Page:Wonder Stories Quarterly Volume 2 Number 2 (Winter 1931).djvu/18

160 "It's a cheerful planet we've landed on," mused Hal-Al. "Fat game, and plenty of sunlight and distance."

"I always was too healthy for the earth," said Bailee. "And the doctors said I needed a change of climate just for that, before it became chronic."

The little corporal saw that the two men were oozing with health and good spirits, not merely assuming their mood in bravado. So in spite of his disgust at himself for having left the plane alone with their captive aboard, he felt fairly cheerful too. They had got off with their lives and in the years to come might recover the planetplane, or get together sufficient intelligence on this scarlet planet to build another plane that would carry them back to the earth, or to some world in communication with the earth.

Illustrated by Paul

Before his two companions—cut off from communication with the earth and former associations—should feel so free that they would put him from all authority over them, Davidson hastened to profit by his superior rank to state that thereafter they would walk the radiocycles, riding them only in dire necessity, since there was power remaining in the machines for not over five thousand miles of travel. The younger men accepted this as a sensible proposition, and the little corporal felt greatly relieved that they seemed to have no intention of throwing off his authority. Disunity amongst them could react neither for their good, nor his.

They now agreed to go on until they came to the water that had turned Hal-Al back, and here kill and dry a sufficient stock of game to supply them for some weeks, then press on down the water to human or quasi-human habitation.

When they came in sight of this water a single glance assured Davidson that they had come to the edge of a continent, for before them evidently was a sea and not a great river or lake. Yet when he tasted the water he found it was not salty, but it possessed a pleasing tang like the juice of a fine grape fruit, and it was very clear, cool and satisfying. The men drank sparingly at first, but, experiencing no ill effect, partook of the water later without reservation.

Animal life was plentiful in the neighborhood, those who were running, jumping, walking, spinning, crawling, tumbling, climbing; but at no time did they come on any flying creature, though they met with one kind of game with a plumage composed of fine feather-like hair. This game could run swiftly, but not fly, having no wings or tail but possessing a soft, curly comb the whole length of its body. It proved to be very fine eating and its eggs, though small, had much of the flavor of mushroom.

From their little stock of supplies on the radiocycles they found sufficient materials to make two sturdy slings, and with these simple but efficient weapons by selecting compact round stones which threw very true they were able to kill all the game they required and so save their koto shells. Twenty hours after pitching camp they might have been mistaken for three madmen, or at least temporarily delirious.

HE three men raced beneath the little scout plane that had returned above their camp,