Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 113: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

. ~ ae CO. <2 that coast, but it would take a long time. I can sum it up by saying that they will probably trade rather than fight—though some will undoubtedly do their best not to pay for what they et.” “Will any of them assume we are spies?’’ Barlennan asked pleasantly. “There is that risk, naturally, though few have secrets worth steal- ing. Actually they will probably try to steal yours, if they know you have any. I should not advise your dis- cussing the matter of flying while there.”’ “We did not plan to,’ Barlennan assured him, with glee that he managed to conceal. ““We thank you for the advice and information.” He gave the order to hoist the anchor, and for the first time Reejaaren noticed the canoe, now trailing once more at the end of its towrope and loaded with food. | os iS QO™ ARAN SOO \ “I should have noticed that be- fore,” the interpreter said. “Then I would never have doubted your story of coming from the south. How did you get that from the’ natives?” In the answer to this question Barlennan made his first serious mistake in deal- ing with the islander. “Oh, we brought that with us; we frequently use them for carrying extra supplies. You will notice that its shape makes it, easy to tow.” He had picked up his elementary notions of stream- lining from Lackland not too long after acquiring the canoe. “Oh, you developed that craft in your country, too?” the interpreter asked curiously. ““That is interesting; I have never seen one in the south. May I examine it, or do you not have time? We have never bothered to use them ourselves.’ Barlennan hesitated, suspecting this last statement to be a maneuver of the precise sort he himself had been employing; but he saw no harm in complying, since Reejaaren could Conmicloooks com