ce; Anita was now unarmed.

"But I can make opportunity! I can get one of their ray cylinders, and
an invisible cloak equipment."

That cloak, that had been hidden in Miko's room when Carter searched
for it in A20 was now in the chart room by Johnson's body. It had been
repaired now. Anita thought she could get possession of it.

We worked out the details of the plan. Anita would arm herself, and
come and release me. Together, with a paralyzing ray, we could creep
about the ship, overcome these brigands, one by one. There were so few
of the leaders. With them felled, and with us in control of the turret
and the radio room, we could force the crew to stay at their posts.
There were, Anita said, no navigators among Miko's crew. They would
not dare oppose us.

"But it should be done at once, Anita. In a few hours we will be at
the asteroid."

"Yes. I will go now and try to get the weapons."

"Where is Snap?"

"Still in the radio room. One of the crew guards him."

Coniston was roaming the ship. He was still loitering on the deck,
watching my door. Hahn was in the turret. The morning watch of the
crew were at their posts in the hull corridors. The stewards were
preparing a morning meal. There were nine members of subordinates
altogether, Anita had calculated. Six of them were in Miko's pay. The
other three--our own men who had not been killed in the fighting--had
joined the brigands.

"And Dr. Frank, Anita?"

He was in the lounge. All the passengers were herded there, with Miko
and Moa alternating on guard.

"I will arrange it with Venza," Anita whispered swiftly. "She will
tell the others. Dr. Frank knows about it now. He thinks it can be
done."

The possibility of it swept me anew. The brigands were of necessity
scattered singly about the ship. One by one, creeping under cover of
an invisible cloak, I could fell them, and replace them without
alarming others. My thoughts leaped to it. We would strike down the
guard in the radio room. Release Snap. At the turret we could assail
Hahn, and replace him with Snap.

Coniston's voice outside broke in upon us. "Prince."

He was coming forward. Anita stood in the doorway. "I have the
figures, Coniston. By God, this Haljan is with us! And clever! We
think it will total a hundred and thirty millions. What a stake!"

She whispered, "Gregg dear, I'll be back soon. We can do it--be
ready!"

"Anita--be careful of yourself! If they should suspect you...."

"I'll b