Jak looked at him, and grew shamefaced. "Guess I did go a little nuts," he said. But before long his excitement rose to fever pitch again. "There's so much here that's new and different, yet something like the ones we know. I must take back samples of everything." "How many different kinds of--oh, say, roses--are there on Terra?" "Why ... why ... I don't really know. Hundreds, I'm sure. Maybe thousands. What's that got to do with this?" "Simply trying to make you realize you can't take back samples of 'everything,' as you said." "Ouch!" Jak laughed good-naturedly then. "You've got me, pal. I'll take it easier." But he soon forgot his good intentions as he found ever newer and more different plants and trees and mosses. There was such a dissimilarity, yet at the same time so many points of likeness between the plant life of this new world and that of Terra, that the young botanist was in a continual state of excitement. Jon, meanwhile, although still keeping a sharp watch for any possible dangers, had been noticing the profusion of other life in this jungle. There were a number of different bird forms, although he saw that those he was close enough to examine were fur-covered rather than feathered. Nor did they seem to be songsters, for the only noises he heard were the soughing of the wind through the trees and vines and bushes, and the _swish_ of wings as the birds flew past. They had gone some distance when he stopped short. Off at one side there was movement among the small bushes. A quick sibilant whisper froze Jak in his tracks. Jon raised his gun, his eyes searching quickly. Then two quick shots ... and a threshing in the underbrush. Soon stillness--and the two boys advanced cautiously, both with their guns at the ready. In the bushes they found what Jon had shot--two small tripeds somewhat resembling large jack rabbits. "Hah, these should be good eating." Jon was in transports as he picked them up, examining them carefully. "Should be tender, at least, if the flesh is suitable to us." Jak was excited, too. "There's enough for a good meal." Jon took a piece of cord from his coverall pocket and tied the hind legs together, then slung them over his shoulder. "Let's keep going." Jak continued finding new and different plants, and Jon kept on guard. Once they saw one of the huge tripeds in the distance, and stopped instantly, being very quiet as they slipped behind the boles of large trees, from which they peered out cautiously. But apparently the great beast had not heard, seen nor smelled them--it finally wandered away--grazing. "Well, I'll be a tadpole!" Jon exclaimed. "A grass-eater." But Jak was not so sure. "Lots of meat-eaters also eat a little grass. Those teeth didn't look like the ones of a herbivore. I think I'll keep away from them, anyway." "You and me both!" Jon was agreeable to the idea.