"Couldn't, sir," said Roger. "We had a tough time digging a hole for the last unit."
"Come back to the Polaris immediately," said Connel. "We're blasting off in fifteen minutes."
"Very well, sir," said Roger.
Presently the jet boat circled the Polaris and made a landing run for the open port. Roger braked the small craft and brought it to rest alongside the others.
"That's it, spaceboy," he said to Astro. "All out for the Polaris express back home!"
"Just be sure you give me a good course, Manning," grunted Astro, heaving his huge frame out of the small cabin of the jet boat, "and I'll give you all the thrust you want!"
Astro secured the jet boats while Roger closed the air-lock hatch, shutting out the last view of the rugged little planetoid. Roger threw the landscape a mocking kiss.
"So long, Junior! See you back home!" The two cadets climbed the ladder leading to the control deck.
Seated in front of the control panel, Tom watched the sweeping hand of the solar clock. Connel paced nervously up and down behind him. Shinny and Alfie stood to one side also watching the great clock.
"How much time, Corbett?" asked Connel for the dozenth time.