There was lightening of the serious expression on Tau’s face.

“Fortunately for you that child took the leaves to the storm priest.  They tested and approved it.  And I can’t see that it has any ill effects.  But you were just lucky, Thorson—­it might have gone another way.”

Dane sighed.  “I know that, sir,” he confessed.  “I’m not trying to rocket out—­”

Tau gave a half-smile.  “We all off-fire our tubes at times,” he conceded.  “Only next time—­”

He did not need to complete that warning as Dane caught him up: 

“There isn’t going to be a next time like this, sir—­ever!”

Chapter IV

GORP HUNT

But the interruption had disturbed the tenor of trading.  The small chief who had so eagerly taken Paft’s place had only two Koros stones to offer and even to Dane’s inexperienced eyes they were inferior in size and color to those the other clan leader had tendered.  The Terrans were aware that Koros mining was a dangerous business but they had not known that the stock of available stones was so very small.  Within ten minutes the last of the serious bargaining was concluded and the clansmen were drifting away from the burned over space about the Queen’s standing fins.

Dane folded up the bargain cloth, glad for a task.  He sensed that he was far from being back in Van Rycke’s good graces.  The fact that his superior did not discuss any of the aspects of the deals with him was a bad sign.

Captain Jellico stretched.  Although his was not, or never, what might be termed a good-humored face, he was at peace with his world.  “That would seem to be all.  What’s the haul, Van?”

“Ten first class stones, about fifty second grade, and twenty or so of third.  The chiefs will go to the fisheries tomorrow. Then we’ll be in to see the really good stuff.”

“And how’s the herbs holding out?” That interested Dane too.  Surely the few plants in the hydro and the dried leaves could not be stretched too far.

“As well as we could expect.”  Van Rycke frowned.  “But Craig thinks he’s on the trail of something to help—­”

The storm priests had uprooted the staff marking the trading station and were wrapping the white streamer about it.  Their leader had already gone and now Tau came up to the group by the ramp.

“Van says you have an idea,” the Captain hailed him.

“We haven’t tried it yet.  And we can’t unless the priests give it a clear lane—­”

“That goes without saying—­” Jellico agreed.

The Captain had not addressed that remark to him personally, but Dane was sure it had been directed at him.  Well, they needn’t worry—­never again was he going to make that mistake, they could be very sure of that.

He was part of the conference which followed in the mess cabin only because he was a member of the crew.  How far the reason for his disgrace had spread he had no way of telling, but he made no overtures, even to Rip.