Project Gutenberg's The Death-Traps of FX-31, by Sewell Peaslee Wright

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Title: The Death-Traps of FX-31

Author: Sewell Peaslee Wright

Release Date: July 4, 2009 [EBook #29309]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Astounding Stories March 1933.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the
U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

The Death Traps of FX-31

_A Commander John Hanson Adventure_

By Sewell Peaslee Wright

* * * * *

[Sidenote: Commander John Hanson recalls his harrowing expedition
among the giant spiders of FX-31.]

I do not wish to appear prejudiced against scientists. I am not
prejudiced, but I have observed the scientific mind in action, on a
great many occasions, and I find it rather incomprehensible.

It is true that there are men with a scientific turn of mind who, at
the same time, you can feel safe to stand with shoulder to shoulder,
in an emergency. Young Hendricks, who was my junior officer on the
_Ertak_, back in those early days of the Special Patrol Service, about
which I have written so much, was one of these.

Nor, now that I come to think of the matter in the cool and impartial
manner which is typical of me, was young Hendricks the only one. There
was a chap--let's see, now. I remember his face very well; he was one
of those dark, wiry, alert men, a native of Earth, and his name
was--Inverness! Carlos Inverness. Old John Hanson's memory isn't quite
as tricky as some of these smart young officers of the Service, so
newly commissioned that the silver braid is not yet fitted to the
curve of their sleeves, would lead one to believe.

I met Inverness in the ante-room of the Chief of Command. The Chief
was tied up in one of the long-winded meetings which the
Silver-sleeves devoted largely to the making