A chorus of sighs filled the cabin and the passengers began laughing and chatting again, pointing out various sights on the planet below them. Smiling, Wallace and Simms marched down the aisle. Suddenly Roger and Tom rose and blocked their path.
"What's up, Wallace?" demanded Tom.
Wallace gave the two boys a hard look. "So it's you, huh? You got a lot of nerve coming aboard this ship."
"If there's something wrong, Wallace," said Tom, "maybe we could give you a hand."
"Get back in your seats," ordered Wallace. "We don't need any cadet squirts getting in our way!"
"Why, you overweight space jockey," snapped Roger, "we know more about spaceships than you'll ever learn!"
"One more crack out of you and I'll blast your ears off!" roared Wallace. "Now sit down!"
Roger's face turned a deep red and he moved toward Wallace, but Tom put out a restraining hand.
"Take it easy, Roger," he said. "Wallace is the skipper of this boiler. In space he's the boss."
"You bet I'm the boss," snarled Wallace. "Now keep that loud-mouthed punk quiet, or I'll wipe up the deck with him and send the pieces back to Space Academy!"