Brigands of the Moon

ht him off, have they? Go bring him in he

ere in the Captain's chart room. It was four p.m.

ce in the lounge. "Captain

ger who was demanding the details of Martian curre

n't k

. The hum of the current was obvious. Johnson noticed it. He stared a

is? Someth

hnson, that there's some undercover plot aboard.

What do you mean? We've ga

u had a secret interview with that Mart

d them in surprise. "Did I? You mean changing their money?

roared the Captain. "By

g that," said the purse

ument," Dr. Frank cut in.

e clouded," the C

n Carter so cho

a damn whether I've proof of it or not. Did you or did y

telling you, Captain Carter, th

ey were both big men. Johnson'

hands were fumbling at the purser's pockets. I leap

We've got y

on! Bang him on the head,

we found a small battery and eavesdropping device similar to t

ng with that?" th

er, I'll have the line officials dismiss you

s!" exclaime

the lower control rooms and mechanisms. It was always kept in Johnson's safe. And with it, another document: the ship's clear

rong box! I'm the only one on this vessel except t

lch demanded, "Well, w

your questions, Balch. At the proper time, I

I shook him. "Yo

asperatin

we get to port. Meanwhile I'll put him where he'

the ship's jail. A steel-lined, windowless room located under the deck in the peak of the bow. I dragged the strug

! If you know wha

here the deck narrowed at the superstructure, h

own out of the ser

e and sealed the deck trap door upon him. I was headed back for t

jan! Officer Blac

. An asteroid was approaching, so dangerously close that our trajectory would have to be altered. I he

him, Gregg. By God, I'll put the chemic

ady, under the glass, it was a magnificent sight. I had never seen this tiny worl

eye, at first it was a tiny speck of star-dust unnoticeable in the gem-strewn black velve

ur course, the asteroid would pass too close for safety. Already we were feeling its attraction;

lculations now, Greg

hen I had us upon our new course, with the attractive and repulsive plates in th

miles away. A giant ball now, filling all that quadrant of the heavens. The c

l over the hemisphere with the glass. No sign of human life-c

Anita, standing with her brother; and the giant figure of Miko with them. Half an hour since this wandering little world had showed itself, it swiftly passed, began to dwindle behind us. A huge half moon. A t

oment for which all day I had been subconsciously longing was at hand. Anita was sitting in a deck chair, m