together again, at the same time replacing worn-out parts and adjusting
the delicate clearances.

It was just before dawn when Strong visited Kit's ship. Seeing the
cadets stripped to the waist and working with the veteran spaceman, he
roared his disapproval. "Of all the crazy things to do! Don't you know
that you could have Kit disqualified for helping him?"

[Illustration: _The giant Venusian held up the oil-smeared test tube_]

"But--but--" Tom tried to stammer an explanation.

"I couldn't have done it alone," explained Kit. He looked at Strong and
their eyes met. Understanding flowed between them.

"Very well," said Strong, fighting to control himself. "If no one makes
a complaint against you, we'll let it pass."

"Thanks, Steve," said Kit.

"You should have known better, Kit," said Strong. "The Solar Guard is
supposed to be neutral throughout the entire race and do nothing but
judge it."

"I know, Steve," said Kit. "But someone dumped impure reactant into
my--"

"What?" It was the first time Strong had heard of it and he listened
intently as the cadets and Sid told him the whole story.

"Why didn't you make a complaint?" demanded Strong finally. "We'd have
given you more time to get squared away."

"It's not important," said Kit. "I won a place in the finals and now the
boys and Sid have helped me clean it out."

Strong nodded. "All right. I guess one seems to balance out the other.
Forget it." He smiled. "And excuse me for jumping like that and thinking
that you would do anything--er--" He hesitated.

"That's all right, Steve." Kit spoke up quickly to save his friend
embarrassment.

Strong turned to the cadets. "I've got news for you three. You are going
to monitor the race by yourselves."

Tom, Roger, and Astro looked at each other dumfounded as Strong quickly
outlined the plan. Later, when Sid and Kit were working inside the
ship, he told them of the sudden danger on Titan.

"So I'm going to leave it up to you which ship you want to ride," he
concluded. "The commander has suggested that Roger not be sent along
with Miles on the _Space Knight_. He seems to think the two of you
wouldn't get along."

"On the contrary, skipper," said Roger, "I'd like the opportunity of
keeping an eye on him."

Strong thought a moment. "Not a bad idea, Roger," he said as he turned
to Astro. "And I suppose you want to ride with Kit and his reactor?"

Astro grinned. "Yes, sir. If I may."

"All right. Tom, I g