transportation between planets as he did,
because he held all the basic patents, Snyder was able to enforce that
ruling. To do so, he organized the 'Snyder Patrol', which later was
taken over by the Federated Planets when that organization was formed,
and became today's Inter-Stellar Corps.

"Today there are fifty-seven planets colonized by former inhabitants of
Tellus or their descendants from colonized planets. These each have
their own sovereignty and chosen form of government, but are united in a
loosely-knit Federation which is solely a Court of Arbitration for
Inter-Planetary affairs. The I-S C is the Federation's Investigation and
Enforcement branch, not a governing or military patrol."

Hanlon had finished that question and the second, which asked for the
dates of the war between the colonists of Mars and those of the Jovian
satellites. He was resting his eyes by glancing unseeingly about the
room momentarily before starting the third question, when he heard the
loud, angry voice of the instructor in charge.

"Cadet Hanlon, on your feet, sir! Just how, Mister, do you think you can
get away with cheating at a final examination?"

Hanlon's head jerked up and his face went dead-white as the blood
drained from it. He stumbled to his feet and, conscious of the amazed
expressions of his classmates, looked up at the teacher.

"Bu ... but I don't understand, sir. I wasn't cheating."

"Don't lie to me!" the voice was a whiplash. "I distinctly saw you
looking at Cadet Fox's paper. The idea of any cadet, this close to
graduation, trying such a contemptible thing!"

Hanlon's bewilderment was changing to anger at such an unjust
accusation, when suddenly a thought struck him ...

_This was it!_

Cheating at examinations always meant expulsion and disgrace.

He had all he could do to keep from betraying himself as he probed
quickly toward the mind on the rostrum. Now he perceived the feeling of
commiseration which the stern, hot eyes of the apparently outraged
instructor did not reveal.

Hanlon remembered his father's instructions to "play it up big". He made
himself glare back at the teacher, and his blue eyes took on the
hardness of glacial ice.

"You're making a colossal mistake, sir," his voice was louder and
angrier than it should ever have been. "If our regular instructor was
giving this exam he'd never make such an accusation. I've led this class
in grades all through school. And not by cheating, either."