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found something in this sample different from anything known on earth?”
    “Boy, would it ever!” Ned replied. “It might revolutionize our whole concept of the universe!”
    The couple mounted their horses and set off for camp. They had not gone far, when suddenly Susan B sunfished.
    “Easy, girl!” Nancy cried out.
    She barely managed to control the horse and stay astride. The saddlebags nearly fell off as the animal dropped down on her forelegs and then lay down on one side. Nancy jumped off. The horse kicked viciously, trying to reach the saddlebag containing the soil sample.
    “What’s the matter with her?” Ned asked, puzzled by the strange behavior.
    Furiously the horse kicked her hooves as the couple watched, helpless.
    “She seems to be trying to get at that saddlebag,” Nancy observed, keeping a safe distance from the animal. “I’m sure something inside it is bothering her. But what?”

13
    A Discovery
    Ned jumped from his horse and hurried forward to help Nancy and the distressed mare.
    “Thank goodness you weren’t hurt, Nancy,” he said. “Susan B is really acting up.”
    “The poor thing’s beside herself,” Nancy said.
    The riders urged the animal to stand up. Then quickly they pulled off the saddlebag.
    “Look!” Nancy exclaimed, staring at the horse’s flank.” Her skin is badly scorched here.”
    Quickly they flipped over the saddlebag. A large hole had burned through the leather.
    “It must have come from the sod we dug up,” the young sleuth remarked, alarmed. “Oh, Ned, maybe it’s radioactive!”
    She unbuckled the saddlebag and dumped the contents on the ground. The plastic bag containing the sample also had burned through.
    Nancy and Ned stared at each other as the same thought ran through their minds: Susan B might be contaminated!
    “Ned, you and I might be contaminated, too!” Nancy cried out in alarm.
    Other articles in the bag did not appear to be damaged, including a jar of healing salve. Quickly Nancy dipped her finger into the ointment and spread a generous amount over the scorched area on Susan B’s flank.
    She remarked, “Ned, if we’ve been exposed to radioactive material, I wish this salve alone could cure us. What do you think we should do?”
    Ned advised that they bury the chunk of scorched earth, the saddle, and the saddlebag and everything in it.
    “Good idea,” Nancy agreed.
    Using the trowel, Ned dug a deep hole. Nancy dropped in the suspect pieces one by one. After piling dirt over them and marking the spot with a heap of twigs, the campers started off again.
    Nancy sat behind Ned on Goalpost, her own horse’s lead rope in hand. “As soon as we get to town,” she said, “I think we’d better get in touch with some scientists and a vet. Why don’t we phone my dad? He might be able to fly up here right away and bring help with him.”
    “Good thinking,” Ned replied.
    When the couple rode into camp, they were bombarded with questions by their friends. Before they could answer them, Hal and Burt arrived, leading the two missing packhorses.
    “I’m so glad you’re back!” Jan exclaimed. “Now we have all the horses again.”
    “But mine is injured,” Nancy announced and told the fantastic story of what happened to her and Ned.
    The possibility that she and Ned might be contaminated by radioactive material really horrified everyone.
    Dave spoke up. “It’s not catching, thank goodness, so we don’t have to isolate you two. But we shouldn’t use any of the same eating utensils.”
    Jan offered to ride into town with Nancy, Ned, and the injured mare. “Nancy, you can take one of the other riding horses.”
    The group ate a light meal, then started off. When they reached the little town at the foot of the mountain, Nancy called her father and told him the amazing story.
    “What!” he exclaimed. “Tell me everything. How are you and Ned?”
    Nancy gave him all the details, and he replied, “I’ll get a plane and scientists and