ch."

"Blasted rebels!" muttered Connel. "The Solar Guard will cool them off!"

"I'm afraid it's too late," said Carson. "They're preparing to strike
now. I've been expecting it for some time. They have enough ships and
arms to wipe out the entire Solar Guard garrison here on Venus in one
attack!" He shook his head. "After that, with Solar Guard ships and
complete control of the planet--" He paused and sighed. "It will mean a
long, bloody space war."

Tom and Connel plied the prisoners with questions and soon began to get
a complete picture of the scope of the Nationalist movement.

"Lactu and his commanders should be sent to a prison asteroid for life,"
said Carson, "for what they have done to former Nationalists."

"Hundreds of unsuspecting Venusians have been brought here under the
guise of helping to free Venus. But when they come and recognize what
Lactu really intends to do, they want to quit. But it's too late, and
they're sent to the caves."

Tom looked at the gaunt man fearfully. There was something in his voice
that sent a chill down his spine.

"They are driven like cattle into the canyon walls," continued Carson.
"There they are forced to dig the huge underground vaults for storage
dumps. They are beaten and whipped and starved."

"Why aren't you in the caves then?" asked Connel.

"Some of us were," replied Carson. "But each of us here owns land and it
is necessary to keep us alive to send back directives to our bankers and
foremen to give aid in one form or another to Sharkey and the Division
Chiefs."

"I see," said Connel. "If you were to die, then your property would be
out of their reach."

"Exactly," said Carson.

"Is Sharkey the real leader of the movement?"

"I don't believe so. But then, no one knows. That's the idea of the
frosted helmets. If you don't know who a man is, you can liquidate him
without conscience. He may be your closest friend, but you would never
know it."

"The blasted space crawlers!" growled Connel. "Well, they'll pay!"

"You have a plan?" asked Carson eagerly.

"No," said Connel slowly, "but at least we all have more of a chance
now."

"How?" asked Carson.

"The Solar Guard sent us here to find this base. If we don't return, or
send some sort of message back within a reasonable time, this jungle
will be swarming with guardsmen!"

Carson looked a little disappointed. "We shall see," he said.

* * * * *

There were three th