"I didn't know you boys were in trouble," said Logan, "until I came over
to the _Polaris_ to see you. Then Vidac told me all about it."

"Was there any special reason why you wanted to see us, sir?" asked Tom.

"Well, as a matter of fact, there was a little reason. Billy, my son,
has been pestering me to get some of your Academy books and audioscripts
so he can study to become a Space Cadet when he gets old enough."

The three cadets grinned at each other and soon the Venusian farmer was
piled high with manuals, audioscripts, tapes, and general information
about the Academy.

"Thank you, boys," said Logan. "That's real nice of you, but--"

"But what, sir?" asked Tom.

"That was the little reason for coming to see you. I have a big reason
too."

"What's that, sir?" asked Roger.

"I don't know how to say it exactly," began Logan, his voice low and
hesitant, "but do you remember when you three came over to inspect
Number Twelve?"

The boys all nodded and Logan continued in a hushed voice.

"Well, I told you then that everything was as nice as it could be. At
that time it was. But now--"