ound here. It all
depends."

"Well, make up your mind later," barked the foreman. "Now get that
machine fixed!"

"Sure," said Astro simply, turning back to the machine and starting to
whistle. Strangely enough, he was happy. He was a prisoner, but he felt
better than he had in days. Just knowing that Tom and Major Connel were
right across the canyon gave him a surge of confidence. Working over the
machine quickly, surely, the big cadet began to formulate a plan. Now
was the time! They were together again. Now was the time to escape!

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 14

"Put your back against the door, Tom!" snapped Connel. "Quickly!"

Tom felt the powerful grip of the Solar Guard officer's fingers on his
arm as he was pulled backward. He closed his eyes, then opened them,
hoping to pierce the darkness, but he saw nothing. Beside him, he could
sense the tenseness in Connel's body.

There was a rustle of movement to the right of them.

"Careful, Tom," cautioned Connel. "To your right!"

"I hear it, sir," said Tom, turning toward the noise and bracing
himself.

"My name is Connel," the burly spaceman suddenly spoke up in loud tones.
"I'm an official in the Solar Guard! Whoever you are, speak up! Identify
yourself."

There was a moment of silence and then a voice spoke harshly in the
darkness.

"How do we know you're a Solar Guard officer? How do we know you're not
a spy?"

"Do you have any kind of light?" asked Connel.

"Yes, we have a light. But we are not going to give away our positions.
We know how to move in here. You don't."

"Then how do you expect me to prove it?"

"The burden of proof lies with you."

"Have you ever heard of me?" asked Connel after a pause.

"We know there is an officer in the Solar Guard named Connel."

"I am that officer," asserted Connel. "I was sent into the jungle to
find this base, but one of our party was injured and we were captured by
a patrol."

Tom and Connel heard voices whispering in the darkness and then a loud
order.

"Lie down on the floor, both of you!"

The two spacemen hesitated and then got down flat on their backs.

"Close your eyes and lie still. One of us here knows what Connel looks
like. I hope for your sake that you're telling the truth. If you're
not--" The voice stopped but the threat was plain.

"Do as they say, Tom," said Connel.

The cadet closed his eyes and he heard the shuffle of feet around them.
Suddenly there was a flash of li