"I know what you're thinking, Tom," said the officer, "and I agree. But
one of us has to go back with the information."

"You go, sir," said Tom. "I'll take Roger and--"

"You can't carry him alone--"

"I can make it somehow," protested Tom.

Connel shook his head. "I'll help you."

"You mean, you're going to allow yourself to be captured too?"
spluttered Tom.

"Not quite." Connel smiled. "But a good intelligence agent gets as much
information as he can. And he gets correct information! I'll help you
get him to the base and you can take him on in for medical attention.
I'll get back to Sinclair's later."

Tom tried to protest, but the burly spaceman had turned away.

CHAPTER 13

"Stand where you are!"

Tom and Major Connel stiffened and looked around, the unconscious form
of Roger stretched between them on the litter. From the jungle around
them, green-clad Nationalists suddenly emerged, brandishing their guns.

"Put Roger down," muttered Connel quietly. "Don't try anything."

"Very well, sir," replied Tom, and they lowered the litter to the ground
gently.

"Raise your hands!" came the second command from a man who appeared
directly in front of them.

Standing squarely in front of them, the little man said something in the
Venusian dialect and waited, but Connel and Tom remained silent.

"I guess you don't speak the Venusian tongue," he sneered. "So I'll have
to use the disgusting language of Earth!" He looked down at the
unconscious form of Roger. "What happened to him?"

"He was injured in a fight with a tyrannosaurus," replied Connel. "May I
remind you that you and these men are holding guns on an officer of the
Solar Guard. Such a crime is punishable by two years on a prison
asteroid!"

"You'll be the one to go to prison, my stout friend!" The man laughed.
"A little work in the shops will take some of that waistline off you!"

"Are you taking us prisoner?"

"What do you think?"

"I see." Connel seemed to consider for a moment. "Who are you?" he
asked.

"I am Drifi, squad officer of the jungle patrol."

"Connel, Senior Officer, Solar Guard," acknowledged Connel. "If we are
being held prisoner, I wish to make a request."

"Prisoners don't make requests," said Drifi, and then added
suspiciously, "What is it?"

"See that this man"--Connel indicated Roger--"is given medical attention
at once."

Drifi eyed the major cautiously.

"I make this request as one officer to another," s