"Nix, I can tell when a guy needs a drink better than I do. I bet you've seen better days. Bet you were richer than this mug who yaps about findin' a load of furs--like he was a damned scavenger." Belton flushed. "Listen." One hand stole within his tattered jacket. "Easy," Duane said, and patted the worn butt of his gun. Belton slumped back over the fire and began to mutter to himself. Shafer had taken another pull at the flask. A feverish light was coming into his dull eyes. "Furs," he snorted contemptuously. "Dirty, stinkin' furs! Who gives a damn about furs? Why, I got a corner on all the wealth in the world. The overlords will be beggin' after me some day. I'm richer than all the stars 'cause I got what everybody wants." "I knew a guy who talked like that once," put in Duane softly. "He was singin' a tune just like that in a two-bit bar. But he didn't have money enough to pay for his last drink and they threw him out into the street." "Shut up." Captain smiled, confident that Duane had played into his hand. "Never mind this cynic." Shafer looked at Duane and tried to sneer. "Think I'm lyin', eh? Well, you'll see. I used to own my own boat, I did. An' I found a mine, a nice, floatin' mine. I didn't have to stake it, 'cause I'm the only one who knows where it is." "Sure," said Captain. "Tons and tons of uranium." Shafer turned the words over in his mouth as though they were bon-bons. "Sure," said Captain softly. "Enough for all. We'll live like kings." Shafer straightened and looked about him, frightened. His eyes dulled again. "You're trying to get me to talk. No, it's mine. All mine. I found it. Nobody else knows where it is." Again Captain patted Shafer's thin shoulders. "We were just interested in your story, weren't we, men?" Duane grunted his contempt. * * * * * Little Shafer took another pull at the flask. "Yes, sir," he said dreamily. "I was cruisin' out there in space, 'way off the space lanes, when I bumped into it. A little asteroid not over half a mile across. And solid uranium. I chartered it. I figgered out its orbit to an inch. I used to could do that. An' it's mine. Over an' over I keep repeatin' those figures to myself. "I may forget other things but I won't forget that orbit. An' I'll write it down when someone puts the cold cash in my hand." He was silent for a moment. Then he took another drink and began to talk to himself. "Yes, sir, I found an asteroid that's solid uranium. There I was, down on my luck, an' cruisin' around in my own ship, the _Billikins_--" His thin hand went to his mouth as though to stop the words. His eyes were filled with fear. A scream slipped between his bony fingers. Bill Belton was on his feet, a groping hand within his coat. "You," he screamed. "Damn it, I'd know the name of that ship in hell. It was your ship. You took my furs." The little man's trembling hands were thrust out in protest. "No!" he screamed. "No, no, no!"