rse, we are not sure just what did happen." He nodded
at a tall, sad-faced man standing almost at his elbow. "Hawkins spotted
him from the 'copter on his second recon flight this morning. He came
back and directed a crew to pick Bradshaw up."

The officer's manner was hesitant and confusing. Gallifa started to
speak, then glanced questioningly at Hawkins and motioned impatiently.

Hawkins cleared his throat. "I saw him almost as soon as I was in the
air. He was about half a mile on the other side of camp. I probably
wouldn't have paid any attention if he hadn't been acting so funny."

Hawkins paused and glanced apologetically at Gallifa. Gallifa frowned.

"You know how thick those brambles are all around here?" Hawkins
continued quickly. "Well, Bradshaw was running through them, just as if
something was chasing him. The thorns were cutting the clothes right off
his back. I couldn't see anything from the air, so I swung the 'copter
back and grabbed some men to see if we could find out what was wrong.

"It took almost an hour to find him again. He was in the bottom of a
little ravine, leaning against a rock. He seemed to be all right until
we were close. Then he picked up a stick and started swinging it around
like a wild man. He was clear crazy. I finally had to hit him over the
head with a rock to save myself. He was true crazy."

So that was what they had been so hesitant in telling him! Gallifa shook
his head in bewilderment. Bradshaw was one of his most competent men. It
didn't make sense that he suddenly should go berserk. Something seemed
to be missing in the report.

"That doesn't sound right," Gallifa argued stubbornly. "Are you sure
Bradshaw wasn't scared half to death by something? A man sometimes does
some funny things if he's scared."

"Maybe he _was_ scared," Hawkins admitted. "But he was sure acting
crazy. I'm sorry--" He spread his hands helplessly and walked away,
accompanied by the mapping officer.

Gallifa glanced at his wrist watch and swore softly to himself. He had
planned to get an early start, but the Bradshaw tragedy was too
important. They still knew relatively nothing about the planet. If a man
could wander around for only an hour or so and return with grievous,
unexplained injuries--Well, it obviously needed looking into.

It would be difficult enough to finish the pre-colonization survey in
the allotted time under the best of circumstances, and this was hardly
what could be called a