The young navigator began to plot the other ship's course. It was curving in behind them on the left. The intent was obvious; to overtake from one side and drive the _Vulcan_ into a sheering curve. It would take power to get away, lots of power! Ray called McVane on the interphone, breathed a sigh of relief as the engineer promptly answered. "We're running into trouble. Get your teakettle going--fast," he ordered. "Ay, ay," McVane mumbled. "Keep awake!" Ray hissed savagely. "If we're caught now it'll mean life for us!" "Take it easy, I'll give ye power. If need be," McVane added morosely, "enough to blow us all to hell!" The captain was studying the magnaflux when Ray turned. "They're cutting in." His thick finger traced a curve. The pursuer's tactics were obvious--to drive the _Vulcan_ into an ever-tightening spiral aided by his greater speed. "Why don't they radio?" Ray glanced at the silent receiver. "At this speed?" Lodar grunted. "No chance! There'll only be a few seconds of contact." It was true. On any course, the two ships would flash past each other with scant time for talk. If the _Vulcan_ was an innocent trader it would haul to, if not it would travel, or surrender. There was no chance of surrender. Lodar had too much at stake. He was carrying a fortune back to Earth. His last chance at a decent life. As for the crew, most of them were wanted by the police in half the cities of Earth. Their safety lay in the outer planets or in space. "We'll take a chance." Ray glanced at Lodar for confirmation, then tapped the magnaflux. "They've got more power, more guns, and they'll outrun us. We've got to cut out." "Go ahead!" Lodar nodded tensely, like a leashed hound scenting trouble. "Campora's got the gun crews ready." Ray hadn't figured on blasting at the Company ship. He had hoped for a swift getaway. Still, this was no time for fine distinctions. After all, he had joined the _Vulcan_ of his own free will. He couldn't change his mind now. But, if he ever got out of this.... He turned to the controls, concentrating on his job. The Benson Plates on the outer hull shifted gratingly, turning to alter the drive. The moan of the ether whorls pitched higher as the _Vulcan_ creaked to swing ponderously on a new course. It made a huge figure S curve, designed to pull it out of the threatened spiral. In seconds the proximity alarms shrilled. As the ship cut closer to its pursuer Ray tightened the turn till the _Vulcan_ swung sharply to right. There was a rattle of sound as loose objects spilled over the decks. The other ship was on the ordinary visiscreen now, a black streak that danced to one side of the _Vulcan_. Under his feet, Ray could feel the jarring thrust of McVane's converters, he could sense the leap of the _Vulcan_ as he closed in the last dregs of power. But still the other ship crept closer.