"Why did you bring the space dog?” Gunner asked.
"I didn't bring him — he followed me,” Stilicho said. “He's been wild since Lana was kidnapped, and I think he senses we're going after her. The critters are a little telepathic, you know."
"Let him come along. We don't want to arouse any commotion,” Thorn said swiftly. “Is your crew waiting at the ship?"
"All ready, by now,” the old pirate replied. “Follow me. We'll have to slip out to the field without being seen."
He led the Planeteers through the starlight, close against the towering, dark wall of fern-jungle that encircled Turkoon Town. By that circuitous route they reached the field where the massed pirate ships lay glinting under the meteor-blazoned sky, The big space dog padded beside them as they approached the Venture.
They climbed hastily into the long black ship, the animal following them. Stilicho's motley crew were waiting. The doors were already grinding shut as the Planeteers followed the old pirate up to the control-room.
A few moments later, with a thunderous blast of fire, the Venture shot skyward on its desperate mission.
CHAPTER X
Under Saturn's Rings
A HARP-STRING tenseness gripped the four men in the Ven ture's control-room as they peered ahead into space.