They both began carefully examining the steering column and wheel, but did not find anything that would release the wheel. Then they went over the console panel very closely. They found switches and levers that could not be identified, but they decided to try them anyhow and see what they controlled. They got no result at first, but, when the fourth switch was thrown, the console lighted up and the ship began to throb with a new life. “That must have been one of the power levers,” Garry said. “Look—the steering wheel is free! The power had to be on before it would unlock the wheel.” “Garry!” Patch exclaimed, “we’re on our way! We’re on our way.” “I hope my sense of direction is correct,” Garry said, “because I can’t read those directional meters. I think we’ll be headed in the general direction of the station if we make a half turn. I remember the position of that brilliant nebula over there and also the planet Venus.” Garry was beginning to turn the wheel slowly for their gradual turnabout in the sky when the smell of something burning issued from the console. “Hey, something seems to be shorting out,” Patch said in alarm. “Look! There’s smoke coming from the panel!” No sooner had he spoken than there was a small explosion inside the console, a strong odor of ozone filled the boys’ nostrils, and all the lights went out. But what was worse, the steering wheel froze in Garry’s hands and locked again. “Patch, we’re ruined!” Garry groaned loudly. “I must have done something wrong!” Garry put his hands over his face in despair. “Patch, we were so close, so very close....” “It looks like something just doesn’t want us to get out of this alive,” Patch said bitterly. “We’re jinxed, Garry!” “It’ll do no good to start feeling sorry for ourselves again,” Garry said. “Remember, we thought we were goners before. Something may turn up to save us—something maybe like a Good Samaritan flying around in a space ship just looking for wandering boys. But how many of those do you think you would find in all the millions of miles of space that surround us?” Suddenly Garry stood upright, staring intently straight out the forward port. “Speaking of Good Samaritans, Patch, that might not be so farfetched after all. Look out there, straight ahead. There’s a light moving against the stars. It just might be a space ship!” “I see it,” Patch said, with a trace of hope returning, “but it’s most likely a Sputnik or Tiros or some other satellite.” “I don’t think so. Its movement isn’t perfectly straight. I’m sure I just saw it change direction as if heading this way. Patch, if you’ve ever prayed, do it now. The next few minutes may decide whether we live or die out here in space!” 5. A “FLYING TIN CAN”