oices, went silent
as Chet Bullard raised his hand. He was still smiling as he bowed toward
the white-haired man whose happy face belied the moisture in his eyes;
then he faced the throng, and his voice held no hint of trembling or
uncertainty.

"The Columbus of the Stars! I thank you for that title, which I can
accept only most humbly. For I ask you to go back with me into history
and remember, as I am remembering, that before Columbus there were
others whose names are lost.

"The Norsemen--those Vikings of old!--who dared the unknown seas, were
first. And again history repeats. But this time the pioneer will not
remain unknown. I have been to the Moon; I have reached out into
space--but I followed another's trail.

"Frithjof Haldgren!" he shouted, and extended a hand toward the gentle
giant whose face was aflame as he came to Chet's side. "Frithjof
Haldgren, I present you to the world. Only one can be the first; and
yours is the honor and glory. This medal is yours alone; I place it
where it belongs!"

* * * * *

And Frithjof Haldgren, white of face and lips now instead of fiery red,
stood silent and trembling while Chet fastened a jewel upon his grimy
tattered blouse; then retired to his chair as if beaten back by the
rolling waves of sound.

But to Chet, as he watched the man go, came a quick sense of
disappointment. Unconsciously, his hand went to the same place on his
own chest where had rested an emblem he had prized above all else--and
now his searching fingers found only the mark of his disgrace. Then he
knew again that the aged President was speaking, while he held Chet
beside him with one detaining hand.

"We older ones have served, perhaps; we have done what we could; we pray
that the world is better for our efforts! And we shall continue to
serve; yet it is to youth that we must look for the progress which is to
come.

"Today we face a new life whose horizons, once bounded by the limiting
air, have been pushed back. We have conquered space, and before us is
the waiting marvel of man's extension of his activities throughout the
universe.

"How far shall we go in this new and endless sphere? With interplanetary
travel, what is our goal? Only youth can give the answer. And in the
hands of youth must the command of this great adventure be placed.

* * * * *

"Gentlemen, the Governing Council of the Ruling Nations of this Earth
has cre