Tom was so startled by the major's stumbling attempt to explain his
feelings, he felt himself blush. He had always suspected the major of
being a rocket jockey at heart and now he was certain. But he would
never tell anyone, not even Roger and Astro about this incident. It was
something he knew that he himself would feel if he ever got to be as old
as Major Connel and had reached his position. There passed between the
officer and the cadet a sudden feeling of mutual understanding.

"I understand, sir," said Tom quietly.

"Dismissed!" roared Connel, recovering his composure again, and very
conscious that he had exposed his innermost feelings to the cadet. But
he didn't mind too much. Tom Corbett had proven beyond the shadow of a
doubt that he had the stuff true spacemen are made of, and because of
this, Connel could feel as close to him as a man near his own age. There
was never a breed of men who were drawn so close together in their love
of work as the spacemen and there was no need for further explanation.

When they had climbed out of the _Polaris_ and stepped on the landing
ramp at Marsport, Connel and Tom saw that the ground crews were already
checking over the afterburners and exhaust tubes of the ship. A young
Solar Guard lieutenant, wearing a decidedly greasy uniform, snapped to
attention before Connel.

"Lieutenant Slick at your service, sir," he announced.

"Lieutenant," bawled Connel, "your uniform is filthy!"

"Yes, sir, I know it is, sir," replied the young officer. "But I was