Page:Wonder Stories Quarterly Volume 2 Number 2 (Winter 1931).djvu/14

 "We might look about a bit and pick it up," grinned Bailee. "And roll it back to the planetplane and let the girls listen to our phonograph."

"A good idea!" nodded Hal-Al, without looking towards Davidson. "The girls would certainly appreciate the society of three white men, and one of them a handsome corporal."

Davidson overlooked this bribe of flattery. He thought the best way to handle the spirit of mutiny in his two companions was to appear unaware of it.

"We'll return to the planet-plane," he said, "and shift to some other locality, where we can start all over without the handicap of the evil reputation we have acquired in these parts. The water and soil may be excellent, and this may prove a far more desirable planet than Kopex on which to plant a colony from the earth."

"The water is excellent," said Bailee soberly.

"I noticed the soil is excellent, too" nodded Hal-Al.

Davidson now came above the wood where he had left the planet-plane. A half oath, half groan escaped him.

The great plane was gone!

HE little corporal threw back his shoulders. He must not allow any spirit of fear or