the old man?" asked Winters. "Getting rid of Space Cadets is a pretty
tricky job."

"Tomorrow I'll assign the cadets to work with the professor again. That
jerk, Manning, has a sharp tongue. I'll set up something that will get
them into an argument in the presence of some of the colonists. When
Sykes disappears right after that, we'll have witnesses to prove that
Manning was gunning for the old man!"

"But how do you know that Manning will get mad enough?" asked Bush.

Vidac smiled. "I know Manning. And besides, I know what I'm going to do,
to _make_ Manning blast his tubes!"

[Illustration]




CHAPTER 13


The first real community problem came when it was learned that the
entire supply of school study spools were lost in the crashed ships.
There was talk among the colonists of sending a ship back to Earth at
once for replacements, but Vidac stepped in and took over. He called a
meeting with the three Space Cadets, Jeff Marshall, and Professor Sykes,
and told them of his plan.

"I want you to make new study spools on every subject you can remember,"