"Why ... to get some profit out of it." The reason which had puzzled me was suddenly clear. I recalled abruptly the hopes and dreams I'd had, overlooked in the wonders of exploration. Pearce nodded. "Exactly. And the same applies to me." His tone became bitter. "Being famous in your chosen line of work is nice, but it doesn't buy you much. At least, it doesn't buy the things that really matter. Newscast blurbs, banquet invitations, and honorary memberships hardly provide the fancy style of living they suggest. Awards and prizes are too small and too far between to build a complete, private laboratory." I said, "And that's what you want?" "That's what I intend to get, somehow," Pearce said. He studied me again. "What about you, Farris? What's your ambition?" "Financial independence, mainly. There are certain ideas that I'd like to work on. I'd never get the time or the money while earning a living as assistant to a man like Durwent." "Then this might be the chance we both need. If we could turn up something valuable, like the Mars explorers did...." Pearce nibbled his lip, frowning intently over the thought. Abruptly he grabbed my arm. "Farris, we've got to find something! Look--suppose we forget the scientific side of the expedition? Suppose we make it an outright treasure hunt?" "Venus is big," I said doubtfully. "And our supplies won't last forever. If we fail to find anything, the scientific data we'd gather would give us something to capitalize on." We didn't discuss the matter further, for just then Sandley returned from one of his photographing jaunts. He seemed greatly excited. "Just discovered a new form of life," he announced triumphantly. "Saw the creatures at a distance, but from what I was able to make out, they look something like overgrown butterflies. Had large, brightly colored wings, anyway. Have to catch a specimen." Sandley's spectacled, owlish features turned puzzled. "Can't understand why I haven't noticed the creatures before. Seem to have appeared only recently." "Where were you?" Pearce asked. "Near the upper end of the valley. It's rocky there, with lots of ore outcroppings. Might contain valuable elements. You fellows ought to go with me next time." "We'll do that," Pearce said. He glanced at me significantly. We went with Sandley the following day. We took along our machine-pistols, a few pieces of light equipment, and some food. Sandley, of course, had his camera. It was the first time that Pearce and I had gone any great distance from the ship, and we were more than ordinarily uneasy. But the possibility that we might discover ores or minerals of value was too tempting to resist.