* *

Morquil still sat in the background. The other men from Jupiter had gone
to their quarters. He could offer no suggestion, but listened carefully
to every word they spoke. Finally he stood up.

"I hope that you can forgive me. In the last three lixs I have regretted
that I ever saw your earth. It were better that my people die, than for
us to carry people from a happy planet to die in space--because of our
stupidity. We are no better than children without cares or worries. The
men of the crew realized the risk, before they left the domes--but it is
not your fault!"

"Aw, sit down you big-headed numbskull!" McCarthy's voice boomed out.
"We don't blame _you_! We'll find some way to run this crate, and get
there in one piece. You just made us go to work before we expected. Why!
A problem like this is _simple_ on earth--they'd solve it in _no_ time!
You just go to bed and stop worrying. We'll have everything fixed by
morning."

Morquil's expression changed slightly, and he almost smiled. He started
for the ramp as if taking the words literally, but half way up he faced
the little gathering again. "Thank you, John. But I haven't forgotten
that you were a famous liar in your home town--and you haven't lost your
ability. Thank you anyway, you're very kind."

When McCarthy turned toward the others, he looked rather sheepish. But
the forced smiles he received made him feel a lot better.

Hours passed, while each man told everything he had known about water.
At last Dick stood up. "We've covered every possible reaction, and many
that are seemingly impossible, but have overlooked one very vital point
that will either help or hinder greatly.

"The fuel is subjected to terrific pressure. Naturally, any water that
was used would receive the same treatment. In the compression chamber
the pressure rises very fast, which must develop high temperature. The
result is that we would not have water--_we'd have steam_! It would be
almost _dry steam_!

"Water in the liquid form couldn't discharge oxygen fast enough to
affect the fuel, but as steam it might. There is a good chance that
steam may even _increase_ the explosive power to a point that we can't
even imagine. There's only one way to find out--_try it_!

"Every man here will admit that John has the most practical mechanical
brain. It will be his job to find a means of injecting the water in the
proper amounts. The rest of us can try to find any kinks in the system