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2

HTS RESERVED

Illustrations by LOUIS GLANZMAN

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece

The three weary cadets assembled on the control deck 13

The junior spaceman maneuvered the great rocket ship toward the air lock 36

The jet cab raced along the highway to Venusport 54

Tom could see two space-suited figures floating effortlessly 76

Mason was frozen into a rigid statue, unable to move 133

"Remember," Astro cautioned, "set the fuse for two hours" 161

Landing, they would tumble out of the jet boat and begin their frantic digging 180

"I know we're going to be sent to the prison asteroid and we deserve it," said Loring 206

DANGER IN DEEP SPACE

CHAPTER 1

"Stand by to reduce thrust on main drive rockets!" The tall, broad-shouldered officer in the uniform of the Solar Guard snapped out the order as he watched the telescanner screen and saw the Western Hemisphere of Earth looming larger and larger.

"Aye, aye, Captain Strong," replied a handsome curly-haired Space Cadet. He turned to the ship's intercom and spoke quickly into the microphone.

"Control deck to power deck. Check in!"

"Power deck, aye," a bull-throated voice bellowed over the loud-speaker.

"Stand by rockets, Astro! We're coming in for a landing."

"Standing by!"

The Solar Guard officer turned away from the telescanner and glanced quickly over the illuminated banks of indicators on the control panel. "Is our orbit to Space Academy clear?" he asked the cadet. "Have we been assigned a landing ramp?"

"I'll check topside, sir," answered the cadet, turning back to the intercom. "Control deck to radar deck. Check in!"

"Radar bridge, aye," drawled a lazy voice over the speaker.

"Are we cleared for landing, Roger?"

"Everything clear as glass ahead, Tom," was the calm reply.

"We're

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