nodded. "It was an old bucket on the Southern Colonial run. She
was reported lost last year. Somehow those jokers got hold of her and
armed her to the teeth."

"You think maybe the crew could have mutinied, sir?"

"It's highly possible, Corbett," answered Connel, and glanced around.
"If they have any other ships of that size, the _Polaris_ will be able
to handle them."

"Yes, sir." Tom smiled. "The repair crew did a good job on her." The
cadet paused. "Do you suppose one of the Nationalists planted that bomb
on her fin?"

"No doubt of it," replied Connel. "And it seems to tie in with a rather
strange thing that happened in the Venusian Delegate's office the day
before it happened."

"What was that, sir?" asked Tom.

"Three priority orders for seats aboard a Venusport--Atom City express
were stolen. Before a check could be made, the ship had made its run and
the people using the priorities were gone. They must have been the ones
that bumped you off your seats."

"How do you think that ties in with the bomb on the _Polaris_, sir?"

"We're trying to figure that out now," said Connel. "If only we knew
what they looked like it would help. The girl at the ticket office
doesn't remember them and neither does the ship's stewardess."

"But we saw them, sir!" exclaimed Tom.

"You what!" roared Connel.

"Yes, sir. We were standing there at the ticket counter when they called
for their tickets."

"Do you think you'd recognize them again?"

"I'll say!" asserted Tom. "And I'm sure Astro and Roger would, too. We
were so mad, we could have blasted them on the spot."

Connel turned to the intercom and shouted, "Manning, haven't you got
that circuit through yet?"

"Working on it, sir." Roger's voice was smooth and unruffled over the
intercom. "I'm in contact with the commander's ship now. They're calling
him to the radar bridge now."

Tom suddenly jumped out of his seat as though stung. "Say! I saw one of
the fellows again too!"

Connel whirled quickly to face the young cadet. "Where?" he demanded.
"Where did you see him?"

"I--I'm trying to remember." Tom began pacing the deck, snapping his
fingers impatiently. "It was sometime during the past few days--I know
it was!"

"In Venusport?" demanded Connel, following Tom around the deck.

"Yes, sir--"

"Before or after your trip into the jungle?"

"Uhh--before, I think," Tom replied hesitantly. "No. No. It was after we
came back."

"Well, out with it, Corbett