"And I'll stake my life it's not more than a half mile away!"
The two men jumped out into the trail and scanned the sky. The unmistakable roar of a spaceship echoed through the jungle. The ship was accelerating, and the reverberations of the rocket exhaust rolled over the treetops. Suddenly a flash of gleaming metal streaked across the sky and Connel roared.
"We've found it, Corbett!" He slapped the cadet on the back. "The Nationalists' base! We've found it!"
Tom nodded, a half-smile on his face. "We sure have, Major." He hesitated a moment. "You know, sir, if Roger is really badly hurt we might not make it back to Sinclair's in time, so—" He stopped.
"I know what you're thinking, Tom," said the officer, "and I agree. But one of us has to go back with the information."
"You go, sir," said Tom. "I'll take Roger and—"
"You can't carry him alone—"
"I can make it somehow," protested Tom.
Connel shook his head. "I'll help you."