at does not, however,
erase the fact that a group of uniformed men, armed with paralo-ray guns
and with ships equipped with blasters, attacked you! Atomic blasters,
Mr. Sinclair, are not bought at the local credit exchange. They are made
exclusively for the Solar Guard! That bunch of hotheaded kids, as you
call them, are capable of attacking any community--even ships of the
Solar Guard itself! That is a threat to the peace of the solar system
and must be stopped!"

Sinclair nodded quickly. "Oh, I agree, Major, I agree. I'm just saying
that--"

Connel stopped him. "I understand, Mr. Sinclair. You're a peaceful man
and want to keep your life peaceful. But my job is to ensure that peace.
As long as a group of militant toughs like we had here are on the loose,
you won't have peace. You'll have pieces!"

Tom, Roger, and Astro, sitting quietly and listening, felt like standing
up and cheering as the major finished.

"I know you can't tell me what you're going to do, Major Connel," said
the planter, "but I hope that you'll allow me to help in any way I can."

Connel hesitated before answering. "Thank you, Mr. Sinclair. But I'm not
here officially now." And then he added, "Nor in regard to the
Nationalists."

Sinclair's eyes lit up slightly. "Oh?"

"No. As you know, the cadets had quite a time with a tyrannosaurus. They
wounded it and it might still be dangerous. That is, more dangerous than
normally. I've got orders to track him down and finish him off."

"But I thought you said you were going to put a stop to this business
with the Nationalists," said the planter.

"I said the Solar Guard would, Sinclair."

"Oh, yes," mumbled Sinclair, "the Solar Guard. Of course."

Connel got up abruptly. "I would appreciate it if you would look after
our ship, though," he said. "I don't think we'll be longer than a week.
Shouldn't be hard to track a tyrannosaurus, especially if it's wounded."

"I suppose you have all the equipment you need," said Sinclair.

"Yes, thank you," replied Connel. Then, thanking Mrs. Hill for the
refreshments, the burly spaceman and the three cadets said good-by and
left the house.

An hour later, ready to strike off into the jungle, the Solar Guard
officer took four of the latest model shock rifles out of the arms
locker of the _Polaris_ and gave one to each boy with extra ammunition.
"Never go after a giant with a popgun," he said. "It's a wonder you
didn't kill yourselves with those old blaster