CONTENTS
1 Sky Pirates!
2 The Invisible String
3 Space Kite
4 The Mysterious Iceberg
5 Destination Outpost
6 A Hazardous Rocket Trip
7 Night Alarm
8 Saboteur Search
9 Cosmic Storm
10 Telephone Threat
11 Adrift!
12 Repelatron Rescue
13 The Eavesdropper
14 Solar-System Gift
15 The Rocket’s Secret
16 The Spanking Sunspot
17 A Dangerous Rendezvous
18 The Cosmic Sailer
19 In Li Ching’s Clutches
20 A Daring Plan
CHAPTER 1
SKY PIRATES!
“What’s up? A new space project?” Bud Barclay asked eagerly.
Tom Swift Jr. nodded. “I’m trying to invent an improved method of space travel-a way that will lick the cost problem.”
The lanky young inventor was seated in his ultramodern glass-walled laboratory at Swift Enterprises. Although only eighteen years old, Tom was a veteran of many thrilling space voyages.
“Tell me more, pal!” demanded Bud. “Got any ideas that’ll do the trick?”
Husky, dark-haired Bud was Tom’s copilot and closest friend.
“Hmm. Well, I think I have a-”
Tom broke off as the telephone rang. He picked it up. “Tom Swift Jr.
speaking.”
The next instant Tom’s face blanched. “What! The Sea Charger’s been stolen?”
His steel-blue eyes flashed and met Bud’s in a i
2 COSMIC ASTRONAUTS
look of dismay. The Sea Charger, the Swifts’ latest ocean-going experimental ship, had only recently been built and launched. Far surpassing any other scientific craft afloat, it had a fully equipped laboratory, a runway deck for planes, and a unique cable-drawn launching pad for space vehicles.
“Give me the details, Harlan!” Tom requested tersely. Harlan Ames was the chief of Swift Enterprises’ security department.