Astro pulled gently, hand over hand, until Roger's limp body was a mere foot from the edge.
"Grab him, quick!" he panted.
Immediately Strong and Hawks were down on their knees at the edge of the hole. Each taking an arm, they pulled Roger out and laid him gently on the floor of the shack. They crouched over him and began a quick examination.
"How is he, sir?" asked Tom, hovering anxiously over the still form of his friend. "Will he be all right?"
Strong didn't answer for a moment, continuing his hurried, though careful check. Then he sat back on his heels and sighed in relief. "A few bruises but no broken bones, thank the universe. He's just suffering from shock. A day or so in sick bay and he'll be good as new."
"I'll take him over there right away, Steve," offered Hawks.
"Thanks, Mike," replied Strong. Then as he and the commissioner lifted the still form of the cadet and started to carry him out of the shack, he turned to Astro. "Blast over to the Polaris and call Solar Guard headquarters in Venusport. Tell them to send an emergency crew down here right away."
"Aye, aye, sir," snapped the big Venusian and dashed out of the shack.
Turning back to Hawks, Strong said, "Corbett and I will stay here and try to find out where that shaft leads."
"All right, Steve," nodded the commissioner. "Too bad we had to find out where that dirt came from the hard way."