m.

"What about him?"

"We would like to know, sir, under what article of the space code was
Sergeant Marshall sentenced to the brig?"

Vidac's eyes sharpened. He spoke quickly and crisply. "I suspected that
there was some connection between Marshall looking in the log and your
coming here to see me. I don't know what you have in mind, Corbett, but
I'm going to lay it on the line. This is the last time you will question
my authority. From this moment on, and until you are released from my
jurisdiction, _I_ am the space code. Do I make myself clear?"

"Very clear, sir," said Tom tightly. "Then will the lieutenant governor
please put in writing any further orders he might have for us?"

"I will not!" snarled Vidac. "But I tell you what I will do. I'll
confine you to your quarters for ten days for that impertinent request!
And if I so much as see your noses outside your quarters, I'll really
get tough! Dismissed!"

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 8

"This is highly irregular, Logan," said Vidac to the Venusian farmer,
"but I guess you can see the cadets. Perhaps a little advice from you
will help them mend their ways."

Logan nodded. "I have a boy of my own, Governor," he said, "and I know
how rambunctious they can get."

Vidac smiled thinly. "You'll find them in their quarters. The first
ladder to your right and down two decks."

"Thank you, sir," replied Logan. He left Vidac's quarters and two
minutes later stepped through the hatch leading into the cadet's room.
After seven days of confinement, the three boys greeted Logan with a
yell of pure joy.

"We have guests!" bellowed Astro, grabbing Roger who was asleep in his
bunk and then banging on the shower door where Tom was taking a shower.

Roger tumbled out of the bunk and Tom came rushing out of the shower
wrapped in a towel. They all began talking at once.

"How'd you know we were confined to quarters, sir?" asked Tom.

"It's a wonder Vidac allowed you to come see us!" yelled Roger.

"Never mind the questions, sir," said Astro. "It's just plain good to
see a different face besides these two space jokers. One more game of
space chess with Manning and I think I'd--"

Logan laughed at the cadets' enthusiasm, holding up both hands to stem
their eager babbling questions. After Tom had dressed hastily and Roger
had cleared off a bunk, they began to talk calmly.

"I didn't know you boys were in trouble," said Logan, "until I came over
to the _Polaris_