"Aw, sit down you big-headed numbskull!" McCarthy's voice boomed out. "We don't blame _you_! We'll find some way to run this crate, and get there in one piece. You just made us go to work before we expected. Why! A problem like this is _simple_ on earth--they'd solve it in _no_ time! You just go to bed and stop worrying. We'll have everything fixed by morning." Morquil's expression changed slightly, and he almost smiled. He started for the ramp as if taking the words literally, but half way up he faced the little gathering again. "Thank you, John. But I haven't forgotten that you were a famous liar in your home town--and you haven't lost your ability. Thank you anyway, you're very kind." When McCarthy turned toward the others, he looked rather sheepish. But the forced smiles he received made him feel a lot better. Hours passed, while each man told everything he had known about water. At last Dick stood up. "We've covered every possible reaction, and many that are seemingly impossible, but have overlooked one very vital point that will either help or hinder greatly. "The fuel is subjected to terrific pressure. Naturally, any water that was used would receive the same treatment. In the compression chamber the pressure rises very fast, which must develop high temperature. The result is that we would not have water--_we'd have steam_! It would be almost _dry steam_! "Water in the liquid form couldn't discharge oxygen fast enough to affect the fuel, but as steam it might. There is a good chance that steam may even _increase_ the explosive power to a point that we can't even imagine. There's only one way to find out--_try it_! "Every man here will admit that John has the most practical mechanical brain. It will be his job to find a means of injecting the water in the proper amounts. The rest of us can try to find any kinks in the system that he suggests. He knows every piece of equipment on board, and can pick whatever is best suited for the purpose." As Dick sat down, John got to his feet. "This is one time that I'm ahead of you. While you've been talking I've been planning a way to do just that. There's an extra firing tube that can hold the pressure we want. "Fuel for all the blasts is compressed in one chamber, then discharged through any desired tube. If we put the water under the pressure, with the hydraulic system, and let it seep into the chamber at a set rate--_it might work_! Valves can control the steam perfectly, and regulate the flow to whatever is desired. "The tube will have to be shut off from the fuel tank every few hours, to be filled. Preheating the water will develop steam pressure, and it won't draw enough from the hydraulic system to affect the operation of the blasts. "What do you say, shall we try it? It means shutting off all but the emergency tube for several hours, and it will be _cold_!" * * * * *