silent, but every now and then an involuntary sob of pain escaped his lips. They could hear Mumbly Pegg murmuring to himself, in his own peculiar incessant manner. Now Spooner was getting closer. He was only about fifteen feet away, and, as if following some telepathic message, he continued approaching the youths. “We’re done for,” Rock thought, with despair. “There’s nothing to keep him from finding us.” Rock lowered himself still flatter, until the sharp edges of lunar stone pressed dangerously into his inflated suit. Spooner still climbed. Another couple of feet and he would be looking right down on them. They heard the sucking of his tired breath and choking wheezes as if he couldn’t take another step. “Tony!” Rock heard him call weakly. “I can’t go any higher! Besides, I can see the top and nobody’s up here! I’ve got to come down!” “Come on down then, you weakling!” Kalmus grated. “What a bunch of saps I brought along with me!” “I can see the top too,” came Pegg’s voice from another part of the formation. “There’s nobody up here, Tony.” “I guess you guys were right after all,” Kalmus finally conceded. It seemed a terribly long time before the men got to the ground and disappeared into the ship. Rock gave them time to remove their space gear before daring to speak over his radio. “Boy, that’s the closest call we’ll ever have!” Shep said. “We’re still not out of the woods,” Rock reminded him. “We’ve got to get you free.” He went after the trapped foot with a more determined vengeance. Shep howled, but Rock finally jerked it free of the stubborn crevice. When they reached the bottom, Shep was limping and said his ankle hurt. Rock supported him and they headed back toward the _Northern Cross_. They continued with caution, keeping out of the open as much as possible. “I don’t see that we accomplished much,” Shep said wearily. “It’s given me another plan, at least,” Rock replied, brushing at a new growth of ice crystals. “Oh, oh, here we go again!” Shep sighed, then winced as his ankle hurt him again. “All of us,” Rock began, “except you—if you’re not up to it—will come back over here. We’ve already proved that the trip can be made without their seeing us. We’ll station ourselves around the air lock, except for one who will climb the formation and kick rocks down again on the ship. This time Kalmus will be sure it’s us, and they’ll come out to investigate again. When they come out, our bunch will slip inside. If Judas has been left to watch Leo and Ed, he shouldn’t give us much trouble by himself if we slip up on him and catch him unawares. Once we’ve locked out the other three they’ll give in willingly just to get back inside.” “That’s pretty daring,” Shep said doubtfully, “but I guess we’ve got to be daring if we’re going to save the boys.”