Even Patch was heartened by this and made an enthusiastic comment. In the hope of finding the crevasse even narrower and safer farther along, Garry followed the ledge, and, sure enough, it grew narrower and narrower until it was a crack in the ground only a few inches across. Making the crossing to the other side, the boys, in feeling their way along, found that the ground began to rise again. Garry still maintained the lead, with Patch holding onto him and following blindly only a step behind. Up, up the slope they went, and before long they could see rays of light flickering down into their eyes. Soon there was enough light so that they could see a little distance ahead. They quickened their steps, although it still required some care on their part to avoid the sharp-edged stones and rugged underfooting that still lay in front of them. But the light grew steadily brighter and the trail flatter. “Look, Patch, I can see the stars again!” Garry was soon able to say. Then, scarcely before they realized it, they were completely out of the shadows of the rocky formation that had very nearly finished them. Above and behind them once more shone the big bright ball of earth floating among the stars. “Good old earth!” Patch exclaimed, with new hope. “I never thought I’d see it again!” “It’s a great sight!” Garry agreed. “Garry,” Patch said, “we can see right over the top of the crater wall in the distance. We seem to be higher than we were when we started.” “I’ve noticed that too,” Garry replied. “I’ll check the map again.” Garry did so, then told Patch that they were still on course. They moved on and presently stood at the raised edge of a gradually lowering basin that stretched out very far and flat ahead of them. They could see a break in the crater wall a few miles away, which the captain had pointed out to them on the map. “It looks like we’ll have easy traveling for awhile,” Garry said, “and we’ll be right out in the open in case a flier comes over. They’ll be sure to see us unless they’re completely blind.” “Garry,” Patch said in a thoughtful voice, “I’m sorry.” “Huh?” Garry asked in surprise. “I’m sorry for the way I acted. I lost my head completely. When I found out I’d lost the air cylinders over the ledge, I just seemed to go to pieces. It’s a good thing one of us knows how to keep his head.” “Forget it, Patch,” Garry soothed. “It could have been me just as easy as you. Besides, that’s not important now. We’ve still got a long way to go, and time is running short.” Suddenly, Patch ran past Garry in great haste and stood staring over the plain below, shielding his eyes with his hands. Garry joined him. “Patch, what is it? Do you see something?” “It’s impossible!” Patch gasped. “It’s completely impossible!” “What?” Garry begged, his own excitement growing. “Look! There’s somebody walking around down there or else I’m seeing things!”