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diff --git a/20869-8.txt b/20869-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ef77f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20869-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10362 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Skylark of Space, by Edward Elmer Smith +and Lee Hawkins Garby + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Skylark of Space + + +Author: Edward Elmer Smith and Lee Hawkins Garby + + + +Release Date: March 21, 2007 [eBook #20869] +Most recently updated April 18, 2011 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SKYLARK OF SPACE*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, L. N. Yaddanapudi, David Dyer-Bennet, and +the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 20869-h.htm or 20869-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/8/6/20869/20869-h/20869-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/8/6/20869/20869-h.zip) + + + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's note | + | | + | This etext was produced from Amazing Stories August, | + | September and October 1928. Extensive research did not | + | uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this | + | publication was renewed. | + | | + | Other notes and a list of corrections made will be found | + | at the end of the book. | + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +THE SKYLARK OF SPACE + +by + +EDWARD ELMER SMITH + +In Collaboration with + +LEE HAWKINS GARBY + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover Page] + + + +--------------------------------------+ + | | + | _Perhaps it is a bit unethical and | + | unusual for editors to voice their | + | opinion of their own wares, but when | + | such a story as "The Skylark of | + | Space" comes along, we just feel as | + | if we must shout from the housetops | + | that this is the greatest | + | interplanetarian and space flying | + | story that has appeared this year. | + | Indeed, it probably will rank as one | + | of the great space flying stories | + | for many years to come. The story is | + | chock full, not only of excellent | + | science, but woven through it there | + | is also that very rare element, love | + | and romance. This element in an | + | interplanetarian story is often apt | + | to be foolish, but it does not seem | + | so in this particular story._ | + | | + | _We know so little about | + | intra-atomic forces, that this | + | story, improbable as it will appear | + | in spots, will read commonplace | + | years hence, when we have atomic | + | engines, and when we have solved the | + | riddle of the atom._ | + | | + | _You will follow the hair-raising | + | explorations and strange ventures | + | into far-away worlds with bated | + | breath, and you will be fascinated, | + | as we were, with the strangeness of | + | it all._ | + | | + +--------------------------------------+ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Occurrence of the Impossible + + +Petrified with astonishment, Richard Seaton stared after the copper +steam-bath upon which he had been electrolyzing his solution of "X," the +unknown metal. For as soon as he had removed the beaker the heavy bath +had jumped endwise from under his hand as though it were alive. It had +flown with terrific speed over the table, smashing apparatus and bottles +of chemicals on its way, and was even now disappearing through the open +window. He seized his prism binoculars and focused them upon the flying +vessel, a speck in the distance. Through the glass he saw that it did +not fall to the ground, but continued on in a straight line, only its +rapidly diminishing size showing the enormous velocity with which it was +moving. It grew smaller and smaller, and in a few moments disappeared +utterly. + +The chemist turned as though in a trance. How was this? The copper bath +he had used for months was gone--gone like a shot, with nothing to make +it go. Nothing, that is, except an electric cell and a few drops of the +unknown solution. He looked at the empty space where it had stood, at +the broken glass covering his laboratory table, and again stared out of +the window. + +He was aroused from his stunned inaction by the entrance of his colored +laboratory helper, and silently motioned him to clean up the wreckage. + +"What's happened, Doctah?" asked the dusky assistant. + +"Search me, Dan. I wish I knew, myself," responded Seaton, absently, +lost in wonder at the incredible phenomenon of which he had just been a +witness. + +Ferdinand Scott, a chemist employed in the next room, entered breezily. + +"Hello, Dicky, thought I heard a racket in here," the newcomer remarked. +Then he saw the helper busily mopping up the reeking mass of chemicals. + +"Great balls of fire!" he exclaimed. "What've you been celebrating? Had +an explosion? How, what, and why?" + +"I can tell you the 'what,' and part of the 'how'," Seaton replied +thoughtfully, "but as to the 'why,' I am completely in the dark. Here's +all I know about it," and in a few words he related the foregoing +incident. Scott's face showed in turn interest, amazement, and pitying +alarm. He took Seaton by the arm. + +"Dick, old top, I never knew you to drink or dope, but this stuff sure +came out of either a bottle or a needle. Did you see a pink serpent +carrying it away? Take my advice, old son, if you want to stay in Uncle +Sam's service, and lay off the stuff, whatever it is. It's bad enough to +come down here so far gone that you wreck most of your apparatus and +lose the rest of it, but to pull a yarn like that is going too far. The +Chief will have to ask for your resignation, sure. Why don't you take a +couple of days of your leave and straighten up?" + +Seaton paid no attention to him, and Scott returned to his own +laboratory, shaking his head sadly. + +Seaton, with his mind in a whirl, walked slowly to his desk, picked up +his blackened and battered briar pipe, and sat down to study out what he +had done, or what could possibly have happened, to result in such an +unbelievable infraction of all the laws of mechanics and gravitation. He +knew that he was sober and sane, that the thing had actually happened. +But why? And how? All his scientific training told him that it was +impossible. It was unthinkable that an inert mass of metal should fly +off into space without any applied force. Since it had actually +happened, there must have been applied an enormous and hitherto unknown +force. What was that force? The reason for this unbelievable +manifestation of energy was certainly somewhere in the solution, the +electrolytic cell, or the steam-bath. Concentrating all the power of his +highly-trained analytical mind upon the problem--deaf and blind to +everything else, as was his wont when deeply interested--he sat +motionless, with his forgotten pipe clenched between his teeth. Hour +after hour he sat there, while most of his fellow-chemists finished the +day's work and left the building and the room slowly darkened with the +coming of night. + +Finally he jumped up. Crashing his hand down upon the desk, he +exclaimed: + +"I have liberated the intra-atomic energy of copper! Copper, 'X,' and +electric current! + +"I'm sure a fool for luck!" he continued as a new thought struck him. +"Suppose it had been liberated all at once? Probably blown the whole +world off its hinges. But it wasn't: it was given off slowly and in a +straight line. Wonder why? Talk about power! Infinite! Believe me, I'll +show this whole Bureau of Chemistry something to make their eyes stick +out, tomorrow. If they won't let me go ahead and develop it, I'll +resign, hunt up some more 'X', and do it myself. That bath is on its way +to the moon right now, and there's no reason why I can't follow it. +Martin's such a fanatic on exploration, he'll fall all over himself to +build us any kind of a craft we'll need ... we'll explore the whole +solar system! Great Cat, what a chance! A fool for luck is right!" + +He came to himself with a start. He switched on the lights and saw that +it was ten o'clock. Simultaneously he recalled that he was to have had +dinner with his fiancée at her home, their first dinner since their +engagement. Cursing himself for an idiot he hastily left the building, +and soon his motorcycle was tearing up Connecticut Avenue toward his +sweetheart's home. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Steel Becomes Interested + + +Dr. Marc DuQuesne was in his laboratory, engaged in a research upon +certain of the rare metals, particularly in regard to their +electrochemical properties. He was a striking figure. Well over six feet +tall, unusually broad-shouldered even for his height, he was plainly a +man of enormous physical strength. His thick, slightly wavy hair was +black. His eyes, only a trifle lighter in shade, were surmounted by +heavy black eyebrows which grew together above his aquiline nose. + +Scott strolled into the room, finding DuQuesne leaning over a delicate +electrical instrument, his forbidding but handsome face strangely +illuminated by the ghastly glare of his mercury-vapor arcs. + +"Hello, Blackie," Scott began. "I thought it was Seaton in here at +first. A fellow has to see your faces to tell you two apart. Speaking of +Seaton, d'you think that he's quite right?" + +"I should say, off-hand, that he was a little out of control last night +and this morning," replied DuQuesne, manipulating connections with his +long, muscular fingers. "I don't think that he's insane, and I don't +believe that he dopes--probably overwork and nervous strain. He'll be +all right in a day or two." + +"I think he's a plain nut, myself. That sure was a wild yarn he sprung +on us, wasn't it? His imagination was hitting on all twelve, that's +sure. He seems to believe it himself, though, in spite of making a flat +failure of his demonstration to us this morning. He saved that waste +solution he was working on--what was left of that carboy of platinum +residues after he had recovered all the values, you know--and got them +to put it up at auction this noon. He resigned from the Bureau, and he +and M. Reynolds Crane, that millionaire friend of his, bid it in for ten +cents." + +"M. Reynolds Crane?" DuQuesne concealed a start of surprise. "Where does +he come in on this?" + +"Oh, they're always together in everything. They've been thicker than +Damon and Pythias for a long time. They play tennis together--they're +doubles champions of the District, you know--and all kinds of things. +Wherever you find one of them you'll usually find the other. Anyway, +after they got the solution Crane took Seaton in his car, and somebody +said they went out to Crane's house. Probably trying to humor him. Well, +ta-ta; I've got a week's work to do yet today." + +As Scott left DuQuesne dropped his work and went to his desk, with a new +expression, half of chagrin, half of admiration, on his face. Picking up +his telephone, he called a number. + +"Brookings?" he asked, cautiously. "This is DuQuesne. I must see you +immediately. There's something big started that may as well belong to +us.... No, can't say anything over the telephone.... Yes, I'll be right +out." + +He left the laboratory and soon was in the private office of the head of +the Washington or "diplomatic" branch, as it was known in certain +circles, of the great World Steel Corporation. Offices and laboratories +were maintained in the city, ostensibly for research work, but in +reality to be near the center of political activity. + +"How do you do, Doctor DuQuesne?" Brookings said as he seated his +visitor. "You seem excited." + +"Not excited, but in a hurry," DuQuesne replied. "The biggest thing in +history has just broken, and we've got to work fast if we get in on it. +Have you any doubts that I always know what I am talking about?" + +"No," answered the other in surprise. "Not the slightest. You are widely +known as an able man. In fact, you have helped this company several +times in various deal--er, in various ways." + +"Say it. Brookings. 'Deals' is the right word. This one is going to be +the biggest ever. The beauty of it is that it should be easy--one simple +burglary and an equally simple killing--and won't mean wholesale murder, +as did that...." + +"Oh, no, Doctor, not murder. Unavoidable accidents." + +"Why not call things by their right names and save breath, as long as +we're alone? I'm not squeamish. But to get down to business. You know +Seaton, of our division, of course. He has been recovering the various +rare metals from all the residues that have accumulated in the Bureau +for years. After separating out all the known metals he had something +left, and thought it was a new element, a metal. In one of his attempts +to get it into the metallic state, a little of its solution fizzed out +and over a copper steam bath or tank, which instantly flew out of the +window like a bullet. It went clear out of sight, out of range of his +binoculars, just that quick." He snapped his fingers under Brookings' +nose. "Now that discovery means such power as the world never dreamed +of. In fact, if Seaton hadn't had all the luck in the world right with +him yesterday, he would have blown half of North America off the map. +Chemists have known for years that all matter contains enormous stores +of intra-atomic energy, but have always considered it 'bound'--that is, +incapable of liberation. Seaton has liberated it." + +"And that means?" + +"That with the process worked out, the Corporation could furnish power +to the entire world, at very little expense." + + * * * * * + +A look of scornful unbelief passed over Brookings' face. + +"Sneer if you like," DuQuesne continued evenly. "Your ignorance doesn't +change the fact in any particular. Do you know what intra-atomic energy +is?" + +"I'm afraid that I don't, exactly." + +"Well, it's the force that exists between the ultimate component parts +of matter, if you can understand that. A child ought to. Call in your +chief chemist and ask him what would happen if somebody would liberate +the intra-atomic energy of one hundred pounds of copper." + +"Pardon me, Doctor. I didn't presume to doubt you. I will call him in." + +He telephoned a request and soon a man in white appeared. In response to +the question he thought for a moment, then smiled slowly. + +"If it were done instantaneously it would probably blow the entire world +into a vapor, and might force it clear out of its orbit. If it could be +controlled it would furnish millions of horsepower for a long time. But +it can't be done. The energy is bound. Its liberation is an +impossibility, in the same class with perpetual motion. Is that all, Mr. +Brookings?" + +As the chemist left, Brookings turned again to his visitor, with an +apologetic air. + +"I don't know anything about these things myself, but Chambers, also an +able man, says that it is impossible." + +"As far as he knows, he is right. I should have said the same thing this +morning. But I do know about these things--they're my business--and I +tell you that Seaton has done it." + +"This is getting interesting. Did you see it done?" + +"No. It was rumored around the Bureau last night that Seaton was going +insane, that he had wrecked a lot of his apparatus and couldn't explain +what had happened. This morning he called a lot of us into his +laboratory, told us what I have just told you, and poured some of his +solution on a copper wire. Nothing happened, and he acted as though he +didn't know what to make of it. The foolish way he acted and the +apparent impossibility of the whole thing, made everybody think him +crazy. I thought so until I learned this afternoon that Mr. Reynolds +Crane is backing him. Then I knew that he had told us just enough of the +truth to let him get away clean with the solution." + +"But suppose the man _is_ crazy?" asked Brookings. "He probably is a +monomaniac, really insane on that one thing, from studying it so much." + +"Seaton? Yes, he's crazy--like a fox. You never heard of any insanity in +Crane's family, though, did you? You know that he never invests a cent +in anything more risky than Government bonds. You can bet your last +dollar that Seaton showed him the real goods." Then, as a look of +conviction appeared upon the other's face, he continued: + +"Don't you understand that the solution was Government property, and he +had to do something to make everybody think it worthless, so that he +could get title to it? That faked demonstration that failed was +certainly a bold stroke--so bold that it was foolhardy. But it worked. +It fooled even me, and I am not usually asleep. The only reason he got +away with it, is, that he has always been such an open-faced talker, +always telling everything he knew. + +"He certainly played the fox," he continued, with undisguised +admiration. "Heretofore he has never kept any of his discoveries secret +or tried to make any money out of them, though some of them were worth +millions. He published them as soon as he found them, and somebody else +got the money. Having that reputation, he worked it to make us think him +a nut. He certainly is clever. I take off my hat to him--he's a wonder!" + +"And what is your idea? Where do we come in?" + +"You come in by getting that solution away from Seaton and Crane, and +furnishing the money to develop the stuff and to build, under my +direction, such a power-plant as the world never saw before." + +"Why get that particular solution? Couldn't we buy up some platinum +wastes and refine them?" + +"Not a chance," replied the scientist. "We have refined platinum +residues for years, and never found anything like that before. It is my +idea that the stuff, whatever it is, was present in some particular lot +of platinum in considerable quantities as an impurity. Seaton hasn't all +of it there is in the world, of course, but the chance of finding any +more of it without knowing exactly what it is or how it reacts is +extremely slight. Besides, we must have exclusive control. How could we +make any money out of it if Crane operates a rival company and is +satisfied with ten percent profit? No, we must get all of that solution. +Seaton and Crane, or Seaton, at least, must be killed, for if he is left +alive he can find more of the stuff and break our monopoly. I want to +borrow your strong-arm squad tonight, to go and attend to it." + +After a few moments' thought, his face set and expressionless, Brookings +said: + +"No, Doctor. I do not think that the Corporation would care to go into a +matter of this kind. It is too flagrant a violation of law, and we can +afford to buy it from Seaton after he proves its worth." + + * * * * * + +"Bah!" snorted DuQuesne. "Don't try that on me, Brookings. You think you +can steal it yourself, and develop it without letting me in on it? You +can't do it. Do you think I am fool enough to tell you all about it, +with facts, figures, and names, if you could get away with it without +me? Hardly! You can steal the solution, but that's all you can do. Your +chemist or the expert you hire will begin experimenting without Seaton's +lucky start, which I have already mentioned, but about which I haven't +gone into any detail. He will have no information whatever, and the +first attempt to do anything with the stuff will blow him and all the +country around him for miles into an impalpable powder. You will lose +your chemist, your solution, and all hope of getting the process. There +are only two men in the United States, or in the world, for that matter, +with brains enough and information enough to work it out. One is +Richard B. Seaton, the other is Marc C. DuQuesne. Seaton certainly won't +handle it for you. Money can't buy him and Crane, and you know it. You +must come to me. If you don't believe that now, you will very shortly, +after you try it alone." + +Brookings, caught in his duplicity and half-convinced of the truth of +DuQuesne's statements, still temporized. + +"You're modest, aren't you, Doctor?" he asked, smiling. + +"Modest? No," said the other calmly. "Modesty never got anybody anything +but praise, and I prefer something more substantial. However, I never +exaggerate or make over-statements, as you should know. What I have said +is merely a statement of fact. Also, let me remind you that I am in a +hurry. The difficulty of getting hold of that solution is growing +greater every minute, and my price is getting higher every second." + +"What is your price at the present second?" + +"Ten thousand dollars per month during the experimental work; five +million dollars in cash upon the successful operation of the first power +unit, which shall be of not less than ten thousand horsepower; and ten +percent of the profits." + +"Oh, come, Doctor, let's be reasonable. You can't mean any such figures +as those." + +"I never say anything I don't mean. I have done a lot of dirty work with +you people before, and never got much of anything out of it. You were +always too strong for me; that is, I couldn't force you without exposing +my own crookedness, but now I've got you right where I want you. That's +my price; take it or leave it. If you don't take it now, the first two +of those figures will be doubled when you do come to me. I won't go to +anybody else, though others would be glad to get it on my terms, because +I have a reputation to maintain and you are the only ones who know that +I am crooked. I know that my reputation is safe as long as I work with +you, because I know enough about you to send all you big fellows, clear +down to Perkins, away for life. I also know that that knowledge will not +shorten my days, as I am too valuable a man for you to kill, as you +did...." + +"Please, Doctor, don't use such language...." + +"Why not?" interrupted DuQuesne, in his cold, level voice. "It's all +true. What do a few lives amount to, as long as they're not yours and +mine? As I said, I can trust you, more or less. You can trust me, +because you know that I can't send you up without going with you. +Therefore, I am going to let you go ahead without me as far as you +can--it won't be far. Do you want me to come in now or later?" + +"I'm afraid we can't do business on any such terms as that," said +Brookings, shaking his head. "We can undoubtedly buy the power rights +from Seaton for what you ask." + +"You don't fool me for a second, Brookings. Go ahead and steal the +solution, but take my advice and give your chemist only a little of it. +A very little of that stuff will go a long way, and you will want to +have some left when you have to call me in. Make him experiment with +extremely small quantities. I would suggest that he work in the woods at +least a hundred miles from his nearest neighbor, though it matters +nothing to me how many people you kill. That's the only pointer I will +give you--I'm giving it merely to keep you from blowing up the whole +country," he concluded with a grim smile. "Good-bye." + + * * * * * + +As the door closed behind the cynical scientist, Brookings took a small +gold instrument, very like a watch, from his pocket. He touched a button +and held the machine close to his lips. + +"Perkins," he said softly, "M. Reynolds Crane has in his house a bottle +of solution." + +"Yes, sir. Can you describe it?" + +"Not exactly. It is greenish yellow in color, and I gather that it is in +a small bottle, as there isn't much of the stuff in the world. I don't +know what it smells or tastes like, and I wouldn't advise experimenting +with it, as it seems to be a violent explosive and is probably +poisonous. Any bottle of solution of that color kept in a particularly +safe place would probably be the one. Let me caution you that this is +the biggest thing you have ever been in, and _it must not fail_. Any +effort to purchase it would be useless, however large a figure were +named. But if the bottle were only partly emptied and filled up with +water, I don't believe anyone would notice the difference, at least for +some time, do you?" + +"Probably not, sir. Good-bye." + +Next morning, shortly after the office opened, Perkins, whose principal +characteristic was that of absolute noiselessness, glided smoothly into +Brookings' office. Taking a small bottle about half full of a +greenish-yellow liquid from his pocket, he furtively placed it under +some papers upon his superior's desk. + +"A man found this last night, sir, and thought it might belong to you. +He said this was a little less than half of it, but that you could have +the rest of it any time you want it." + +"Thank you, Perkins, he was right. It is ours. Here's a letter which +just came," handing him an envelope, which rustled as Perkins folded it +into a small compass and thrust it into his vest pocket. "Good morning." + +As Perkins slid out, Brookings spoke into his telephone, and soon +Chambers, his chief chemist, appeared. + +"Doctor Chambers," Brookings began, showing him the bottle, "I have here +a solution which in some way is capable of liberating the intra-atomic +energy of matter, about which I asked you yesterday. It works on copper. +I would like to have you work out the process for us, if you will." + +"What about the man who discovered the process?" asked Chambers, as he +touched the bottle gingerly. + +"He is not available. Surely what one chemist can do, others can? You +will not have to work alone. You can hire the biggest men in the line to +help you--expense is no object." + +"No, it wouldn't be, if such a process could be worked out. Let me see, +whom can we get? Doctor Seaton is probably the best man in the country +for such a research, but I don't think that we can get him. I tried to +get him to work on the iridium-osmium problem, but he refused." + +"We might make an offer big enough to get him." + +"No. Don't mention it to him," with a significant look. "He's to know +nothing about it." + +"Well, then, how about DuQuesne, who was in here yesterday? He's +probably next to Seaton." + +"I took it up with him yesterday. We can't get him, his figures are +entirely out of reason. Aren't there any other men in the country who +know anything? You are a good man, why don't you tackle it yourself?" + +"Because I don't know anything about that particular line of research, +and I want to keep on living awhile longer," the chemist replied +bluntly. "There are other good men whom I can get, however. Van +Schravendyck, of our own laboratory, is nearly as good as either Seaton +or DuQuesne. He has done a lot of work on radio-activity and that sort +of thing, and I think he would like to work on it." + +"All right. Please get it started without delay. Give him about a +quarter of the solution and have the rest put in the vault. Be sure that +his laboratory is set up far enough away from everything else to avoid +trouble in case of an explosion, and caution him not to work on too much +copper at once. I gather that an ounce or so will be plenty." + + * * * * * + +The chemist went back to his laboratory and sought his first assistant. + +"Van," he began, "Mr. Brookings has been listening to some lunatic who +claims to have solved the mystery of liberating intra-atomic energy." + +"That's old stuff," the assistant said, laughing. "That and perpetual +motion are always with us. What did you tell him?" + +"I didn't get a chance to tell him anything--he told me. Yesterday, you +know, he asked me what would happen if it could be liberated, and I +answered truthfully that lots of things would happen, and volunteered +the information that it was impossible. Just now he called me in, gave +me this bottle of solution, saying that it contained the answer to the +puzzle, and wanted me to work it out. I told him that it was out of my +line and that I was afraid of it--which I would be if I thought there +was anything in it--but that it was more or less in your line, and he +said to put you on it right away. He also said that expense was no +object; to set up an independent laboratory a hundred miles off in the +woods, to be safe in case of an explosion; and to caution you not to use +too much copper at once--that an _ounce or so_ would be plenty!" + +"An ounce! Ten thousand tons of nitroglycerin! I'll say an ounce would +be plenty, if the stuff is any good at all, which of course it isn't. +Queer, isn't it, how the old man would fall for anything like that? How +did he explain the failure of the discoverer to develop it himself?" + +"He said the discoverer is not available," answered Chambers with a +laugh. "I'll bet he isn't available--he's back in St. Elizabeth's again +by this time, where he came from. I suggested that we get either Seaton +or DuQuesne of Rare Metals to help us on it, and he said that they had +both refused to touch it, or words to that effect. If those two turned +down a chance to work on a thing as big as this would be, there probably +is nothing in this particular solution that is worth a rap. But what +Brookings says goes, around here, so it's you for the woods. And don't +take any chances, either--it is conceivable that something might +happen." + +"Sure it might, but it won't. We'll set up that lab near a good trout +stream, and I'll have a large and juicy vacation. I'll work on the stuff +a little, too--enough to make a good report, at least. I'll analyze it, +find out what is in it, deposit it on some copper, shoot an electrolytic +current through it, and make a lot of wise motions generally, and have a +darn good time besides." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Seaton Solves the Problem of Power + + +"Well, Mart," said Seaton briskly, "now that the Seaton-Crane Company, +Engineers, is organized to your satisfaction, let's hop to it. I suppose +I'd better beat it downtown and hunt up a place to work?" + +"Why not work here?" + +"Your house? You don't want this kind of experimenting going on around +here, do you? Suppose a chunk of the stuff gets away from me and tears +the side out of the house?" + +"This house is the logical place to work. I already have a complete +machine shop and testing laboratory out in the hangar, and we can easily +fit up a chemical laboratory for you up in the tower room. You can have +open windows on four sides there, and if you should accidentally take +out the wall there will be little damage done. We will be alone here, +with the few neighbors so thoroughly accustomed to my mechanical +experiments that they are no longer curious." + +"Fine. There's another good thing, too. Your man Shiro. He's been with +you in so many tight pinches in all the unknown corners of the world on +your hunting trips and explorations that we can trust him, and he'll +probably come in handy." + +"Yes, we can trust him implicitly. As you know, he is really my friend +instead of my man." + +During the next few days, while workmen were installing a complete +chemical laboratory in the tower room, Seaton busied himself in +purchasing the equipment necessary for the peculiar problem before him. +His list was long and varied, ranging from a mighty transformer, capable +of delivering thousands of kilovolts down to a potentiometer, so +sensitive that it would register the difference of potential set up by +two men in shaking hands. + +From daylight until dark Seaton worked in the laboratory, either alone +or superintending and assisting the men at work there. Every night when +Crane went to bed he saw Seaton in his room in a haze of smoke, poring +over blueprints or, surrounded by abstruse works upon the calculus and +sub-atomic phenomena, making interminable calculations. + +Less than two miles away lived Dorothy Vaneman, who had promised to be +his wife. He had seen her but once since "the impossible" had happened, +since his prosaic copper steam-bath had taken flight under his hand and +pointed the way to a great adventure. In a car his friend was to build, +moved by this stupendous power which he must learn to control, they +would traverse interstellar space--visit strange planets and survey +strange solar systems. + +While he did not forget his sweetheart--the thought of her was often in +his mind, and the fact that her future was so intimately connected with +his own gave to every action a new meaning--he had such a multitude of +things to do and was so eager to get them all done at once that day +after day went by and he could not find time to call upon her. + +Crane remonstrated in vain. His protests against Seaton's incessant work +had no effect. Seaton insisted that he _must_ fix firmly just a few more +points before they eluded him, and stuck doggedly to his task. + +Finally, Crane laid his work aside and went to call upon the girl. He +found her just leaving home, and fell into step beside her. For awhile +she tried to rouse herself to be entertaining, or at least friendly, but +the usual ease with which she chatted had deserted her, and her false +gayety did not deceive the keen-minded Crane for an instant. Soon the +two were silent as they walked along together. Crane's thoughts were on +the beautiful girl beside him, and on the splendid young genius under +his roof, so deeply immersed in his problem that he was insensible to +everything else. + + * * * * * + +"I have just left Dick," Crane said suddenly, and paying no attention to +her startled glance. "Did you ever in your life see anyone with his +singleness of purpose? With all his brilliance, one idea at a time is +all that he seems capable of--though that is probably why he is such a +genius. He is working himself insane. Has he told you about leaving the +Bureau?" + +"No. Has he? Has it anything to do with what happened that day at the +laboratory? I haven't seen him since the accident, or discovery, +whichever it was, happened. He came to see me at half-past ten, when he +was invited for dinner--oh, Martin, I had been _so_ angry!--and he told +such a preposterous story, I've been wondering since if I didn't dream +it." + +"No, you didn't dream it, no matter how wild it sounded. He said it, and +it is all true. I cannot explain it to you; Dick himself cannot explain +it, even to me. But I can give you an idea of what we both think it may +come to." + +"Yes, do." + +"Well, he has discovered something that makes copper act mighty +queer--knocks it off its feet, so to speak. That day a piece went up and +never did come down." + +"Yes, that is what is so preposterous!" + +"Just a moment, please," replied the imperturbable Crane. "You should +know that nothing ordinary can account for Dick's behavior, and after +what I have seen this last week I shall never again think anything +preposterous. As I said, this piece of copper departed, _via_ the +window, for scenes unknown. As far as a pair of good binoculars could +follow it, it held to a perfectly straight course toward those scenes. +We intend to follow it in some suitable vehicle." + +He paused, looking at his companion's face, but she did not speak. + +"Building the conveyance is where I come in," he continued in his +matter-of-fact voice. "As you know, I happen to have almost as much +money as Dick has brains, and some day, before the summer is over, we +expect to go somewhere. We do not know where, but it will be a long way +from this earth." + +There was a silence, then Dorothy said, helplessly: + +"Well, go on.... I can't understand...." + +"Neither can I. All I know is that Dick wants to build a heavy steel +hull, and he is going to put something inside it that will take us out +into space. Only occasionally do I see a little light as he tries to +explain the mechanism of the thing to me." + +After enjoining upon her the strictest secrecy he repeated the story +that Seaton had told him, and informed her as to the present condition +of affairs. + +"It's no wonder the other chemists thought he was crazy, is it, Martin?" + +"No, especially after the failure of his demonstration the next morning. +You see, he tried to prove to the others that he was right, and nothing +happened. He has found out since that an electrical machine in another +room, which was not running that morning, played a very important part. +When the copper refused to act as it had the night before they all took +the snap judgment that he had suffered an attack of temporary insanity, +and that the solution was worthless. They called him 'Nobody Holme'." + +"It almost fits, at that!" exclaimed Dorothy, laughing. + +"But if he thought of that," she added, thoughtfully, "if he was +brilliant enough to build up such a wonderful theory ... think out such +a thing as actually traveling to the stars ... all on such a slight +foundation of fact ... I wonder why he couldn't have told me?" + +She hadn't meant to utter the last thought. Nobody must know how being +left out of it had hurt her, and she would have recalled the words if +she could. Crane understood, and answered loyally. + +"He will tell you all about it very soon, never fear. His is the mind of +a great scientist, working on a subject of which but very few men have +even an inkling. I am certain that the only reason he thought of me is +that he could not finance the investigation alone. Never think for an +instant that his absorption implies a lack of fondness for you. You are +his anchor, his only hold on known things. In fact, it was about this +that I came to see you. Dick is working himself at a rate that not even +a machine can stand. He eats hardly anything, and if he sleeps at all, I +have never caught him at it. That idea is driving him day and night, and +if he goes on the way he is going, it means a breakdown. I do not know +whether you can make him listen to reason or not--certainly no one else +can. If you think you can do it, that is to be your job, and it will be +the biggest one of the three." + +"How well you understand him," Dorothy said, after a pause. "You make me +feel ashamed, Martin. I should have known without being told. Then I +wouldn't have had these nasty little doubts about him." + +"I should call them perfectly natural, considering the circumstances," +he answered. "Men with minds like Dick's are rare. They work on only one +track. Your part will be hard. He will come to you, bursting with news +and aching to tell you all about his theories and facts and +calculations, and you must try to take his mind off the whole thing and +make him think of something else. It looks impossible to me." + + * * * * * + +The smile had come back to Dorothy's face. Her head, graced by its +wealth of gleaming auburn hair, was borne proudly, and glancing mischief +lit her violet eyes. + +"Didn't you just tell me nothing is impossible? You know, Martin, that I +can make Dicky forget everything, even interstellar--did I get that word +right?--space itself, with my violin." + +"Trying to beguile a scientist from his hobby is comparable only to +luring a drug addict away from his vice ... but I would not be surprised +if you could do it," he slowly replied. + +For he had heard her play. She and Seaton had been caught near his home +by a sudden shower while on horseback, and had dashed in for shelter. +While the rain beat outside and while Shiro was preparing one of his +famous suppers, Crane had suggested that she pass the time by playing +his "fiddle." Dorothy realized, with the first sweep of the bow, that +she was playing a Stradivarius, the like of which she had played before +only in her dreams. She forgot her listeners, forgot the time and the +place, and poured out in her music all the beauty and tenderness of her +nature. Soft and full the tones filled the room, and in Crane's vision +there rose a home filled with happy work, with laughter and +companionship, with playing children who turned their faces to their +mother as do flowers to the light. Sensing the girl's dreams as the +music filled his ears, he realized as never before in his busy, +purposeful life how beautiful a home with the right woman could be. No +thought of love for Dorothy entered his mind, for he knew that the love +existing between her and his friend was of the kind that nothing could +alter, but he felt that she had unwittingly given him a great gift. +Often thereafter in his lonely hours he had imagined that dream-home, +and nothing less than its perfection would ever satisfy him. + +For a time they walked on in silence. On Dorothy's face was a tender +look, the reflection of her happy thoughts, and in Crane's mind floated +again the vision of his ideal home, the home whose central figure he was +unable to visualize. At last she turned and placed her hand on his arm. + +"You have done a great deal for me--for us," she said simply. "I wish +there were something I could do for you in return." + +"You have already done much more than that for me, Dorothy," he +answered, more slowly even than usual. "It is hard for me to express +just what it is, but I want you to know that you and Dick mean much to +me.... You are the first real woman I have ever known, and some day, if +life is good to me, I hope to have some girl as lovely care for me." + +Dorothy's sensitive face flushed warmly. So unexpected and sincere was +his praise that it made her feel both proud and humble. She had never +realized that this quiet, apparently unimaginative man had seen all the +ideals she expressed in her music. A woman expects to appear lovely to +her lover, and to the men who would be her lovers if they could, but +here was a man who neither sought nor expected any favors, saying that +he wanted some girl as lovely for his own. Truly it was a compliment to +be cherished. + +After they had returned to the house and Crane had taken his departure, +Dorothy heard the purr of a rapidly approaching motorcycle, and her +heart leaped as she went to the door to welcome her lover. + +"It seems like a month since I saw you last, sweetheart!" he exclaimed, +as he lifted her clear from the floor in a passionate embrace and kissed +in turn her lips, her eyes, the tip of her nose, the elusive dimple in +her cheek, and the adorable curve of her neck. + +"It seems longer than that to me, Dicky. I was perfectly miserable until +Martin called this afternoon and explained what you have been doing." + +"Yes, I met him on the way over. But honestly, Dottie, I simply couldn't +get away. I wanted to, the worst way, but everything went so slow...." + +"Slow? When you have a whole laboratory installed in a week? What would +you call speed?" + +"About two days. And then, there were a lot of little ideas that had to +be nailed down before they got away from me. This is a horribly big job, +Dottie, and when a fellow gets into it he can't quit. But you know that +I love you just the same, even though I do appear to neglect you," he +continued with fierce intensity. I love you with everything there is in +me. "I love you, mind, body and spirit; love you as a man should love +the one and only woman. For you are the only woman, there never was and +never will be another. I love you morally, physically, intellectually, +and every other way there is, for the perfect little darling that you +are." + +She moved in his embrace and her arms tightened about his neck. + +"You are the nearest thing to absolute perfection that ever came into +this imperfect world," he continued. "Just to think of a girl of your +sheer beauty, your ability, your charm, your all-round perfection, being +engaged to a thing like me, makes me dizzy--but I sure do love you, +little girl of mine. I will love you as long as we live, and afterward, +my soul will love your soul throughout eternity. You know that, +sweetheart girl." + +"Oh, Dick!" she whispered, her soul shaken with response to his love. "I +never dreamed it possible for a woman to love as I love you. 'Whither +thou goest....'" + +Her voice failed in the tempest of her emotion, and they clung together +in silence. + +They were finally interrupted by Dorothy's stately and gracious mother, +who came in to greet Seaton and invite him to have dinner with them. + +"I knew that Dot would forget such an unimportant matter," she said, +with a glint of Dorothy's own mischief in her eyes. + + * * * * * + +As they went into the dining-room Dorothy was amazed to see the changes +that six days had wrought in Seaton. His face looked thin, almost +haggard. Fine lines had made their appearance at the corners of his eyes +and around his mouth, and faint but unmistakable blue rings encircled +his eyes. + +"You have been working too hard, boy," she reproved him gravely. + +"Oh, no," he rejoined lightly. "I'm all right, I never felt better. Why, +I could whip a rattlesnake right now, and give him the first bite!" + +She laughed at his reply, but the look of concern did not leave her +face. As soon as they were seated at the table she turned to her father, +a clean-cut, gray-haired man of fifty, known as one of the shrewdest +attorneys in the city. + +"Daddy," she demanded, "what do you mean by being elected director in +the Seaton-Crane Company and not telling me anything about it?" + +"Daughter," he replied in the same tone, "what do you mean by asking +such a question as that? Don't you know that it is a lawyer's business +to get information, and to give it out only to paying clients? However, +I can tell you all I know about the Seaton-Crane Company without adding +to your store of knowledge at all. I was present at one meeting, gravely +voted 'aye' once, and that is all." + +"Didn't you draw up the articles of incorporation?" + +"I am doing it, yes; but they don't mean anything. They merely empower +the Company to do anything it wants to, the same as other large +companies do." Then, after a quick but searching glance at Seaton's worn +face and a warning glance at his daughter, he remarked: + +"I read in the _Star_ this evening that Enright and Stanwix will +probably make the Australian Davis Cup team, and that the Hawaiian with +the unpronounceable name has broken three or four more world's records. +What do you think of our tennis chances this year, Dick?" + +Dorothy flushed, and the conversation, steered by the lawyer into the +safer channels, turned to tennis, swimming, and other sports. Seaton, +whose plate was unobtrusively kept full by Mr. Vaneman, ate such a +dinner as he had not eaten in weeks. After the meal was over they all +went into the spacious living-room, where the men ensconced themselves +in comfortable Morris chairs with long, black cigars between their +teeth, and all four engaged in a spirited discussion of various topics +of the day. After a time, the older couple left the room, the lawyer +going into his study to work, as he always did in the evening. + +"Well, Dicky, how's everything?" Dorothy asked, unthinkingly. + +The result of this innocent question was astonishing. Seaton leaped to +his feet. The problem, dormant for two hours, was again in complete +possession of his mind. + +"Rotten!" he snapped, striding back and forth and brandishing his +half-smoked cigar. "My head is so thick that it takes a thousand years +for an idea to filter into it. I should have the whole thing clear by +this time, but I haven't. There's something, some little factor, that I +can't get. I've almost had it a dozen times, but it always gets away +from me. I know that the force is there and I can liberate it, but I +can't work out a system of control until I can understand exactly why it +acts the way it does." Then, more slowly, thinking aloud rather than +addressing the girl: + +"The force is attraction toward all matter, generated by the vibrations +of all the constituent electrons in parallel planes. It is directed +along a line perpendicular to the plane of vibration at its center, and +approaches infinity as the angle theta approaches the limit of Pi +divided by two. Therefore, by shifting the axis of rotation or the plane +of vibration thus making theta vary between the limits of zero and Pi +divided by two...." + +He was interrupted by Dorothy, who, mortified by her thoughtlessness in +getting him started, had sprung up and seized him by the arm. + +"Sit down, Dicky!" she implored. "Sit down, you're rocking the boat! +Save your mathematics for Martin. Don't you know that I could never find +out why 'x' was equal to 'y' or to anything else in algebra?" + +She led him back to his chair, where he drew her down to a seat on the +arm beside him. + +"Whom do you love?" she whispered gayly in his ear. + +After a time she freed herself. + + * * * * * + +"I haven't practised today. Don't you want me to play for you a little?" + +"Fine business, Dottie. When you play a violin, it talks." + +She took down her violin and played; first his favorites, crashing +selections from operas and solos by the great masters, abounding in +harmonies on two strings. Then she changed to reveries and soft, +plaintive melodies. Seaton listened with profound enjoyment. Under the +spell of the music he relaxed, pushed out the footrest of the chair, and +lay back at ease, smoking dreamily. The cigar finished and his hands at +rest, his eyes closed of themselves. The music, now a crooning lullaby, +grew softer and slower, until his deep and regular breathing showed that +he was sound asleep. She stopped playing and sat watching him intently, +her violin in readiness to play again, if he should show the least sign +of waking, but there was no such sign. Freed from the tyranny of the +mighty brain which had been driving it so unmercifully, his body was +making up for many hours of lost sleep. + +Assured that he was really asleep, Dorothy tip-toed to her father's +study and quietly went in. + +"Daddy, Dick is asleep out there in the chair. What shall we do with +him?" + +"Good work, Dottie Dimple. I heard you playing him to sleep--you almost +put me to sleep as well. I'll get a blanket and we'll put him to bed +right where he is." + +"Dear old Dad," she said softly, sitting on the arm of his chair and +rubbing her cheek against his. "You always did understand, didn't you?" + +"I try to, Kitten," he answered, pulling her ear. "Seaton is too good a +man to see go to pieces when it can be prevented. That is why I +signalled you to keep the talk off the company and his work. One of the +best lawyers I ever knew, a real genius, went to pieces that same way. +He was on a big, almost an impossible, case. He couldn't think of +anything else, didn't eat or sleep much for months. He won the case, but +it broke him. But he wasn't in love with a big, red-headed beauty of a +girl, and so didn't have her to fiddle him to sleep. + +"Well, I'll go get the blanket," he concluded, with a sudden change in +his tone. + +In a few moments he returned and they went into the living-room +together. Seaton lay in exactly the same position, only the regular +lifting of his powerful chest showing that he was alive. + +"I think we had better...." + +"Sh ... sh," interrupted the girl in an intense whisper. "You'll wake +him up, Daddy." + +"Bosh! You couldn't wake him up with a club. His own name might rouse +him, particularly if you said it; no other ordinary sound would. I +started to say that I think we had better put him to bed on the +davenport. He would be more comfortable." + +"But that would surely wake him. And he's so big...." + +"Oh, no, it wouldn't, unless I drop him on the floor. And he doesn't +weigh much over two hundred, does he?" + +"About ten or eleven pounds." + +"Even though I am a lawyer, and old and decrepit, I can still handle +that much." + +With Dorothy anxiously watching the proceeding and trying to help, +Vaneman picked Seaton up out of the chair, with some effort, and carried +him across the room. The sleeping man muttered as if in protest at being +disturbed, but made no other sign of consciousness. The lawyer then +calmly removed Seaton's shoes and collar, while the girl arranged +pillows under his head and tucked the blanket around him. Vaneman bent a +quizzical glance upon his daughter, under which a flaming blush spread +from her throat to her hair. + +"Well," she said, defiantly, "I'm going to, anyway." + +"My dear, of course you are. If you didn't, I would disown you." + +As her father turned away, Dorothy knelt beside her lover and pressed +her lips tightly to his. + +"Good night, sweetheart," she murmured. + +"'Night," he muttered in his sleep, as his lips responded faintly to her +caress. + +Vaneman waited for his daughter, and when she appeared, the blush again +suffusing her face, he put his arm around her. + +"Dorothy," he said at the door of her room, using her full name, a very +unusual thing for him, "the father of such a girl as you are hates to +lose her, but I advise you to stick to that boy. Believe in him and +trust him, no matter what happens. He is a real man." + +"I know it, Dad ... thank you. I had a touch of the blues today, but I +never will again. I think more of his little finger than I do of all the +other men I ever knew, put together. But how do you know him so well? I +know him, of course, but that's different." + +"I have various ways of getting information. I know Dick Seaton better +than you do--better than he knows himself. I have known all about every +man who ever looked at you twice. I have been afraid once or twice that +I would have to take a hand, but you saw them right, just as you see +Seaton right. For some time I have been afraid of the thought of your +marrying, the young men in your social set are such a hopeless lot, but +I am not any more. When I hand my little girl over to her husband next +October I can be really happy with you, instead of anxious for you. +That's how well I know Richard Seaton.... Well, good night, daughter +mine." + +"Good night, Daddy dear," she replied, throwing her arms around his +neck. "I have the finest Dad a girl ever had, and the finest ... boy. +Good night." + + * * * * * + +It was three o'clock the following afternoon when Seaton appeared in the +laboratory. His long rest had removed all the signs of overwork and he +was his alert, vigorous self, but when Crane saw him and called out a +cheery greeting he returned it with a sheepish smile. + +"Don't say anything, Martin--I'm thinking it all, and then some. I made +a regular fool of myself last night. Went to sleep in a chair and slept +seventeen hours without a break. I never felt so cheap in my life." + +"You were worn out, Dick, and you know it. That sleep put you on your +feet again, and I hope you will have sense enough to take care of +yourself after this. I warn you now, Dick, that if you start any more of +that midnight work I will simply call Dorothy over here and have her +take charge of you." + +"That's it, Mart, rub it in. Don't you see that I am flat on my back, +with all four paws in the air? But I'm going to sleep every night. I +promised Dottie to go to bed not later than twelve, if I have to quit +right in the middle of an idea, and I told her that I was coming out to +see her every other evening and every Sunday. But here's the dope. I've +got that missing factor in my theory--got it while I was eating +breakfast this afternoon." + +"If you had eaten and slept regularly here and kept yourself fit you +would have seen it before." + +"Yes, I guess that's right, too. If I miss a meal or a sleep from now on +I want you to sand-bag me. But never mind that. Here's the explanation. +We doped out before, you know, that the force is something like +magnetism, and is generated when the coil causes the electrons of this +specially-treated copper to vibrate in parallel planes. The knotty point +was what could be the effect of a weak electric current in liberating +the power. I've got it! It shifts the plane of vibration of the +electrons!" + +"It is impossible to shift that plane, Dick. It is fixed by physical +state, just as speed is fixed by temperature." + +"No, it isn't. That is, it usually is, but in this case it may be +shifted. Here's the mathematical proof." + +So saying, Seaton went over to the drafting table, tacked down a huge +sheet of paper, and sketched rapidly, explaining as he drew. Soon the +two men were engaged in a profound mathematical argument. Sheet after +sheet of paper was filled with equations and calculations, and the table +was covered with reference books. After two hours of intense study and +hot discussion Crane's face took on a look of dawning comprehension, +which changed to amazement and then to joy. For the first time in +Seaton's long acquaintance with him, his habitual calm was broken. + +"By George!" he cried, shaking Seaton's hand in both of his. "I think +you have it! But how under the sun did you get the idea? That calculus +isn't in any of the books. Where did you get it? Dick, you're a wonder!" + +"I don't know how I got the idea, it merely came to me. But that Math is +right--it's _got_ to be right, no other conclusion is possible. Now, if +that calc. is right, and I know it is, do you see how narrow the +permissible limits of shifting are? Look at equation 236. Believe me, I +sure was lucky, that day in the Bureau. It's a wonder I didn't blow up +the whole works. Suppose I hadn't been working with a storage cell that +gave only four amperes at two volts? That's unusually low, you know, for +that kind of work." + + * * * * * + +Crane carefully studied the equation referred to and figured for a +moment. + +"In that case the limit would be exactly eight watts. Anything above +that means instant decomposition?" + +"Yes." + +Crane whistled, a long, low whistle. + +"And that bath weighed forty pounds--enough to vaporize the whole +planet. Dick, it cannot be possible." + +"It doesn't seem that way, but it is. It certainly makes me turn cold +all over, though, to think of what might have happened. You know now why +I wouldn't touch the solution again until I had this stuff worked out?" + +"I certainly do. You should be even more afraid of it now. I don't mind +nitroglycerin or T.N.T., but anything like that is merely a child's +plaything compared to this. Perhaps we had better drop it?" + +"Not in seven thousand years. The mere fact that I was so lucky at first +proves that Fate intended this thing to be my oyster. However, I'll not +tempt the old lady any farther. I'm going to start with one millionth of +a volt, and will use a piece of copper visible only under a microscope. +But there's absolutely no danger, now that we know what it is. I can +make it eat out of my hand. Look at this equation here, though. That +being true, it looks as though you could get the same explosive effect +by taking a piece of copper which had once been partially decomposed and +subjecting it to some force, say an extremely heavy current. Again under +the influence of the coil, a small current would explode it, wouldn't +it?" + +"It looks that way, from those figures." + +"Say, wouldn't that make some bullet? Unstabilize a piece of copper in +that way and put it inside a rifle bullet, arranged to make a short +circuit on impact. By making the piece of copper barely visible you +could have the explosive effect of only a few sticks of dynamite--a +piece the size of a pea would obliterate New York City. But that's a +long way from our flying-machine." + +"Perhaps not so far as you think. When we explore new worlds it might be +a good idea to have a liberal supply of such ammunition, of various +weights, for emergencies." + +"It might, at that. Here's another point in equation 249. Suppose the +unstabilized copper were treated with a very weak current, not strong +enough to explode it? A sort of borderline condition? The energy would +be liberated, apparently, but in an entirely new way. Wonder what would +happen? I can't see from the theory--have to work it out. And here's +another somewhat similar condition, right here, that will need +investigating. I've sure got a lot of experimental work ahead of me +before I'll know anything. How're things going with you?" + +"I have the drawings and blue-prints of the ship itself done, and +working sketches of the commercial power-plant. I am working now on the +details, such as navigating instruments, food, water, and air supplies, +special motors, and all of the hundred and one little things that must +be taken into consideration. Then, as soon as you get the power under +control, we will have only to sketch in the details of the power-plant +and its supports before we can begin construction." + +"Fine, Mart, that's great. Well, let's get busy!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Steel Liberates Energy--Unexpectedly + + +DuQuesne was in his laboratory, poring over an abstruse article in a +foreign journal of science, when Scott came breezily in with a newspaper +in his hand, across the front page of which stretched great headlines. + +"Hello, Blackie!" he called. "Come down to earth and listen to this tale +of mystery from that world-renowned fount of exactitude and authority, +the _Washington Clarion_. Some miscreant has piled up and touched off a +few thousand tons of T.N.T. and picric acid up in the hills. Read about +it, it's good." + +DuQuesne read: + + + MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION! + + MOUNTAIN VILLAGE WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE! + TWO HUNDRED DEAD, NONE INJURED! + + FORCE FELT ALL OVER WORLD. CAUSE UNKNOWN. + SCIENTISTS BAFFLED. + + HARPER'S FERRY. March 26.--At 10: 23 A.M. today, the village of + Bankerville, about thirty miles north of this place, was totally + destroyed by an explosion of such terrific violence that + seismographs all over the world recorded the shock, and that + windows were shattered even in this city. A thick pall of dust and + smoke was observed in the sky and parties set out immediately. They + found, instead of the little mountain village, nothing except an + immense, crater-like hole in the ground, some two miles in diameter + and variously estimated at from two to three thousand feet deep. No + survivors have been found, no bodies have been recovered. The + entire village, with its two hundred inhabitants, has been wiped + out of existence. Not so much as a splinter of wood or a fragment + of brick from any of the houses can be found. Scientists are unable + to account for the terrific force of the explosion, which far + exceeded that of the most violent explosive known. + +"Hm ... m. That sounds reasonable, doesn't it?" asked DuQuesne, +sarcastically, as he finished reading. + +"It sure does," replied Scott, grinning. "What'd'you suppose it was? +Think the reporter heard a tire blow out on Pennsylvania Avenue?" + +"Perhaps. Nothing to it, anyway," as he turned back to his work. + +As soon as the visitor had gone a sneering smile spread over DuQuesne's +face and he picked up his telephone. + +"The fool did it. That will cure him of sucking eggs!" he muttered. +"Operator? DuQuesne speaking. I am expecting a call this afternoon. +Please ask him to call me at my house.... Thank you." + +"Fred," he called to his helper, "if anyone wants me, tell them that I +have gone home." + +He left the building and stepped into his car. In less than half an hour +he arrived at his house on Park Road, overlooking beautiful Rock Creek +Park. Here he lived alone save for an old colored couple who were his +servants. + +In the busiest part of the afternoon Chambers rushed unannounced into +Brookings' private office. His face was white as chalk. + +"Read that, Mr. Brookings!" he gasped, thrusting the _Clarion_ extra +into his hand. + +Brookings read the news of the explosion, then looked at his chief +chemist, his face turning gray. + +"Yes, sir, that was our laboratory," said Chambers, dully. + +"The fool! Didn't you tell him to work with small quantities?" + +"I did. He said not to worry, that he was taking no chances, that he +would never have more than a gram of copper on hand at once in the whole +laboratory." + +"Well ... I'll ... be ... damned!" Slowly turning to the telephone, +Brookings called a number and asked for Doctor DuQuesne, then called +another. + +"Brookings speaking. I would like to see you this afternoon. Will you be +at home?... I'll be there in about an hour. Good bye." + + * * * * * + +When Brookings arrived he was shown into DuQuesne's study. The two men +shook hands perfunctorily and sat down, the scientist waiting for the +other to speak. + +"Well, DuQuesne, you were right. Our man couldn't handle it. But of +course you didn't mean the terms you mentioned before?" + +DuQuesne's lips smiled; a hard, cold smile. + +"You know what I said, Brookings. Those terms are now doubled, twenty +thousand and ten million. Nothing else goes." + +"I expected it, since you never back down. The Corporation expects to +pay for its mistakes. We accept your terms and I have contracts here for +your services as research director, at a salary of two hundred and forty +thousand dollars per annum, with the bonus and royalties you demand." + +DuQuesne glanced over the documents and thrust them into his pocket. + +"I'll go over these with my attorney to-night, and mail one back to you +if he approves the contract. In the meantime, we may as well get down to +business." + +"What would you suggest?" asked Brookings. + +"You people stole the solution, I see...." + +"Don't use such harsh language, Doctor, it's...." + +"Why not? I'm for direct action, first, last and all the time. This +thing is too important to permit of mincing words or actions, it's a +waste of time. Have you the solution here?" + +"Yes, here it is," drawing the bottle from his pocket. + +"Where's the rest of it?" asked DuQuesne as he noted the size of the +bottle. + +"All that we found is here, except about a teaspoonful which the expert +had to work on," replied Brookings. "We didn't get it all, only half of +it. The rest of it was diluted with water, so that it wouldn't be +missed. After we get started, if you find it works out satisfactorily, +we can procure the rest of it. That will certainly cause a disturbance, +but it may be necessary...." + +"Half of it!" interrupted DuQuesne. "You haven't one-twentieth of it +here. When I saw it in the Bureau, Seaton had about five hundred +milliliters--over a pint--of it. I wonder if you're double-crossing me +again?" + +"No, you're not," he continued, paying no attention to the other's +protestations of innocence. "You're paying me too much to want to block +me now. The crook you sent out to get the stuff turned in only this +much. Do you suppose he is holding out on us?" + +"No. You know Perkins and his methods." + +"He missed the main bottle, then. That's where your methods make me +tired. When I want anything done, I believe in doing it myself, then I +know it's done right. As to what I suggest, that's easy. I will take +three or four of Perkins' gunmen tonight. We'll go out there and raid +the place. We'll shoot Seaton and anybody else who gets in the way. +We'll dynamite the safe and take their solution, plans, notes, money, +and anything else we want." + +"No, no, Doctor, that's too crude altogether. If we have to do that, let +it be only as a last resort." + +"I say do it first, then we know we will get results. I tell you I'm +afraid of pussyfooting and gumshoeing around Seaton and Crane. I used to +think that Seaton was easy, but he seems to have developed greatly in +the last few weeks, and Crane never was anybody's fool. Together they +make a combination hard to beat. Brute force, applied without warning, +is our best bet, and there's no danger, you know that. We've got away +clean with lots worse stuff." + +"It's always dangerous, and we could wink at such tactics only after +everything else has failed. Why not work it out from this solution we +have, and then quietly get the rest of it? After we have it worked out, +Seaton might get into an accident on his motorcycle, and we could prove +by the state of development of our plans that we discovered it long +ago." + +"Because developing the stuff is highly dangerous, as you have found +out. Even Seaton wouldn't have been alive now if he hadn't had a lot of +luck at the start. Then, too, it would take too much time. Seaton has +already developed it--you see, I haven't been asleep and I know what he +has done, just as well as you do--and why should we go through all that +slow and dangerous experimental work when we can get their notes and +plans as well as not? There is bound to be trouble anyway when we steal +all their solution, even though they haven't missed this little bit of +it yet, and it might as well come now as any other time. The Corporation +is amply protected, and I am still a Government chemist. Nobody even +suspects that I am in on this deal. I will never see you except after +hours and in private, and will never come near your offices. We will be +so cautious that, even if anyone should get suspicious, they can't +possibly link us together, and until they do link us together, we are +all safe. No, Brookings, a raid in force is the only sure and safe way. +What is more natural than a burglary of a rich man's house? It will be a +simple affair. The police will stir around for a few days, then it will +all be forgotten and we can go ahead. Nobody will suspect anything +except Crane, if he is alive, and he won't be able to do anything." + +So the argument raged. Brookings was convinced that DuQuesne was right +in wanting to get possession of all the solution, and also of the +working notes and plans, but would not agree to the means suggested, +holding out for quieter and more devious, but less actionable methods. +Finally he ended the argument with a flat refusal to countenance the +raid, and the scientist was forced to yield, although he declared that +they would have to use his methods in the end, and that it would save +time, money, and perhaps lives, if they were used first. Brookings then +took from his pocket his wireless and called Perkins. He told him of the +larger bottle of solution, instructing him to secure it and to bring +back all plans, notes, and other material he could find which in any way +pertained to the matter in hand. Then, after promising DuQuesne to keep +him informed of developments, and giving him an instrument similar to +the one he himself carried, Brookings took his leave. + + * * * * * + +Seaton had worked from early morning until late at night, but had +rigorously kept his promise to Dorothy. He had slept seven or eight +hours every night and had called upon her regularly, returning from the +visits with ever-keener zest for his work. + +Late in the afternoon, upon the day of the explosion, Seaton stepped +into Crane's shop with a mass of notes in his hand. + +"Well, Mart, I've got it--some of it, at least. The power is just what +we figured it, so immensely large as to be beyond belief. I have found: + +"First: That it is a practically irresistible _pull_ along the axis of +the treated wire or bar. It is apparently focused at infinity, as +near-by objects are not affected. + +"Second: I have studied two of the border-line regions of current we +discussed. I have found that in one the power is liberated as a similar +attractive force but is focused upon the first object in line with the +axis of the bar. As long as the current is applied it remains focused +upon that object, no matter what comes between. In the second +border-line condition the power is liberated as a terrific repulsion. + +"Third: That the copper is completely transformed into available energy, +there being no heat whatever liberated. + +"Fourth: Most important of all, that the X acts only as a catalyst for +the copper and is not itself consumed, so that an infinitesimally thin +coating is all that is required." + +"You certainly have found out a great deal about it," replied Crane, who +had been listening with the closest attention, a look of admiration upon +his face. "You have all the essential facts right there. Now we can go +ahead and put in the details which will finish up the plans completely. +Also, one of those points solves my hardest problem, that of getting +back to the earth after we lose sight of it. We can make a small bar in +that border-line condition and focus it upon the earth, and we can use +that repulsive property to ward off any meteorites which may come too +close to us." + +"That's right. I never thought of using those points for anything. I +found them out incidentally, and merely mentioned them as interesting +facts. I have a model of the main bar built, though, that will lift me +into the air and pull me all around. Want to see it work?" + +"I certainly do." + +As they were going out to the landing field Shiro called to them and +they turned back to the house, learning that Dorothy and her father had +just arrived. + +"Hello, boys!" Dorothy said, bestowing her radiant smile upon them both +as Seaton seized her hand. "Dad and I came out to see that you were +taking care of yourselves, and to see what you are doing. Are visitors +allowed?" + +"No," replied Seaton promptly. "All visitors are barred. Members of the +firm and members of the family, however, are not classed as visitors." + +"You came at the right time," said Crane, smiling. "Dick has just +finished a model, and was about to demonstrate it to me when you +arrived. Come with us and watch the...." + +"I object," interrupted Seaton. "It is a highly undignified performance +as yet, and...." + +"Objection overruled," interposed the lawyer, decisively. "You are too +young and impetuous to have any dignity; therefore, any performance not +undignified would be impossible, _a priori_. The demonstration will +proceed." + + * * * * * + +Laughing merrily, the four made their way to the testing shed, in front +of which Seaton donned a heavy leather harness, buckled about his +shoulders, body and legs; to which were attached numerous handles, +switches, boxes and other pieces of apparatus. He snapped the switch +which started the Tesla coil in the shed and pressed a button on an +instrument in his hand, attached to his harness by a small steel cable. +Instantly there was a creak of straining leather and he shot vertically +into the air for perhaps a hundred feet, where he stopped and remained +motionless for a few moments. Then the watchers saw him point his arm +and dart in the direction in which he pointed. By merely pointing, +apparently, he changed his direction at will; going up and down, forward +and backward, describing circles and loops and figures of eight. After a +few minutes of this display he descended, slowing up abruptly as he +neared the ground and making an easy landing. + +"There, oh beauteous lady and esteemed sirs," he began, with a low bow +and a sweeping flourish--when there was a snap, and he was jerked +sidewise off his feet. In bowing, his cumbersome harness had pressed the +controlling switch and the instrument he held in his hand, which +contained the power-plant, or bar, had torn itself loose from its +buckle. Instead of being within easy reach of his hand it was over six +feet away, and was dragging him helplessly after it, straight toward the +high stone wall! But only momentarily was he helpless, his keen mind +discovering a way out of the predicament even as he managed to scramble +to his feet in spite of the rapid pace. Throwing his body sidewise and +reaching out his long arm as far as possible toward the bar, he +succeeded in swinging it around so that he was running back toward the +party and the spacious landing field. Dorothy and her father were +standing motionless, staring at Seaton; the former with terror in her +eyes, the latter in blank amazement. Crane had darted to the switch +controlling the coil, and was reaching for it when Seaton passed them. + +"Don't touch that switch!" he yelled. "I'll catch that thing yet!" + +At this evidence that Seaton still thought himself master of the +situation, Crane began to laugh, though he still kept his hand near the +controlling switch. Dorothy, relieved of her fear for her lover's +safety, could not help but join him, so ludicrous were Seaton's antics. +The bar was straight out in front of him, about five feet above the +ground, going somewhat faster than a man could run. It turned now to the +right, now to the left, as his weight was thrown to one side or the +other. Seaton, dragged along like a small boy trying to hold a runaway +calf by the tail, was covering the ground in prodigious leaps and +bounds; at the same time pulling himself up, hand over hand, to the bar +in front of him. He soon reached it, seized it in both hands, again +darted into the air, and descended lightly near the others, who were +rocking with laughter. + +"I said it would be undignified," chuckled Seaton, rather short of +breath, "but I didn't know just how much so it was going to be." + +Dorothy tucked her fingers into his hand. + +"Are you hurt anywhere, Dick?" + +"Not a bit. He led me a great chase, though." + +"I was scared to death until you told Martin to let the switch alone. +But it was funny then! I hadn't noticed your resemblance to a +jumping-jack before. Won't you do it again sometime and let us take a +movie of it?" + +"That was as good as any show in town, Dick," said the lawyer, wiping +his eyes, "but you must be more careful. Next time, it might not be +funny at all." + +"There will be no next time for this rig," replied Seaton. "This is +merely to show us that our ideas are all right. The next trip will be in +a full-scale, completely-equipped boat." + +"It was perfectly wonderful," declared Dorothy. "I know this first +flight of yours will be a turning-point or something in history. I don't +pretend to understand how you did it--the sight of you standing still up +there in the air made me wonder if I really were awake, even though I +knew what to expect--but we wouldn't have missed it for worlds, would +we, Dad?" + +"No. I am very glad that we saw the first demonstration. The world has +never before seen anything like it, and you two men will rank as two of +the greatest discoverers." + +"Seaton will, you mean," replied Crane, uncomfortably. "You know I +didn't have anything to do with it." + +"It's nearly all yours," denied Seaton. "Without your ideas I would have +lost myself in space in my first attempt." + +"You are both wrong," said Vaneman. "You, Martin, haven't enough +imagination; and you, Dick, have altogether too much, for either of you +to have done this alone. The honor will be divided equally between you." + + * * * * * + +He turned to Crane as Dorothy and Seaton set out toward the house. + +"What are you going to do with it, commercially? Dick, of course, hasn't +thought of anything except this space-car--equally of course, you have?" + +"Yes. Knowing the general nature of the power and confident that Dick +would control it, I have already drawn up sketches for a power-plant +installation of five hundred thousand electrical horsepower, which will +enable us to sell power for less than one-tenth of a cent per +kilowatt-hour and still return twenty percent annual dividends. However, +the power-plant comes after the flyer." + +"Why? Why not build the power-plant first, and take the pleasure trip +afterward?" + +"There are several reasons. The principal one is that Dick and I would +rather be off exploring new worlds, while the other members of the +Seaton-Crane Company, Engineers, build the power-plant." + +During the talk the men had reached the house, into which the others had +disappeared some time before. Upon Crane's invitation, Vaneman and his +daughter stayed to dinner, and Dorothy played for awhile upon Crane's +wonderful violin. The rest of the evening was spent in animated +discussion of the realization of Seaton's dreams of flying without wings +and beyond the supporting atmosphere. Seaton and Crane did their best to +explain to the non-technical visitors how such flight was possible. + +"Well, I am beginning to understand it a little," said Dorothy finally. +"In plain language, it is like a big magnet or something, but different. +Is that it?" + +"That's it exactly," Seaton assured her. + +"What are you going to call it? It isn't like anything else that ever +was. Already this evening you have called it a bus, a boat, a kite, a +star-hound, a wagon, an aerial flivver, a sky-chariot, a space-eating +wampus, and I don't know what else. Even Martin has called it a vehicle, +a ship, a bird, and a shell. What is its real name?" + +"I don't know. It hasn't got any that I know of. What would you suggest, +Dottie?" + +"I don't know what general name should be applied to them, but for this +one there is only one possible name, 'The Skylark.'" + +"Exactly right, Dorothy," said Crane. + +"Fine!" cried Seaton. "And you shall christen it, Dottie, with a big +Florence flask full of absolute vacuum. 'I christen you "The Skylark." +BANG!'" + +As the guests were leaving, at a late hour, Vaneman said: + +"Oh, yes. I bought an extra _Clarion_ as we came out. It tells a wild +tale of an explosion so violent that science cannot explain it. I don't +suppose it is true, but it may make interesting reading for you two +scientific sharps. Good night." + +Seaton accompanied Dorothy to the car, bidding her a more intimate +farewell on the way. When he returned, Crane, with an unusual expression +of concern on his face, handed him the paper without a word. + + * * * * * + +"What's up, old man? Something in it?" he asked, as he took the paper. +He fell silent as he read the first words, and after he had read the +entire article he said slowly: + +"True, beyond a doubt. Even a _Clarion_ reporter couldn't imagine that. +It's all intra-atomic energy, all right--some poor devil trying our +stunt without my horseshoe in his pocket." + +"Think, Dick! Something is wrong somewhere. You know that two people did +not discover X at the same time. The answer is that somebody stole your +idea, but the idea is worthless without the X. You say that the stuff is +extremely rare--where did they get it?" + +"That's right, Mart. I never thought of that. The stuff _is_ extremely +rare. I am supposed to know something about rare metals, and I never +heard of it before--there isn't even a gap in the Periodic System in +which it belongs. I would bet a hat that we have every milligram known +to the world at present." + +"Well, then," said the practical Crane. "We had better see whether or +not we have all we started with." + +Asking Shiro to bring the large bottle from the vault, he opened the +living-room safe and brought forth the small vial. The large bottle was +still nearly full, the seal upon it unbroken. The vial was apparently +exactly as Seaton had left it after he had made his bars. + +"Our stuff seems to be all there," said Crane. "It looks as though +someone else has discovered it also." + +"I don't believe it," said Seaton, their positions now reversed. "It's +altogether too rare." + +He scanned both bottles narrowly. + +"I can tell by taking the densities," he added, and ran up to the +laboratory, returning with a Westphal balance in his hand. After testing +both solutions he said slowly: + +"Well, the mystery is solved. The large bottle has a specific gravity of +1.80, as it had when I prepared it; that in the vial reads only 1.41. +Somebody has burglarized this safe and taken almost half of the +solution, filling the vial up with colored water. The stuff is so strong +that I probably never would have noticed the difference." + +"But who could it have been?" + +"Search me! But it's nothing to worry about now, anyway, because whoever +it was is gone where he'll never do it again. He's taken the solution +with him, too, so that nobody else can get it." + +"I wish I were sure of that, Dick. The man who tried to do the research +work is undoubtedly gone--but who is back of him?" + +"Nobody, probably. Who would want to be?" + +"To borrow your own phrase, Dick, Scott 'chirped it' when he called you +'Nobody Holme.' For a man with your brains you have the least sense of +anybody I know. You know that this thing is worth, as a power project +alone, thousands of millions of dollars, and that there are dozens of +big concerns who would cheerfully put us both out of the way for a +thousandth of that amount. The question is not to find one concern who +might be backing a thing like that, but to pick out the one who is +backing it." + + * * * * * + +After thinking deeply for a few moments he went on: + +"The idea was taken from your demonstration in the Bureau, either by an +eye-witness or by someone who heard about it afterward, probably the +former. Even though it failed, one man saw the possibilities. Who was +that man? Who was there?" + +"Oh, a lot of the fellows were there. Scott, Smith, Penfield, DuQuesne, +Roberts--quite a bunch of them. Let's see--Scott hasn't brains enough to +do anything. Smith doesn't know anything about anything except amines. +Penfield is a pure scientist, who wouldn't even quote an authority +without asking permission. DuQuesne is ... hm-m ... DuQuesne ... he ... +I...." + +"Yes. DuQuesne. I have heard of him. He's the big black fellow, about +your own size? He has the brains, the ability, and the inclination, has +he not?" + +"Well, I wouldn't want to say that. I don't know him very well, and +personal dislike is no ground at all for suspicion, you know." + +"Enough to warrant investigation. Is there anyone else who might have +reasoned it out as you did, and as DuQuesne possibly could?" + +"Not that I remember. But we can count DuQuesne out, anyway, because he +called me up this afternoon about some notes on gallium; so he is still +in the Bureau. Besides, he wouldn't let anybody else investigate it if +he got it. He would do it himself, and I don't think he would have blown +himself up. I never did like him very well personally--he's such a cold, +inhuman son of a fish--but you've got to hand it to him for ability. +He's probably the best man in the world today on that kind of thing." + +"No, I do not think that we will count him out yet. He may have had +nothing to do with it, but we will have him investigated nevertheless, +and will guard against future visitors here." + +Turning to the telephone, he called the private number of a well-known +detective. + +"Prescott? Crane speaking. Sorry to get you out of bed, but I should +like to have a complete report upon Dr. Marc C. DuQuesne, of the Rare +Metals Laboratory, as soon as possible. Every detail for the last two +weeks, every move and every thought if possible. Please keep a good man +on him until further notice.... I wish you would send two or three +guards out here right away, to-night; men you can trust and who will +stay awake.... Thanks. Good night." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Direct Action + + +Seaton and Crane spent some time developing the object-compass. Crane +made a number of these instruments, mounted in gymbals, so that the +delicate needles were free to turn in any direction whatever. They were +mounted upon jeweled bearings, but bearings made of such great strength, +that Seaton protested. + +"What's the use, Mart? You don't expect a watch to be treated like a +stone-crusher. That needle weighs less than half a gram. Why mount it as +though it weighed twenty pounds?" + +"To be safe. Remember the acceleration the Lark will be capable of, and +also that on some other worlds, which we hope to visit, this needle will +weigh more than it does here." + +"That's right, Mart, I never thought of that. Anyway, we can't be too +safe to suit me." + +When the compasses were done and the power through them had been +adjusted to one-thousandth of a watt, the lowest they could maintain +with accuracy, they focused each instrument upon one of a set of most +carefully weighed glass beads, ranging in size from a pin-head up to a +large marble, and had the beads taken across the country by Shiro, in +order to test the sensitiveness and accuracy of the new instruments. The +first test was made at a distance of one hundred miles, the last at +nearly three thousand. They found, as they had expected, that from the +weight of the object and the time it took the needle to come to rest +after being displaced from its line by a gentle tap of the finger, they +could easily calculate the distance from the compass to the object. This +fact pleased Crane immensely, as it gave him a sure means of navigation +in space. The only objection to its use in measuring earthly distances +was its extreme delicacy, the needle focused upon the smallest bead in +the lot at a distance of three thousand miles coming to rest in little +more than one second. + +The question of navigation solved, the two next devoted themselves to +perfecting the "X-plosive bullet," as Seaton called it. From his notes +and equations Seaton calculated the weight of copper necessary to exert +the explosive force of one pound of nitro-glycerin, and weighed out, on +the most delicate assay-balance made, various fractions and multiples of +this amount of the treated copper, while Crane fitted up the bullets of +automatic-pistol cartridges to receive the charges and to explode them +on impact. + +They placed their blueprints and working notes in the safe, as usual, +taking with them only those notes dealing with the object-compass and +the X-plosive bullet, upon which they were still working. No one except +Shiro knew that the original tracings, from which the blue-prints had +been made, and their final, classified notes were always kept in the +vault. They cautioned him and the three guards to keep a close watch +until they returned. Then they set out in the biplane, to try out the +new weapon in a lonely place where the exploding shells could do no +damage. + + * * * * * + +They found that the X-plosive came fully up to expectations. The +smallest charge they had prepared, fired by Crane at a great stump a +full hundred yards away from the bare, flat-topped knoll that had +afforded them a landing-place, tore it bodily from the ground and +reduced it to splinters, while the force of the explosion made the two +men stagger. + +"She sure is big medicine!" laughed Seaton. "Wonder what a real one will +do?" and drawing his pistol, he inserted a cartridge carrying a much +heavier charge. + +"Better be careful with the big ones," cautioned Crane. "What are you +going to shoot at?" + +"That rock over there," pointing to a huge boulder half a mile away +across the small valley. "Want to bet me a dinner I can't hit it?" + +"No. You forget that I saw you win the pistol trophy of the District." + +The pistol cracked, and when the bullet reached its destination the +great stone was obliterated in a vast ball of flame. After a moment +there was a deafening report--a crash as though the world were falling +to pieces. Both men were hurled violently backward, stumbling and +falling flat. Picking themselves up, they looked across the valley at +the place where the boulder had stood, to see only an immense cloud of +dust, which slowly blew away, revealing a huge hole in the ground. They +were silent a moment, awed by the frightful power they had loosed. + +"Well, Mart," Seaton broke the silence, "I'll say those one-milligram +loads are plenty big enough. If that'd been something coming after +us--whether any possible other-world animal, a foreign battleship, or +the mythical great sea-serpent himself, it'd be a good Indian now. Yes? +No?" + +"Yes. When we use the heavier charges we must use long-range rifles. +Have you had enough demonstration or do you want to shoot some more?" + +"I've had enough, thanks. That last rock I bounced off of was no pillow, +I'll tell the world. Besides, it looks as though I'd busted a leg or two +off of our noble steed with my shot, and we may have to walk back home." + +An examination of the plane, which had been moved many feet and almost +overturned by the force of the explosion, revealed no damage that they +could not repair on the spot, and dusk saw them speeding through the air +toward the distant city. + +In response to a summons from his chief, Perkins silently appeared in +Brookings' office, without his usual complacent smile. + +"Haven't you done anything yet, after all this time?" demanded the +magnate. "We're getting tired of this delay." + +"I can't help it, Mr. Brookings," replied the subordinate. "They've got +detectives from Prescott's all over the place. Our best men have been +trying ever since the day of the explosion, but can't do a thing without +resorting to violence. I went out there myself and looked them over, +without being seen. There isn't a man there with a record, and I haven't +been able so far to get anything on any one of them that we can use as a +handle." + +"No, Prescott's men are hard to do anything with. But can't you...?" +Brookings paused significantly. + +"I was coming to that. I thought one of them might be seen, and I talked +to him a little, over the phone, but I couldn't talk loud enough without +consulting you. I mentioned ten, but he held out for twenty-five. Said +he wouldn't consider it at all, but he wants to quit Prescott and go +into business for himself." + +"Go ahead on twenty-five. We want to get action," said Brookings, as he +wrote an order on the cashier for twenty-five thousand dollars in +small-to-medium bills. "That is cheap enough, considering what +DuQuesne's rough stuff would probably cost. Report tomorrow about four, +over our private phone--no, I'll come down to the café, it's safer." + + * * * * * + +The place referred to was the Perkins Café, a high-class restaurant on +Pennsylvania Avenue, heavily patronized by the diplomatic, political, +financial, and sporting circles of upper-class Washington. It was famous +for its discreet waiters, and for the absolutely private rooms. Many of +its patrons knew of its unique telephone service, in which each call +went through such a devious system of relays that any attempt to trace +it was hopeless; they knew that while "The Perkins" would not knowingly +lend itself to any violation of law, it was an entirely safe and +thoroughly satisfactory place in which to conduct business of the most +secret and confidential character; a place from which one could enjoy +personal conversation with persons to whom he wished to remain invisible +and untraceable: a place which had never been known to "leak." For these +reasons it was really the diplomatic and political center of the +country, and over its secret wires had gone, in guarded language, +messages that would have rocked the world had they gone astray. It was +recognized that the place was occasionally, by its very nature, used for +illegal purposes, but it was such a political, financial, and diplomatic +necessity that it carried a "Hands Off" sign. It was never investigated +by Congress and never raided by the police. Hundreds of telephone calls +were handled daily. A man would come in, order something served in a +private room, leave a name at the desk, and say that he was expecting a +call. There the affair ended. The telephone operators were hand-picked, +men of very short memories, carefully trained never to look at a face +and never to remember a name or a number. Although the precaution was +unnecessary, this shortness of memory was often encouraged by bills of +various denominations. + +No one except Perkins and the heads of the great World Steel Corporation +knew that the urbane and polished proprietor of the café was a criminal +of the blackest kind, whose liberty and life itself were dependent upon +the will of the Corporation; or that the restaurant was especially +planned and maintained as a blind for its underground activities; or +that Perkins was holding a position which suited him exactly and which +he would not have given up for wealth or glory--that of being the +guiding genius who planned nefarious things for the men higher up, and +saw to it that they were carried out by the men lower down. He was in +constant personal touch with his superiors, but in order to avoid any +chance of betrayal he never saw his subordinates personally. Not only +were they entirely ignorant of his identity, but all possible means of +their tracing him had been foreseen and guarded against. He called them +on the telephone, but they never called him. The only possible way in +which any of his subordinates could get in touch with him was by means +of the wonderful wireless telephone already referred to, developed by a +drug-crazed genius who had died shortly after it was perfected. It was a +tiny instrument, no larger than a watch, but of practically unlimited +range. The controlling central station of the few instruments in +existence, from which any instrument could be cut out, changed in tune, +or totally destroyed at will, was in Perkins' office safe. A man +intrusted with an unusually important job would receive from an unknown +source an instrument, with directions sufficient for its use. As soon as +the job was done he would find, upon again attempting to use the +telephone, that its interior was so hopelessly wrecked that not even the +most skilled artisan could reproduce what it had once been. + + * * * * * + +At four o'clock Brookings was ushered into the private office of the +master criminal, who was plainly ill at ease. + +"I've got to report another failure, Mr. Brookings. It's nobody's fault, +just one of those things that couldn't be helped. I handled this myself. +Our man left the door unlocked and kept the others busy in another room. +I had just started to work when Crane's Japanese servant, who was +supposed to be asleep, appeared upon the scene. If I hadn't known +something about jiu-jutsu myself, he'd have broken my neck. As it was, I +barely got away, with the Jap and all three guards close behind me...." + +"I'm not interested in excuses," broke in the magnate, angrily. "We'll +have to turn it over to DuQuesne after all unless you get something +done, and get it done quick. Can't you get to that Jap some way?" + +"Certainly I can. I never yet saw the man who couldn't be reached, one +way or another. I've had 'Silk' Humphreys, the best fixer in the +business, working on him all day, and he'll be neutral before night. If +the long green won't quiet him--and I never saw a Jap refuse it yet--a +lead pipe will. Silk hasn't reported yet, but I expect to hear from him +any minute now, through our man out there." + +As he spoke, the almost inaudible buzzer in his pocket gave a signal. + +"There he is now," said Perkins, as he took out his wireless +instrument. "You might listen in and hear what he has to say." + +Brookings took out his own telephone and held it to his ear. + +"Hello," Perkins spoke gruffly into the tiny transmitter. "What've you +got on your chest?" + +"Your foot slipped on the Jap," the stranger replied. "He crabbed the +game right. Slats and the big fellow put all the stuff into the box, +told us to watch it until they get back tonight--they may be late--then +went off in Slats' ship to test something--couldn't find out what. Silk +tackled the yellow boy, and went up to fifty grand, but the Jap couldn't +see him at all. Silk started to argue, and the Jap didn't do a thing but +lay him out, cold. This afternoon, while the Jap was out in the grounds, +three stick-up men jumped him. He bumped one of them off with his hands +and the others with his gat--one of those big automatics that throw a +slug like a cannon. None of us knew he had it. That's all, except that I +am quitting Prescott right now. Anything else I can do for you, whoever +you are?" + +"No. Your job's done." + +The conversation closed. Perkins pressed the switch which reduced the +interior of the spy's wireless instrument to a fused mass of metal, and +Brookings called DuQuesne on the telephone. + +"I would like to talk to you," he said. "Shall I come there or would you +rather come to my office?" + +"I'll come there. They're watching this house. They have one man in +front and one in back, a couple of detectaphones in my rooms here, and +have coupled onto this telephone. + +"Don't worry," he continued calmly as the other made an exclamation of +dismay. "Talk ahead as loud as you please--they can't hear you. Do you +think that those poor, ignorant flat feet can show me anything about +electricity? I'd shoot a jolt along their wires that would burn their +ears off if it weren't my cue to act the innocent and absorbed +scientist. As it is, their instruments are all registering dense +silence. I am deep in study right now, and can't be disturbed!" + +"Can you get out?" + +"Certainly. I have that same private entrance down beside the house wall +and the same tunnel I used before. I'll see you in about fifteen +minutes." + + * * * * * + +In Brookings' office, DuQuesne told of the constant surveillance over +him. + +"They suspect me on general principles, I think," he continued. "They +are apparently trying to connect me with somebody. I don't think they +suspect you at all, and they won't unless they get some better methods. +I have devices fitted up to turn the lights off and on, raise and lower +the windows, and even cast shadows at certain times. The housekeeper +knows that when I go to my library after dinner, I have retired to +study, and that it is as much as anyone's life is worth to disturb me. +Also, I am well known to be firmly fixed in my habits, so it's easy to +fool those detectives. Last night I went out and watched them. They hung +around a couple of hours after my lights went out, then walked off +together. I can dodge them any time and have all my nights free without +their ever suspecting anything." + +"Are you free tonight?" + +"Yes. The time-switches are all set, and as long as I get back before +daylight, so they can see me get up and go to work, it will be all +right." + +Brookings told him briefly of the failures to secure the solution and +the plans, of the death of the three men sent to silence Shiro, and of +all the other developments. DuQuesne listened, his face impassive. + +"Well," he said as Brookings ceased. "I thought you would bull it, but +not quite so badly. But there's no use whining now. I can't use my +original plan of attack in force, as they are prepared and might be able +to stand us off until the police could arrive." + +He thought deeply for a time, then said, intensely: + +"If I go into this thing, Brookings, I am in absolute command. +Everything goes as I say. Understand?" + +"Yes. It's up to you, now." + +"All right, I think I've got it. Can you get me a Curtiss biplane in an +hour, and a man about six feet tall who weighs about a hundred and sixty +pounds? I want to drive the plane myself, and have the man, dressed in +full leathers and hood, in the passenger's seat, shot so full of +chloroform or dope that he will be completely unconscious for at least +two hours." + +"Easy. We can get you any kind of plane you want in an hour, and Perkins +can find a man of that description who would be glad to have a dream at +that price. But what's the idea?... Pardon me, I shouldn't have asked +that," he added, as the saturnine chemist shot him a black look from +beneath his heavy brows. + +Well, within the hour, DuQuesne drove up to a private aviation field and +found awaiting him a Curtiss biplane, whose attendant jumped into an +automobile and sped away as he approached. He quickly donned a heavy +leather suit, similar to the one Seaton always wore in the air, and drew +the hood over his face. Then, after a searching look at the lean form of +the unconscious man in the other seat, he was off, the plane climbing +swiftly under his expert hand. He took a wide circle to the west and +north. + +Soon Shiro and the two guards, hearing the roar of an approaching +airplane, looked out and saw what they supposed to be Crane's biplane +coming down with terrific speed in an almost vertical nose-dive, as +though the driver were in an extremity of haste. Flattening out just in +time to avert destruction it taxied up the field almost to the house. +The watchers saw a man recognizable as Seaton by his suit and his +unmistakable physique stand up and wave both arms frantically, heard him +shout hoarsely "... all of you ... out here," saw him point to Crane's +apparently lifeless form and slump down in his seat. All three ran out +to help the unconscious aviators, but just as they reached the machine +there were three silenced reports and the three men fell to the ground. +DuQuesne leaped lightly out of the machine and looked narrowly at the +bodies at his feet. He saw that the two detectives were dead, but found +with some chagrin that the Japanese still showed faint signs of life. He +half drew his pistol to finish the job, but observing that the victim +was probably fatally wounded he thrust it back into its holster and +went on into the house. Drawing on rubber gloves he rapidly blew the +door off the safe with nitro-glycerin and took out everything it +contained. He set aside a roll of blueprints, numerous notebooks, some +money and other valuables, and a small vial of solution--but of the +larger bottle there was no trace. He then ransacked the entire house, +from cellar to attic, with no better success. So cleverly was the +entrance to the vault concealed in the basement wall that he failed to +discover it. + +"I might have expected this of Crane," he thought, half aloud, "after +all the warning that fool Brookings persisted in giving him. This is the +natural result of his nonsense. The rest of the solution is probably in +the safest safe-deposit vault in the United States. But I've got their +plans and notes, and enough solution for the present. I'll get the rest +of it when I want it--there's more than one way to kill any cat that +ever lived!" + +Returning to the machine, DuQuesne calmly stepped over the bodies of the +detectives and the unconscious form of the dying Japanese, who was +uttering an occasional groan. He started the engine and took his seat. +There was an increasing roar as he opened the throttle, and soon he +descended upon the field from which he had set out. He noted that there +was a man in an automobile at some distance from the hangar, evidently +waiting to take care of the plane and his still unconscious passenger. +Rapidly resuming his ordinary clothing, he stepped into his automobile +and was soon back in his own rooms, poring over the blueprints and +notebooks. + + * * * * * + +Seaton and Crane both felt that something was wrong when they approached +the landing field and saw that the landing-lights were not burning, as +they always were kept lighted whenever the plane was abroad after dark. +By the dim light of the old moon Crane made a bumpy landing and they +sprang from their seats and hastened toward the house. As they neared it +they heard a faint moan and turned toward the sound, Seaton whipping out +his electric torch with one hand and his automatic pistol with the +other. At the sight that met their eyes, however, he hastily replaced +the weapon and bent over Shiro, a touch assuring him that the other two +were beyond the reach of help. Silently they picked up the injured man +and carried him gently into his own room, barely glancing at the wrecked +safe on the way. Seaton applied first-aid treatment to the ghastly wound +in Shiro's head, which both men supposed to be certainly fatal, while +Crane called a noted surgeon, asking him to come at once. He then +telephoned the coroner, the police, and finally Prescott, with whom he +held a long conversation. + +Having done all in their power for the unfortunate man, they stood at +his bedside, their anger all the more terrible for the fact that it was +silent. Seaton stood with every muscle tense. He was seething with rage, +his face purple and his eyes almost emitting sparks, his teeth clenched +until the muscles of his jaws stood out in bands and lumps. His right +hand, white-knuckled, gripped the butt of his pistol, while under his +left the brass rail of the bed slowly bent under the intensity of his +unconscious muscular effort. Crane stood still, apparently impassive, +but with his face perfectly white and with every feature stern and cold +as though cut from marble. Seaton was the first to speak. + +"Mart," he gritted, his voice husky with fury, "a man who would leave +another man alone to die after giving him that, ain't a man--he's a +thing. If Shiro dies and we can ever find out who did it I'll shoot him +with the biggest explosive charge I've got. No, I won't either, that'd +be too sudden. I'll take him apart with my bare hands." + +"We will find him, Dick," Crane replied in a level, deadly voice +entirely unlike his usual tone. "That is one thing money can do. We will +get him if money, influence, and detectives can do it." + +The tension was relieved by the arrival of the surgeon and his two +nurses, who set to work with the machine-like rapidity and precision of +their highly-specialized craft. After a few minutes, the work completed, +the surgeon turned to the two men who had been watching him so intently, +with a smile upon his clean-shaven face. + +"Merely a scalp wound, Mr. Crane," he stated. "He should recover +consciousness in an hour or so." Then, breaking in upon Seaton's +exclamation, "It looks much worse than it really is. The bullet glanced +off the skull instead of penetrating it, stunning him by the force of the +blow. There are no indications that the brain is affected in any way, +and while the affected area of the scalp is large, it is a clean wound +and should heal rapidly. He will probably be up and around in a couple +of days, and by the time his hair grows again, he will not be able to +find a scar." + +As he took his leave, the police and coroner arrived. After making a +thorough investigation, in which they learned what had been stolen and +shrewdly deduced the manner in which the robbery had been accomplished, +they departed, taking with them the bodies. They were authorized by +Crane to offer a reward of one million dollars for information leading +to the arrest and conviction of the murderer. After everyone except the +nurses had gone, Crane showed them the rooms they were to occupy while +caring for the wounded man. As the surgeon had foretold, Shiro soon +recovered consciousness. After telling his story he dropped into a deep +sleep, and Seaton and Crane, after another telephonic conference with +Prescott, retired for the rest of the night. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Object-Compass at Work + + +Prescott, after a sleepless night, joined Seaton and Crane at breakfast. + +"What do you make of it, Mr. Prescott?" asked Crane. "Seaton here thinks +it was DuQuesne, possibly acting for some foreign power, after our +flying-machine to use in war. I think it was some big industrial concern +after our power-plant. What is your opinion?" + +"I haven't any," replied the great detective after a moment. "Either +guess may be true, although I am almost positive that Dr. DuQuesne had +nothing to do with it, either way. It was no ordinary burglary, that is +certain from Shiro's story. It was done by someone who had exact +information of your movements and habits. He chose a time when you were +away, probably not so much from fear of you as because it was only in +your absence that he could succeed as he did in getting all the guards +out at once where he could handle them. He was a man with one accomplice +or who worked alone, and who was almost exactly Seaton's size and build. +He was undoubtedly an expert, as he blew the safe and searched the whole +house without leaving a finger-print or any other clue, however slight, +that I can find--a thing I have never before seen done in all my +experience." + +"His size should help in locating him," declared Crane. "While there are +undoubtedly thousands of men of Dick's six-feet-one and two-fifths, they +are fairly well scattered, are they not?" + +"Yes, they are, but his very size only makes it worse. I have gone over +all the records I could, in the short time I have had, and can't find an +expert of that class with anywhere near that description." + +"How about the third guard, the one who escaped?" asked Seaton. + +"He wasn't here. It was his afternoon off, you know, and he said that he +wouldn't come back into this job on a bet--that he wasn't afraid of +anything ordinary, but he didn't like the looks of things out here. That +sounded fishy to me, and I fired him. He may have been the leak, of +course, though I have always found him reliable before. If he did leak, +he must have got a whale of a slice for it. He is under constant watch, +and if we can ever get anything on him, I will nail him to the cross. +But that doesn't help get this affair straightened out. I haven't given +up, of course, there are lots of things not tried yet, but I must admit +that temporarily, at least, I am up a stump." + +"Well," remarked Seaton, "that million-dollar reward will bring him in, +sure. No honor that ever existed among thieves, or even among +free-lances of diplomacy, could stand that strain." + +"I'm not so sure of that, Dick," said Crane. "If either one of our ideas +is the right one, very few men would know enough about the affair to +give pertinent information, and they probably would not live long enough +to enjoy the reward very thoroughly. Even a million dollars fails in +that case." + +"I rather agree with Mr. Crane, Seaton. If it were an ordinary +affair--and I am as sure it is not as the police are that it is--a +reward of that size would get us our man within two days. As it is, I +doubt very much that the reward will do us any good. I'm afraid that it +will never be claimed." + +"Wonder if the Secret Service could help us out? They'd be interested if +it should turn out to be some foreign power." + +"I took it up with the Chief himself, just after it happened last night. +He doesn't think that it can be a foreign country. He has their agents +pretty well spotted, and the only one that could fill the bill--you know +a man with that description and with the cold nerve to do the job would +be apt to be known--was in San Francisco, the time this job was pulled +off." + + * * * * * + +"The more you talk, the more I am convinced that it was DuQuesne +himself," declared Seaton, positively. "He is almost exactly my size and +build, is the only man I know of who could do anything with the solution +after he got it, and he has nerve enough to do anything." + +"I would like to think it was DuQuesne," replied the detective, +thoughtfully, "but I'm afraid we'll have to count him out of it +entirely. He has been under the constant surveillance of my best men +ever since you mentioned him. We have detectaphones in his rooms, wires +on his telephone, and are watching him night and day. He never goes out +except to work, never has any except unimportant telephone calls, and +the instruments register only the occasional scratching of a match, the +rustle of papers, and other noises of a man studying. He's innocent." + +"That may be true," assented Seaton doubtfully, "but you want to +remember that he knows more about electricity than the guy that invented +it, and I'm not sure that he can't talk to a detectaphone and make it +say anything he wants it to. Anyway, we can soon settle it. Yesterday I +made a special trip down to the Bureau, with some notes as an excuse, to +set this object-compass on him," taking one of the small instruments +from his pocket as he spoke. "I watched him a while last night, then +fixed an alarm to wake me if the needle moved much, but it pointed +steady all night. See! It's moving now. That means that he is going to +work early, as usual. Now I'm morally certain that he's mixed up in this +thing somewhere, and I'm not convinced that he isn't slipping one over +on your men some way--he's a clever devil. I wonder if you wouldn't take +this compass and watch him yourself tonight, just on general principles? +Or let me do it. I'd be glad to. I say 'tonight' because if he did get +the stuff here he didn't deliver it anywhere last night. It's just a +chance, of course, but he may do it tonight." + +After the compass had been explained to the detective he gladly +consented to the plan, declaring that he would willingly spend the time +just to watch such an unheard-of instrument work. After another hour of +fruitless discussion Prescott took his leave, saying that he would mount +an impregnable guard from that time on. + +Late that evening Prescott joined the two men who were watching +DuQuesne's house. They reported that all was perfectly quiet, as usual. +The scientist was in his library, the instruments registering only the +usual occasional faint sounds of a man absorbed in study. But after an +hour of waiting, and while the microphones made a noise as of rustling +papers, the needle of the compass moved. It dipped slowly toward the +earth as though DuQuesne were descending into the cellar, but at the +same time the shadow of his unmistakable profile was thrown upon the +window shade as he apparently crossed the room. + +"Can't you hear him walk?" demanded Prescott. + +"No. He has heavy Turkish rugs all over the library, and he always walks +very lightly, besides." + + * * * * * + +Prescott watched the needle in amazement as it dipped deeper and deeper, +pointing down into the earth almost under his feet and then behind him, +as though DuQuesne had walked beneath him. He did not, could not, +believe it. He was certain that something had gone wrong with the +strange instrument in his hand, nevertheless he followed the pointing +needle. It led him beside Park Road, down the hill, straight toward the +long bridge which forms one entrance to Rock Creek Park. Though +skeptical, Prescott took no chances, and as he approached the bridge he +left the road and concealed himself behind a clump of trees, from which +point of vantage he could see the ground beneath the bridge as well as +the roadway. Soon the bridge trembled under the weight of a heavy +automobile going toward the city at a high rate of speed. He saw +DuQuesne, with a roll of papers under his arm, emerge from under the +bridge just in time to leap aboard the automobile, which slowed down +only enough to enable him to board it in safety. The detective noticed +that the car was a Pierce-Arrow limousine--a car not common, even in +Washington--and rushed out to get its number, but the license plates +were so smeared with oil and dust that the numbers could not be read by +the light of the tail lamp. Glancing at the compass in his hand he saw +that the delicate needle was now pointing steadily at the fleeing car, +and all doubts as to the power of the instrument were dispelled. He +rejoined his men, informed them that DuQuesne had eluded them, and took +one of them up the hill to a nearby garage. There he engaged a fast car +and set out in pursuit, choosing the path for the chauffeur by means of +the compass. His search ended at the residence of Brookings, the General +Manager of the great World Steel Corporation. Here he dismissed the car +and watched the house while his assistant went to bring out the fast +motorcycle used by Prescott when high speed was desirable. + +After four hours a small car bearing the license number of a distant +state--which was found, by subsequent telegraphing, to be unknown to the +authorities of that state--drove under the porte-cochère, and the hidden +watcher saw DuQuesne, without the papers, step into it. Knowing now what +to expect, Prescott drove his racing motorcycle at full speed out to the +Park Road Bridge and concealed himself beneath the structure, in a +position commanding a view of the concrete abutment through which the +scientist must have come. Soon he heard a car slow down overhead, heard +a few rapid footfalls, and saw the dark form of a large man outlined +against the gray face of the abutment. He saw the man lift his hand high +above his head, and saw a black rectangle appear in the gray, engulf the +man, and disappear. After a few minutes he approached the abutment and +searched its face with the help of his flash-light. He finally succeeded +in tracing the almost imperceptible crack which outlined the door, and +the concealed button which DuQuesne had pressed to open it. He did not +press the button, as it might be connected to an alarm. Deep in thought, +he mounted his motorcycle and made his way to his home to get a few +hours of sleep before reporting to Crane whom he was scheduled to see at +breakfast next morning. + + * * * * * + +Both men were waiting for him when he appeared, and he noticed with +pleasure that Shiro, with a heavily-bandaged head, was insisting that he +was perfectly able to wait on the table instead of breakfasting in bed. +He calmly proceeded to serve breakfast in spite of Crane's +remonstrances, having ceremoniously ordered out of the kitchen the +colored man who had been secured to take his place. + +"Well, gentlemen," the detective began, "part of the mystery is +straightened out. I was entirely wrong, and each of you were partly +right. It was DuQuesne, in all probability. It is equally probable that +a great company--in this case the World Steel Corporation--is backing +him, though I don't believe there is a ghost of a show of ever being +able to prove it in law. Your 'object-compass' did the trick." + +He narrated all the events of the previous night. + +"I'd like to send him to the chair for this job," said Seaton with +rising anger. "We ought to shoot him anyway, damn him--I'm sorry duels +have gone out of fashion, for I can't shoot him off-hand, the way things +are now--I sure wish I could." + +"No, you cannot shoot him," said Crane, thoughtfully, "and neither can +I, worse luck. We are not in his class there. And you must not fight +with him, either"--noting that Seaton's powerful hands had doubled into +fists, the knuckles showing white through the tanned skin--"though that +would be a fight worth watching and I would like to see you give him the +beating of his life. A little thing like a beating is not a fraction of +what he deserves and it would show him that we have found him out. No, +we must do it legally or let him entirely alone. You think there is no +hope of proving it, Prescott?" + +"Frankly, I see very little chance of it. There is always hope, of +course, and if that bunch of pirates ever makes a slip, we'll be right +there waiting to catch 'em. While I don't believe in holding out false +encouragement, they've never slipped yet. I'll take my men off DuQuesne, +now that we've linked him up with Steel. It doesn't make any difference, +does it, whether he goes to them every night or only once a week? + +"No." + +"Then about all I can do is to get everything I can on that Steel crowd, +and that is very much like trying to get blood out of a turnip. I intend +to keep after them, of course, for I owe them something for killing two +of my men here, as well as for other favors they have done me in the +past, but don't expect too much. I have tackled them before, and so have +police headquarters and even the Secret Service itself, under cover, and +all that any of us has been able to get is an occasional small fish. We +could never land the big fellows. In fact, we have never found the +slightest material proof of what we are morally certain is the truth, +that World Steel is back of a lot of deviltry all over the country. The +little fellows who do the work either don't know anything or are afraid +to tell. I'll see if I can find out what they are doing with the stuff +they stole, but I'm not even sure of doing that. You can't plant +instruments on that bunch--it would be like trying to stick a pin into a +sleeping cat without waking him up. They undoubtedly have one of the +best corps of detectives in the world. You haven't perfected an +instrument which enables you to see into a closed room and hear what is +going on there, have you?" And upon being assured that they had not, he +took his leave. + +"Optimistic cuss, ain't he?" remarked Seaton. + +"He has cause to be, Dick. World Steel is a soulless corporation if +there ever was one. They have the shrewdest lawyers in the country, and +they get away legally with things that are flagrantly illegal, such as +freezing out competitors, stealing patents, and the like. Report has it +that they do not stop at arson, treason, or murder to attain their ends, +but as Prescott said, they never leave any legal proof behind them." + +"Well, _we_ should fret, anyway. Of course, a monopoly is what they're +after, but they can't form one because they can't possibly get the rest +of our solution. Even if they should get it, we can get more. It won't +be as easy as this last batch was, since the X was undoubtedly present +in some particular lot of platinum in extraordinary quantities, but now +that I know exactly what to look for, I can find more. So they can't get +their monopoly unless they kill us off...." + +"Exactly. Go on, I see you are getting the idea. If we should both +conveniently die, they could get the solution from the company, and have +the monopoly, since no one else can handle it." + +"But they couldn't get away with it, Mart--never in a thousand years, +even if they wanted to. Of course I am small fry, but you are too big a +man for even Steel to do away with. It can't be done." + +"I am not so sure of that. Airplane accidents are numerous, and I am an +aviator. Also, has it ever occurred to you that the heavy forging for +the Skylark, ordered a while ago, are of steel?" + +Seaton paused, dumbfounded, in the act of lighting his pipe. + +"But thanks to your object-compass, we are warned." Crane continued, +evenly. "Those forgings are going through the most complete set of tests +known to the industry, and if they go into the Skylark at all it will be +after I am thoroughly convinced that they will not give way on our first +trip into space. But we can do nothing until the steel arrives, and with +the guard Prescott has here now we are safe enough. Luckily, the enemy +knows nothing of the object-compass or the X-plosive, and we must keep +them in ignorance. Hereinafter, not even the guards get a look at +anything we do." + +"They sure don't. Let's get busy!" + + * * * * * + +DuQuesne and Brookings met in conference in a private room of the +Perkins Café. + +"What's the good word, Doctor?" + +"So-so," replied the scientist. "The stuff is all they said it was, but +we haven't enough of it to build much of a power-plant. We can't go +ahead with it, anyway, as long as Seaton and Crane have nearly all their +original solution." + +"No, we can't. We must find a way of getting it. I see now that we +should have done as you suggested, and taken it before they had warning +and put it out of our reach." + +"There's no use holding post-mortems. We've got to get it, some way, and +everybody that knows anything about that new metal, how to get it or how +to handle it, must die. At first, it would have been enough to kill +Seaton. Now, however, there is no doubt that Crane knows all about it, +and he probably has left complete instructions in case he gets killed in +an accident--he's the kind that would. We will have to keep our eyes +open and wipe out those instructions and anyone who has seen them. You +see that, don't you?" + +"Yes, I am afraid that is the only way out. We must have the monopoly, +and anyone who might be able to interfere with it must be removed. How +has your search for more X prospered?" + +"About as well as I expected. We bought up all the platinum wastes we +could get, and reworked all the metallic platinum and allied metals we +could buy in the open market, and got less than a gram of X out of the +whole lot. It's scarcer than radium. Seaton's finding so much of it at +once was an accident, pure and simple--it couldn't happen once in a +million years." + +"Well, have you any suggestions as to how we can get that solution?" + +"No. I haven't thought of anything but that very thing ever since I +found that they had hidden it, and I can't yet see any good way of +getting it. My forte is direct action and that fails in this case, since +no amount of force or torture could make Crane reveal the hiding-place +of the solution. It's probably in the safest safe-deposit vault in the +country. He wouldn't carry the key on him, probably wouldn't have it in +the house. Killing Seaton or Crane, or both of them, is easy enough, but +it probably wouldn't get us the solution, as I have no doubt that Crane +has provided for everything." + +"Probably he has. But if he should disappear the stuff would have to +come to light, or the Seaton-Crane Company might start their +power-plant. In that case, we probably could get it?" + +"_Possibly_, you mean. That method is too slow to suit me, though. It +would take months, perhaps years, and would be devilishly uncertain, to +boot. They'll know something is in the wind, and the stuff will be +surrounded by every safeguard they can think of. There must be some +better way than that, but I haven't been able to think of it." + +"Neither have I, but your phrase 'direct action' gives me an idea. You +say that that method has failed. What do you think of trying indirect +action in the shape of Perkins, who is indirection personified?" + +"Bring him in. He may be able to figure out something." + + * * * * * + +Perkins was called in, and the main phases of the situation laid before +him. The three men sat in silence for many minutes while the crafty +strategist studied the problem. Finally he spoke. + +"There's only one way, gentlemen. We must get a handle on either Seaton +or Crane strong enough to make them give up their bottle of dope, their +plans, and everything...." + +"Handle!" interrupted DuQuesne. "You talk like a fool! You can't get +anything on either of them." + +"You misunderstand me, Doctor. You can get a handle of some kind on any +living man. Not necessarily in his past, you understand--I know that +anything like that is out of the question in this case--but in his +future. With some men it is money, with others power, with others fame, +with others women or some woman, and so on down the list. What can we +use here? Money is out of the question, so are power and fame, as they +already have both in plain sight. It seems to me that women would be our +best chance." + +"Hah!" snorted the chemist. "Crane has been chased by all the women of +three continents so long that he's womanproof. Seaton is worse--he's +engaged, and wouldn't realize that a woman was on his trail, even if you +could find a better looking one to work on him than the girl he's +engaged to--which would be a hard job. Cleopatra herself couldn't swing +that order." + +"Engaged? That makes it simple as A B C." + +"Simple? In the devil's name, how?" + +"Easy as falling off a log. You have enough of the dope to build a +space-car from those plans, haven't you?" + +"Yes. What has that to do with the case?" + +"It has everything to do with it. I would suggest that we build such a +car and use it to carry off the girl. After we have her safe we could +tell Seaton that she is marooned on some distant planet, and that she +will be returned to earth only after all the solution, all notes, plans, +and everything pertaining to the new metal are surrendered. That will +bring him, and Crane will consent. Then, afterward, Dr. Seaton may go +away indefinitely, and if desirable, Mr. Crane may accompany him." + +"But suppose they try to fight?" asked Brookings. + +Perkins slid down into his chair in deep thought, his pale eyes under +half-closed lids darting here and there, his stubby fingers worrying his +watch-chain restlessly. + +"Who is the girl?" he asked at last. + +"Dorothy Vaneman, the daughter of the lawyer. She's that auburn-haired +beauty that the papers were so full of when she came out last year." + +"Vaneman is a director in the Seaton-Crane Company. That makes it still +better. If they show fight and follow us, that beautiful car we are +making for them will collapse and they will be out of the way. Vaneman, +as Seaton's prospective father-in-law and a member of his company, +probably knows something about the secret. Maybe all of it. With his +daughter in a space-car, supposedly out in space, and Seaton and Crane +out of the way, Vaneman would listen to reason and let go of the +solution, particularly as nobody knows much about it except Seaton and +Crane." + +"That strikes me as a perfectly feasible plan," said Brookings. "But you +wouldn't really take her to another planet, would you? Why not use an +automobile or an airplane, and tell Seaton that it was a space-car?" + +"I wouldn't advise that. He might not believe it, and they might make a +lot of trouble. It must be a real space-car even if we don't take her +out of the city. To make it more impressive, you should take her in +plain sight of Seaton--no, that would be too dangerous, as I have found +out from the police that Seaton has a permit to carry arms, and I know +that he is one of the fastest men with a pistol in the whole country. Do +it in plain sight of her folks, say, or a crowd of people; being masked, +of course, or dressed in an aviator's suit, with the hood and goggles +on. Take her straight up out of sight, then hide her somewhere until +Seaton listens to reason. I know that he _will_ listen, but if he +doesn't, you might let him see you start out to visit her. He'll be sure +to follow you in their rotten car. As soon as he does that, he's our +meat. But that raises the question of who is going to drive the car?" + +"I am," replied DuQuesne. "I will need some help, though, as at least +one man must stay with the girl while I bring the car back." + +"We don't want to let anybody else in on this if we can help it," +cautioned Brookings. "You could go along, couldn't you, Perkins?" + +"Is it safe?" + +"Absolutely," answered DuQuesne. "They have everything worked out to the +queen's taste." + +"That's all right, then. I'll take the trip. Also," turning to +Brookings, "it will help in another little thing we are doing--the +Spencer affair." + +"Haven't you got that stuff away from her yet, after having had her +locked up in that hell-hole for two months?" asked Brookings. + +"No. She's stubborn as a mule. We've given her the third degree time +after time, but it's no use." + + * * * * * + +"What's this?" asked DuQuesne. "Deviltry in the main office?" + +"Yes. This Margaret Spencer claims that we swindled her father out of an +invention and indirectly caused his death. She secured a position with +us in search of evidence. She is an expert stenographer, and showed such +ability that she was promoted until she became my secretary. Our +detectives must have been asleep, as she made away with some photographs +and drawings before they caught her. She has no real evidence, of +course, but she might cause trouble with a jury, especially as she is +one of the best-looking women in Washington. Perkins is holding her +until she returns the stolen articles." + +"Why can't you kill her off?" + +"She cannot be disposed of until after we know where the stuff is, +because she says, and Perkins believes, that the evidence will show up +in her effects. We must do something about her soon, as the search for +her is dying down and she will be given up for dead." + +"What's the idea about her and the space-car?" + +"If the car proves reliable we might actually take her out into space +and give her the choice between telling and walking back. She has nerve +enough here on earth to die before giving up, but I don't believe any +human being would be game to go it alone on a strange world. She'd +wilt." + +"I believe you're right, Perkins. Your suggestions are the best way out. +Don't you think so, Doctor?" + +"Yes, I don't see how we can fail--we're sure to win, either way. You +are prepared for trouble afterward, of course?" + +"Certainly, but I don't think there will be much trouble. They can't +possibly link the three of us together. They aren't wise to you, are +they, Doctor?" + +"Not a chance!" sneered DuQuesne. "They ran themselves ragged trying to +get something on me, but they couldn't do it. They have given me up as a +bad job. I am still as careful as ever, though--I am merely a pure +scientist in the Bureau of Chemistry!" + +All three laughed, and Perkins left the room. The talk then turned to +the construction of the space-car. It was decided to rush the work on +it, so that DuQuesne could familiarize himself with its operation, but +not to take any steps in the actual abduction until such time as Seaton +and Crane were nearly ready to take their first flight, so that they +could pursue the abductors in case Seaton was still obdurate after a few +days of his fiancée's absence. DuQuesne insisted that the car should +mount a couple of heavy guns, to destroy the pursuing car if the faulty +members should happen to hold together long enough to carry it out into +space. + +After a long discussion, in which every detail of the plan was carefully +considered, the two men left the restaurant, by different exits. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +The Trial Voyage + + +The great steel forgings which were to form the framework of the Skylark +finally arrived and were hauled into the testing shed. There, behind +closed doors, Crane inspected every square inch of the massive members +with a lens, but could find nothing wrong. Still unsatisfied, he fitted +up an electrical testing apparatus in order to search out flaws which +might be hidden beneath the surface. This device revealed flaws in every +piece, and after thoroughly testing each one and mapping out the +imperfections he turned to Seaton with a grave face. + +"Worse than useless, every one of them. They are barely strong enough to +stand shipment. They figured that we would go slowly until we were well +out of the atmosphere, then put on power--then something would give way +and we would never come back." + +"That's about the right dope, I guess. But now what'll we do? We can't +cancel without letting them know we're onto them, and we certainly can't +use this stuff." + +"No, but we will go ahead and build this ship, anyway, so that they will +think that we are going ahead with it. At the same time we will build +another one, about four times this size, in absolute secrecy, and...." + +"What d'you mean, absolute secrecy? How can you keep steel castings and +forgings of that size secret from Steel?" + +"I know a chap who owns and operates a small steel plant, so +insignificant, relatively, that he has not yet been bought out or frozen +out by Steel. I was able to do him a small favor once, and I am sure +that he will be glad to return it. We will not be able to oversee the +work, that is a drawback. We can get MacDougall to do it for us, +however, and with him doing the work we can rest assured that there will +be nothing off color. Even Steel couldn't buy _him_." + +"MacDougall! The man who installed the Intercontinental plant? He +wouldn't touch a little job like this with a pole!" + +"I think he would. He and I are rather friendly, and after I tell him +all about it he will be glad to take it. It means building the first +interplanetary vessel, you know." + +"Wouldn't Steel follow him up if he should go to work on a mysterious +project? He's too big to hide." + +"No. He will go camping--he often does. I have gone with him several +times when we were completely out of touch with civilization for two +months at a time. Now, about the ship we want. Have you any ideas?" + +"It will cost more than our entire capital." + +"That is easily arranged. We do not care how much it costs." + +Seaton began to object to drawing so heavily upon the resources of his +friend, but was promptly silenced. + +"I told you when we started," Crane said flatly, "that your solution and +your idea are worth far more than half a million. In fact, they are +worth more than everything I have. No more talk of the money end of it, +Dick." + +"All right. We'll build a regular go-getter. Four times the size--she'll +be a bear-cat, Mart. I'm glad this one is on the fritz. She'll carry a +two-hundred-pound bar--Zowie! Watch our smoke! And say, why wouldn't it +be a good idea to build an attractor--a thing like an object-compass, +but mounting a ten-pound bar instead of a needle, so that if they chase +us in space we can reach out and grab 'em? We might mount a machine-gun +in each quadrant, shooting X-plosive bullets, through pressure gaskets +in the walls. We should have something for defense--I don't like the +possibility of having that gang of pirates after us, and nothing to +fight back with except thought-waves." + +"Right. We will do both those things. But we should make the power-plant +big enough to avert any possible contingency--say four hundred +pounds--and we should have everything in duplicate, from power-plant to +push-buttons." + +"I don't think that's necessary, Mart. Don't you think that's carrying +caution to extremes?" + +"Possibly--but I would rather be a live coward than a dead hero, +wouldn't you?" + +"You chirped it, old scout, I sure would. I never did like the looks of +that old guy with the scythe, and I would hate to let DuQuesne feel that +he had slipped something over on me at my own game. Besides, I've +developed a lot of caution myself, lately. Double she is, with a skin of +four-foot Norwegian armor. Let's get busy!" + + * * * * * + +They made the necessary alteration in the plans, and in a few days work +was begun upon the huge steel shell in the little mountain steel-plant. +The work was done under the constant supervision of the great +MacDougall, by men who had been in his employ for years and who were +all above suspicion. While it was being built Seaton and Crane employed +a force of men and went ahead with the construction of the space-car in +the testing shed. While they did not openly slight the work nearly all +their time was spent in the house, perfecting the many essential things +which were to go into the real Skylark. There was the attractor, for +which they had to perfect a special sighting apparatus so that it could +act in any direction, and yet would not focus upon the ship itself nor +anything it contained. There were many other things. + +It was in this work that the strikingly different temperaments and +abilities of the two men were most clearly revealed. Seaton strode up +and down the room, puffing great volumes of smoke from his hot and +reeking briar, suggesting methods and ideas, his keen mind finding the +way over, around, or through the apparently insuperable obstacles which +beset their path. Crane, seated calmly at the drafting-table, +occasionally inhaling a mouthful of smoke from one of his specially-made +cigarettes, mercilessly tore Seaton's suggestions to shreds--pointing +out their weaknesses, proving his points with his cold, incisive +reasoning and his slide-rule calculations of factors, stresses, and +strains. Seaton in turn would find a remedy for every defect, and +finally, the idea complete and perfect, Crane would impale it upon the +point of his drafting pencil and spread it in every detail upon the +paper before him, while Seaton's active mind leaped to the next problem. + +Not being vitally interested in the thing being built in the shed, they +did not know that to the flawed members were being attached faulty +plates, by imperfect welding. Even if they had been interested they +could not have found the poor workmanship by any ordinary inspection, +for it was being done by a picked crew of experts picked by Perkins. But +to make things even, Perkins' crew did not know that the peculiar +instruments installed by Seaton and Crane, of which their foreman took +many photographs, were not real instruments, and were made only nearly +enough like them to pass inspection. They were utterly useless, in +design and function far different from the real instruments intended for +the Skylark. + +Finally, the last dummy instrument was installed in the worthless +space-car, which the friends referred to between themselves as "The +Cripple," a name which Seaton soon changed to "Old Crip." The +construction crew was dismissed after Crane had let the foreman overhear +a talk between Seaton and himself in which they decided not to start for +a few days as they had some final experiments to make. Prescott reported +that Steel had relaxed its vigilance and was apparently waiting for the +first flight. About the same time word was received from MacDougall that +the real Skylark was ready for the finishing touches. A huge triplane +descended upon Crane Field and was loaded to its capacity with strange +looking equipment. When it left Seaton and Crane went with it, "to make +the final tests before the first flight," leaving a heavy guard over the +house and the testing shed. + +A few nights later, in inky blackness, a huge shape descended rapidly in +front of the shed, whose ponderous doors opened to receive it and closed +quickly after it. The Skylark moved lightly and easily as a wafted +feather, betraying its thousands of tons of weight only by the hole it +made in the hard-beaten earth of the floor as it settled to rest. +Opening one of the heavy doors, Seaton and Crane sprang out into the +darkness. + +Dorothy and her father, who had been informed that the Skylark was to be +brought home that night, were waiting. Seaton caught up his sweetheart +in one mighty arm and extended his hand past her to Vaneman, who seized +it in both his own. Upon the young man's face was the look of a +victorious king returning from conquest. For a few minutes disconnected +exclamations were all that any of the party could utter. Then Seaton, +loosening slightly his bear's hold upon Dorothy, spoke. + +"She flies!" he cried exultantly. "She flies, dearest, like a ray of +light for speed and like a bit of thistledown for lightness. We've been +around the moon!" + +"Around the moon!" cried the two amazed visitors. "So soon?" asked +Vaneman. "When did you start?" + +"Almost an hour ago," replied Crane readily; he had already taken out +his watch. His voice was calm, his face quiet, but to those who knew him +best a deeper resonance in his voice and a deeper blue sparkle in his +eyes betrayed his emotion. Both inventors were moved more than they +could have told by their achievement, by the complete success of the +great space-cruiser upon which they had labored for months with all the +power of their marvelous intellects. Seaton stood now at the summit of +his pride. No recognition by the masses, no applause by the multitudes, +no praise even from the upper ten of his own profession could equal for +him the silent adulation of the two before him. Dorothy's exquisite face +was glorified as she looked at her lover. Her eyes wonderful as they +told him how high he stood above all others in her world, how much she +loved him. Seeing that look; that sweet face, more beautiful than ever +in this, his hour of triumph; that perfect, adorable body, Seaton forgot +the others and a more profound exaltation than that brought by his +flight filled his being--humble thankfulness that he was the man to +receive the untold treasure of her great giving. + +"Every bit of mechanism we had occasion to use worked perfectly," Crane +stated proudly. "We did not find it necessary to change any of our +apparatus and we hope to make a longer flight soon. The hour we took on +this trip might easily have been only a few minutes, for the Lark did +not even begin to pick up speed." + + * * * * * + +Shiro looked at Crane with an air of utter devotion and bowed until his +head approached the floor. + +"Sir," he said in his stilted English. "Honorable Skylark shall be +marvelous wonder. If permitting, I shall luxuriate in preparing suitable +refreshment." + +The permission granted, he trotted away into the house, and the +travelers invited their visitors to inspect the new craft. Crane and the +older man climbed through the circular doorway, which was at an +elevation of several feet above the ground. Seaton and Dorothy +exchanged a brief but enthusiastic caress before he lifted her lightly +up to the opening and followed her up a short flight of stairs. Although +she knew what to expect, from her lover's descriptions and from her own +knowledge of "Old Crip," which she had seen many times, she caught her +breath in amazement as she stood up and looked about the +brilliantly-lighted interior of the great sky-rover. It was a sight such +as had never before been seen upon earth. + +[Illustration: In the exact center of the huge shell was a spherical +network of enormous steel beams. Inside this structure could be seen a +similar network which, mounted upon universal bearings, was free to +revolve in any direction.] + +She saw a spherical shell of hardened steel armor-plate, fully forty +feet in diameter; though its true shape was not readily apparent from +the inside, as it was divided into several compartments by horizontal +floors or decks. In the exact center of the huge shell was a spherical +network of enormous steel beams. Inside this structure could be seen a +similar network which, mounted upon universal bearings, was free to +revolve in any direction. This inner network was filled with machinery, +surrounding a shining copper cylinder. From the outer network radiated +six mighty supporting columns. These, branching as they neared the hull +of the vessel, supported the power-plant and steering apparatus in the +center and so strengthened the shell that the whole structure was nearly +as strong as a solid steel ball. She noticed that the floor, perhaps +eight feet below the center, was heavily upholstered in leather and did +not seem solid; and that the same was true of the dozen or more +seats--she could not call them chairs--which were built in various +places. She gazed with interest at the two instrument boards, upon which +flashed tiny lights and the highly-polished plate glass, condensite, and +metal of many instruments, the use of which she could not guess. + +After a few minutes of silence both visitors began to ask questions, and +Seaton showed them the principal features of the novel craft. Crane +accompanied them in silence, enjoying their pleasure, glorying in the +mighty vessel. Seaton called attention to the great size and strength of +the lateral supporting columns, one of which was immediately above their +heads, and then led them over to the vertical column which pierced the +middle of the floor. Enormous as the lateral had seemed, it appeared +puny in comparison with this monster of fabricated steel. Seaton +explained that the two verticals were many times stronger than the four +laterals, as the center of gravity of the ship had been made lower than +its geometrical center, so that the apparent motion of the vessel and +therefore the power of the bar, would usually be merely vertical. +Resting one hand caressingly upon the huge column, he exultantly +explained that these members were "the last word in strength, made up of +many separate I-beams and angles of the strongest known special steel, +latticed and braced until no conceivable force could make them yield a +millimeter." + +"But why such strength?" asked the lawyer doubtfully. "This column alone +would hold up Brooklyn Bridge." + +"To hold down the power-plant, so that the bar won't tear through the +ship when we cut her loose," replied Seaton. "Have you any idea how fast +this bird can fly?" + +"Well, I have heard you speak of traveling with the velocity of light, +but that is overdrawn, isn't it?" + +"Not very much. Our figures show that with this four-hundred-pound +bar"--pointing to the copper cylinder in the exact center of the inner +sphere--"we could develop not only the velocity of light, but an +acceleration equal to that velocity, were it not for the increase in +mass at high velocities, as shown by Einstein and others. We can't go +very fast near the earth, of course, as the friction of the air would +melt the whole works in a few minutes. Until we get out of the +atmosphere our speed will be limited by the ability of steel to +withstand melting by the friction of the air to somewhere in the +neighborhood of four or five thousand miles per hour, but out in space +we can develop any speed we wish, up to that of light as a limit." + +"I studied physics a little in my youth. Wouldn't the mere force of such +an acceleration as you mention flatten you on the floor and hold you +there? And any sudden jar would certainly kill you." + + * * * * * + +"There can't be any sudden jar. This is a special floor, you notice. It +is mounted on long, extremely heavy springs, to take up any possible +jar. Also, whenever we are putting on power we won't try to stand up, +our legs would crimple up like strings. We will ride securely strapped +into those special seats, which are mounted the same as the floor, only +a whole lot more so. As to the acceleration...." + +"That word means picking up speed, doesn't it?" interrupted Dorothy. + +"The rate of picking up speed," corrected Seaton. "That is, if you were +going forty miles per hour one minute, and fifty the next minute, your +acceleration would be ten miles per hour per minute. See? It's +acceleration that makes you feel funny when you start up or down in an +elevator." + +"Then riding in this thing will be like starting up in an elevator so +that your heart sinks into your boots and you can't breathe?" + +"Yes, only worse. We will pick up speed faster and keep on doing it...." + +"Seriously," interrupted the lawyer, "do you think that the human body +can stand any such acceleration as that?" + +"I don't know. We are going to find out, by starting out slowly and +increasing our acceleration to as much as we can stand." + +"I see," Vaneman replied. "But how are you going to steer her? How do +you keep permanent reference points, since there are no directions in +space?" + +"That was our hardest problem," explained Seaton, "but Martin solved it +perfectly. See the power-plant up there? Notice those big supporting +rings and bearings? Well, the power-plant is entirely separate from the +ship, as it is inside that inner sphere, about which the outer sphere +and the ship itself are free to revolve in any direction. No matter how +much the ship rolls and pitches, as she is bound to do every time we +come near enough to any star or planet to be influenced by its +gravitation, the bar stays where it is pointed. Those six big jackets in +the outer sphere, on the six sides of the bar, cover six pairs of +gyroscope wheels, weighing several tons each, turning at a terrific +speed in a vacuum. The gyroscopes keep the whole outer sphere in exactly +the same position as long as they are kept turning, and afford us not +only permanent planes of reference, but also a solid foundation in those +planes which can be used in pointing the bar. The bar can be turned +instantly to any direction whatever by special electrical instruments on +the boards. You see, the outer sphere stays immovably fixed in that +position, with the bar at liberty to turn in any direction inside it, +and the ship at liberty to do the same thing outside it. + +"Now we will show you where we sleep," Seaton continued. "We have eight +rooms, four below and four above," leading the way to a narrow, steep +steel stairway and down into a very narrow hall, from either side of +which two doors opened. "This is my room, the adjoining one is Mart's. +Shiro sleeps across the hall. The rest of the rooms are for our guests +on future trips." + +Sliding back the door, he switched on the light and revealed a small but +fully-appointed bedroom, completely furnished with everything necessary, +yet everything condensed into the least possible space. The floor, like +the one above, was of cushioned leather supported by springs. The bed +was a modification of the special seats already referred to. Opening +another sliding door, he showed them an equally complete and equally +compact bathroom. + +"You see, we have all the comforts of home. This bathroom, however, is +practical only when we have some force downward, either gravitation or +our own acceleration. The same reasoning accounts for the hand-rails you +see everywhere on board. Drifting in space, you know, there is no +weight, and you can't walk; you must pull yourself around. If you tried +to take a step you would bounce up and hit the ceiling, and stay there. +That is why the ceilings are so well padded. And if you tried to wash +your face you would throw water all over the place, and it would float +around in the air instead of falling to the floor. As long as we can +walk we can use the bathroom--if I should want to wash my face while we +are drifting, I just press this button here, and the pilot will put on +enough acceleration to make the correct use of water possible. There are +a lot of surprising things about a trip into space." + +"I don't doubt it a bit, and I'm simply wild to go for a ride with you. +When will you take me, Dicky?" asked Dorothy eagerly. + +"Very soon, Dottie. As soon as we get her in perfect running condition. +You shall be the first to ride with us, I promise you." + +"Where do you cook and eat? How do you see out? How about the air and +water supply? How do you keep warm, or cool, as the case may be?" asked +the girl's father, as though he were cross-examining a witness. + +"Shiro has a galley on the main floor, and tables fold up into the wall +of the main compartment. The passengers see out by sliding back steel +panels, which normally cover the windows. The pilot can see in any +direction from his seat at the instrument-board, by means of special +instruments, something like periscopes. The windows are made of optical +glass similar to that used in the largest telescopes. They are nearly as +thick as the hull and have a compressive resistance almost equal to that +of armor steel. Although so thick, they are crystal clear, and a speck +of dust on the outer surface is easily seen. We have water enough in +tanks to last us three months, or indefinitely if we should have to be +careful, as we can automatically distill and purify all our waste water, +recovering absolutely pure H2O. We have compressed air, also in tanks, +but we need very little, as the air is constantly being purified. Also, +we have oxygen-generating apparatus aboard, in case we should run short. +As to keeping warm, we have electric heating coils, run by the +practically inexhaustible power of a small metal bar. If we get too near +the sun and get too warm, we have a refrigerating machine to cool us +off. Anything else?" + +"You'd better give up, Dad," laughingly advised his daughter. "You've +thought of everything, haven't you, Dick?" + +"Mart has, I think. This is all his doing, you know. I wouldn't have +thought of a tenth of it, myself." + +"I must remind you young folks," said the older man, glancing at his +watch, "that it is very late and high time for Dottie and me to be going +home. We would like to stay and see the rest of it, but you know we must +be away from here before daylight." + + * * * * * + +As they went into the house Vaneman asked: + +"What does the other side of the moon look like? I have always been +curious about it." + +"We were not able to see much," replied Crane "It was too dark and we +did not take the time to explore it, but from what we could see by means +of our searchlights it is very much like this side--the most barren and +desolate place imaginable. After we go to Mars, we intend to explore the +moon thoroughly." + +"Mars, then, is your first goal? When do you intend to start?" + +"We haven't decided definitely. Probably in a day or two. Everything is +ready now." + +As the Vanemans had come out in the street car, in order to attract as +little attention as possible, Seaton volunteered to take them home in +one of Crane's cars. As they bade Crane goodnight after enjoying Shiro's +"suitable refreshment" the lawyer took the chauffeur's seat, motioning +his daughter and Seaton into the closed body of the car. As soon as they +had started Dorothy turned in the embrace of her lover's arm. + +"Dick," she said fiercely. "I would have been worried sick if I had +known that you were way off there." + +"I knew it, sweetheart. That's why I didn't tell you we were going. We +both knew the Skylark was perfectly safe, but I knew that you would +worry about our first trip. Now that we have been to the moon you won't +be uneasy when we go to Mars, will you, dear?" + +"I can't help it, boy. I will be afraid that something terrible has +happened, every minute. Won't you take me with you? Then, if anything +happens, it will happen to both of us, and that is as it should be. You +know that I wouldn't want to keep on living if anything _should_ happen +to you." + +He put both arms around her as his reply, and pressed his cheek to hers. + +"Dorothy sweetheart, I know exactly how you feel. I feel the same way +myself. I'm awfully sorry, dear, but I can't do it. I know the machine +is safe, but I've got to prove it to everybody else before I take you on +a long trip with me. Your father will agree with me that you ought not +to go, on the first trip or two, anyway. And besides, what would Madam +Grundy say?" + +"Well, there _is_ a way...." she began, and he felt her face turn hot. + +His arms tightened around her and his breath came fast. + +"I know it, sweetheart, and I would like nothing better in the world +than to be married today and take our honeymoon in the Skylark, but I +can't do it. After we come back from the first long trip we will be +married just as soon as you say ready, and after that we will always be +together wherever I go. But I can't take even the millionth part of a +chance with anything as valuable as you are--you see that, don't you, +Dottie?" + +"I suppose so," she returned disconsolately, "but you'll make it a short +trip, for my sake? I know I won't rest a minute until you get back." + +"I promise you that we won't be gone more than four days. Then for the +greatest honeymoon that ever was," and they clung together in the dark +body of the car, each busy with solemn and beautiful thoughts of the +happiness to come. + +They soon reached their destination. As they entered the house Dorothy +made one more attempt. + +"Dad, Dick is just too perfectly mean. He says he won't take me on the +first trip. If you were going out there wouldn't mother want to go along +too?" + +After listening to Seaton he gave his decision. + +"Dick is right, Kitten. He must make the long trip first. Then, after +the machine is proved reliable, you may go with him. I can think of no +better way of spending a honeymoon--it will be a new one, at least. And +you needn't worry about the boys getting back safely. I might not trust +either of them alone, but together they are invincible. Good-night, +children. I wish you success, Dick," as he turned away. + +Seaton took a lover's leave of Dorothy, and went into the lawyer's +study, taking an envelope from his pocket. + +"Mr. Vaneman," he said in a low voice, "we think the Steel crowd is +still camping on our trail. We are ready for them, with a lot of stuff +that they never heard of, but in case anything goes wrong, Martin has +written between the lines of this legal form, in invisible ink A-36, +exactly how to get possession of all our notes and plans, so that the +company can go ahead with everything. With those directions any chemist +can find and use the stuff safely. Please put this envelope in the +safest place you can think of, and then forget it unless they get both +Crane and me. There's about one chance in a million of their doing that, +but Mart doesn't gamble on even that chance." + +"He is right, Dick. I believe that you can outwit them in any situation, +but I will keep this paper where no one except myself can ever see it, +nevertheless. Good-night, son, and good luck." + +"The same to you, sir, and thank you. Good-night." + + + + + +--------------------------------------+ + | | + | _The author of this story, being a | + | chemist of high standing and an | + | excellent mathematician, gives us a | + | rare gem in this interplanetary | + | tale. For one thing, he suggests an | + | interesting use of the action of | + | acceleration. In this instalment it | + | is made to take the place of gravity | + | when the interplanetary vehicle is | + | out in open space. In order to get | + | the gravity effect, a positive or | + | negative acceleration could be given | + | out. | + | | + | This instalment retains its easy | + | flow of language and continues to | + | develop surprise episodes with a | + | remarkable degree of realism._ | + | | + +--------------------------------------+ + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Indirect Action + + +The afternoon following the homecoming of the Skylark, Seaton and +Dorothy returned from a long horseback ride in the park. After Seaton +had mounted his motorcycle Dorothy turned toward a bench in the shade of +an old elm to watch a game of tennis on the court next door. Scarcely +had she seated herself when a great copper-plated ball alighted upon the +lawn in front of her. A heavy steel door snapped open and a powerful +figure clad in aviator's leather, the face completely covered by the +hood, leaped out. She jumped to her feet with a cry of joyful surprise, +thinking it was Seaton--a cry which died suddenly as she realized that +Seaton had just left her and that this vessel was far too small to be +the Skylark. She turned in flight, but the stranger caught her in three +strides. She found herself helpless in a pair of arms equal in strength +to Seaton's own. Picking her up lightly as a baby, DuQuesne carried her +over to the space-car. Shriek after shriek rang out as she found that +her utmost struggles were of no avail against the giant strength of her +captor, that her fiercely-driven nails glanced harmlessly off the heavy +glass and leather of his hood, and that her teeth were equally +ineffective against his suit. + +With the girl in his arms DuQuesne stepped into the vessel, and as the +door clanged shut behind them Dorothy caught a glimpse of another woman, +tied hand and foot in one of the side seats of the car. + +"Tie her feet, Perkins," DuQuesne ordered brusquely, holding her around +the body so that her feet extended straight out in front of him. "She's +a wildcat." + +As Perkins threw one end of a small rope around her ankles Dorothy +doubled up her knees, drawing her feet as far away from him as possible. +As he incautiously approached, she kicked out viciously, with all the +force of her muscular young body behind her heavy riding-boots. + +The sharp heel of one small boot struck Perkins squarely in the pit of +the stomach--a true "solar-plexus" blow--and completely knocked out, he +staggered back against the instrument-board. His out-flung arm pushed +the speed lever clear out to its last notch, throwing the entire current +of the batteries through the bar, which was pointed straight up, as it +had been when they made their landing, and closing the switch which +threw on the power of the repelling outer coating. There was a creak of +the mighty steel fabric, stressed almost to its limit as the vessel +darted upward with its stupendous velocity, and only the +carefully-planned spring-and-cushion floor saved their lives as they +were thrown flat and held there by the awful force of their acceleration +as the space-car tore through the thin layer of the earth's atmosphere. +So terrific was their speed, that the friction of the air did not have +time to set them afire--they were through it and into the perfect vacuum +of interstellar space before the thick steel hull was even warmed +through. Dorothy lay flat upon her back, just as she had fallen, unable +even to move her arms, gaining each breath only by a terrible effort. +Perkins was a huddled heap under the instrument-board. The other +captive, Brookings' ex-secretary, was in somewhat better case, as her +bonds had snapped like string and she was lying at full length in one of +the side-seats--forced into that position and held there, as the design +of the seats was adapted for the most comfortable position possible +under such conditions. She, like Dorothy, was gasping for breath, her +straining muscles barely able to force air into her lungs because of the +paralyzing weight of her chest. + +DuQuesne alone was able to move, and it required all of his Herculean +strength to creep and crawl, snake-like, toward the instrument-board. +Finally attaining his goal, he summoned all his strength to grasp, not +the controlling lever, which he knew was beyond his reach, but a cut-out +switch only a couple of feet above his head. With a series of convulsive +movements he fought his way up, first until he was crouching on his +elbows and knees, and then into a squatting position. Placing his left +hand under his right, he made a last supreme effort. Perspiration +streamed from him, his mighty muscles stood out in ridges visible even +under the heavy leather of his coat, his lips parted in a snarl over his +locked teeth as he threw every ounce of his wonderful body into an +effort to force his right hand up to the switch. His hand approached it +slowly--closed over it and pulled it out. + +The result was startling. With the mighty power instantly cut off, and +with not even the ordinary force of gravitation to counteract the force +DuQuesne was exerting, his own muscular effort hurled him up toward the +center of the car and against the instrument-board. The switch, still in +his grasp, was again closed. His shoulder crashed against the levers +which controlled the direction of the bar, swinging it through a wide +arc. As the ship darted off in the new direction with all its old +acceleration, he was hurled against the instrument board, tearing one +end loose from its supports and falling unconscious to the floor on the +other side. After a time, which seemed like an eternity, Dorothy and the +other girl felt their senses slowly leave them. + +With four unconscious passengers, the space-car hurtled through empty +space, its already inconceivable velocity being augmented every second +by a quantity bringing its velocity near to that of light, driven onward +by the incredible power of the disintegrating copper bar. + + * * * * * + +Seaton had gone only a short distance from his sweetheart's home when +over the purring of his engine he thought he heard Dorothy's voice +raised in a scream. He did not wait to make sure, but whirled his +machine about and the purring changed instantly to a staccato roar as he +threw open the throttle and advanced the spark. Gravel flew from beneath +his skidding wheels as he negotiated the turn into the Vaneman grounds +at suicidal speed. But with all his haste he arrived upon the scene just +in time to see the door of the space-car close. Before he could reach it +the vessel disappeared, with nothing to mark its departure save a +violent whirl of grass and sod, uprooted and carried far into the air by +the vacuum of its wake. To the excited tennis-players and the screaming +mother of the abducted girl it seemed as though the great metal ball had +vanished utterly--only Seaton, knowing what to expect, saw the line it +made in the air and saw for an instant a minute dot in the sky before it +disappeared. + +Interrupting the clamor of the young people, each of whom was trying to +tell him what had happened, he spoke to Mrs. Vaneman. + +"Mother, Dottie's all right," he said rapidly but gently. "Steel's got +her, but they won't keep her long. Don't worry, we'll get her. It may +take a week or it may take a year, but we'll bring her back," and +leaping upon his motorcycle, he shattered all the speed laws on his way +to Crane's house. + +"Mart!" he yelled, rushing into the shop, "they've got Dottie, in a bus +made from our plans. Let's go!" as he started on a run for the testing +shed. + +"Wait a minute!" crisply shouted Crane. "Don't go off half-cocked. What +is your plan?" + +"Plan, hell!" barked the enraged chemist. "Chase 'em!" + +"Which way did they go, and when?" + +"Straight up, full power, twenty minutes ago." + +"Too long ago. Straight up has changed its direction several degrees +since then. They may have covered a million miles, or they may have come +back and landed next door. Sit down and think--we need all your brains +now." + +Regaining his self-possession as the wisdom of his friend's advice came +home to him, Seaton sat down and pulled out his pipe. There was a tense +silence for an instant. Then he leaped to his feet and darted into his +room, returning with an object-compass whose needle pointed upward. + +"DuQuesne did it," he cried exultantly. "This baby is still looking +right at him. Now let's go--make it snappy!" + +"Not yet. We should find out how far away they are; that may give us an +idea." + +Suiting action to word, he took up his stopwatch and set the needle +swinging. They watched it with strained faces as second after second +went by and it still continued to swing. When it had come to rest Crane +read his watch and made a rapid calculation. + +"About three hundred and fifty million miles," he stated. "Clear out of +our solar system already, and from the distance covered he must have had +a constant acceleration so as to approximate the velocity of light, and +he is still going with full...." + +"But nothing can possibly go that fast, Mart, it's impossible. How about +Einstein's theory?" + +"That is a theory, this measurement of distance is a fact, as you know +from our tests." + +"That's right. Another good theory gone to pot. But how do you account +for his distance? D'you suppose he's lost control?" + +"He must have. I do not believe that he would willingly stand that +acceleration, nor that he would have gone that far of his own accord. Do +you?" + +"I sure don't. We don't know how big a bar they are carrying, so we +can't estimate how long it is going to take us to catch them. But let's +not waste any more time, Mart. For Cat's sake, let's get busy!" + +"We have only those four bars, Dick--two for each unit. Do you think +that will be enough? Think of how far we may have to go, what we may +possibly get into, and what it will mean to Dottie if we fail for lack +of power." + +Seaton, though furiously eager to be off, paused at this new idea, and +half-regretfully he replied: + +"We are so far behind them already that I guess a few hours more won't +make much difference. It sure would be disastrous to get out near one of +the fixed stars and have our power quit. I guess you're right, we'd +better get a couple more--make it four, then we'll have enough to chase +them half our lives. We'd better load up on grub and X-plosive +ammunition, too." + + * * * * * + +While Crane and Shiro carried additional provisions and boxes of +cartridges into the "Skylark," Seaton once more mounted his motorcycle +and sped across the city to the brass foundry. The manager of the plant +took his order, but blandly informed him that there was not that much +copper in the city, that it would be a week or ten days before the order +could be filled. Seaton suggested that they melt up some copper cable +and other goods already manufactured, offering ten times their value, +but the manager was obdurate, saying that he could not violate the rule +of priority of orders. Seaton then went to other places, endeavoring to +buy scrap copper, trolley wire, electric cable, anything made of the +ruddy metal, but found none for sale in quantities large enough to be of +any use. After several hours of fruitless search, he returned home in a +towering rage and explained to Crane, in lurid language, his failure to +secure the copper. The latter was unmoved. + +"After you left, it occurred to me that you might not get any. You see, +Steel is still watching us." + +Fire shot from Seaton's eyes. + +"I'm going to clean up that bunch," he gritted through his teeth as he +started straight for the door. + +"Not yet, Dick," Crane remonstrated. "We can go down to Wilson's in a +few minutes, and I know we can get it there if he has it. The "Skylark" +is all ready to travel." + +No more words were needed. They hurried into the space-car and soon were +standing in the office of the plant in which the vessel had been built. +When they had made their wants known, the iron-master shook his head. + +"I'm sorry, Crane, but I have only a few pounds of copper in the shop, +and we have no suitable furnace." + +Seaton broke out violently at this, but Crane interrupted him, +explaining their inability to get the metal anywhere else and the +urgency of their need. When he had finished, Wilson brought his fist +down upon his desk. + +"I'll get it if I have to melt up our dynamos," he roared. "We'll have +to rig a crucible, but we'll have your bars out just as soon as the +whole force of this damned scrap-heap can make 'em!" + +Calling in his foreman, he bellowed orders, and while automobiles +scoured the nearby towns for scrap copper, the crucible and molds were +made ready. + +Nearly two days passed before the gleaming copper cylinders were +finished. During this time Crane added to their already complete +equipment every article he could conceive of their having any use for, +while Seaton raged up and down the plant in a black fury of impatience. +Just before the bars were ready, they made another reading on the +object-compass. Their faces grew tense and drawn and their hearts turned +sick as second followed second and minute followed minute and the needle +still oscillated. Finally, however, it came to rest, and Seaton's voice +almost failed him as he read his figures. + +"Two hundred and thirty-five light-years, Mart. They're lost, and still +going. Good-bye, old scout," holding out his hand, "Tell Vaneman that +I'll bring her back or else stay out there myself." + +"You must be crazy, Dick. You know I am going." + +"Why? No use in both of us taking such a chance. If Dottie's gone, of +course I want to go too, but you don't." + +"Nonsense, Dick. Of course this is somewhat farther than we had planned +on going for our maiden voyage, but where is the difference? It is just +as safe to go a thousand light-years as only one, and we have power and +food for any contingency. There is no more danger in this trip than +there is in one to Mars. At all events, I am going whether you want me +to or not, so save your breath." + +"You lie like a thief, Mart--you know what we are up against as well as +I do. But if you insist on coming along, I'm sure glad to have you." + +As their hands met in a crushing grip, the bars were brought up and +loaded into the carriers. Waving good-bye to Wilson, they closed the +massive door and took their positions. Seaton adjusted the bar parallel +with the needle of the object-compass, turned on the coil, and advanced +the speed-lever until Crane, reading the pyro-meters, warned him to slow +down, as the shell was heating. Free of the earth's atmosphere, he +slowly advanced the lever, one notch at a time, until he could no +longer support the increasing weight of his hand, but had to draw out +the rolling support designed for that emergency. He pushed the lever a +few notches farther, and felt himself forced down violently into the +seat. He was now lying at full length, the seat having automatically +moved upward so that his hand still controlled the lever. Still he kept +putting on more power, until the indicator showed that more than +three-quarters of the power was in operation and he felt that he could +stand but little more. + +"How are you making it, Mart?" he asked, talking with difficulty because +of the great weight of his tongue and jaws. + +"All right so far," came the response, in a hesitating, almost +stammering voice, "but I do not know how much more I can take. If you +can stand it, go ahead." + +"This is enough for awhile, until we get used to it. Any time you want +to rest, tell me and I'll cut her down." + +"Keep her at this for four or five hours. Then cut down until we can +walk, so that we can eat and take another reading on distance. Remember +that it will take as long to stop as it does to get up speed, and that +we must be careful not to ram them. There would be nothing left of +either car." + +"All right. Talking's too darn much work, I'll talk to you again when we +ease down. I sure am glad we're on our way at last." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Lost In Space + + +For forty-eight hours the uncontrolled atomic motor dragged the +masterless vessel with its four unconscious passengers through the +illimitable reaches of empty space, with an awful and constantly +increasing velocity. When only a few traces of copper remained in the +power-plant, the acceleration began to decrease and the powerful springs +began to restore the floor and the seats to their normal positions. The +last particle of copper having been transformed into energy, the speed +of the vessel became constant. Apparently motionless to those inside it, +it was in reality traversing space with a velocity thousands of times +greater than that of light. As the force which had been holding them +down was relaxed, the lungs, which had been able to secure only air +enough to maintain faint sparks of life, began to function more normally +and soon all four recovered consciousness, drinking in the life-giving +oxygen in a rapid succession of breaths so deep that it seemed as though +their lungs must burst with each inhalation. + +DuQuesne was the first to gain control of himself. His first effort to +rise to his feet lifted him from the floor, and he floated lightly to +the ceiling, striking it with a gentle bump and remaining suspended in +the air. The others, who had not yet attempted to move, stared at him in +wide-eyed amazement. Reaching out and clutching one of the supporting +columns, he drew himself back to the floor and cautiously removed his +leather suit, transferring two heavy automatic pistols as he did so. By +gingerly feeling of his injured body, he discovered that no bones were +broken, although he was terribly bruised. He then glanced around to +learn how his companions were faring. He saw that they were all sitting +up, the girls resting, Perkins removing his aviator's costume. + +"Good morning, Doctor DuQuesne. What happened when I kicked your +friend?" + +DuQuesne smiled. + +"Good morning, Miss Vaneman. Several things happened. He fell into the +controls, turning on all the juice. We left shortly afterward. I tried +to shut the power off, and in doing so I balled things up worse than +ever. Then I went to sleep, and just woke up." + +"Have you any idea where we are?" + +"No, but I can make a fair estimate, I think," and glancing at the empty +chamber in which the bar had been, he took out his notebook and pen and +figured for a few minutes. As he finished, he drew himself along by a +handrail to one of the windows, then to another. He returned with a +puzzled expression on his face and made a long calculation. + +"I don't know exactly what to make of this," he said thoughtfully. "We +are so far away from the earth that even the fixed stars are +unrecognizable. The power was on exactly forty-eight hours, since that +is the life of that particular bar under full current. We should still +be close to our own solar system, since it is theoretically impossible +to develop any velocity greater than that of light. But in fact, we +have. I know enough about astronomy to recognize the fixed stars from +any point within a light-year or so of the sun, and I can't see a single +familiar star. I never could see how mass could be a function of +velocity, and now I am convinced that it is not. We have been +accelerating for forty-eight hours!" + +He turned to Dorothy. + +"While we were unconscious, Miss Vaneman, we had probably attained a +velocity of something like seven billion four hundred thirteen million +miles per second, and that is the approximate speed at which we are now +traveling. We must be nearly six quadrillion miles, and that is a space +of several hundred light-years--away from our solar system, or, more +plainly, about six times as far away from our earth as the North Star +is. We couldn't see our sun with a telescope, even if we knew which way +to look for it." + + * * * * * + +At this paralyzing news, Dorothy's face turned white and Margaret +Spencer quietly fainted in her seat. + +"Then we can never get back?" asked Dorothy slowly. + +At this question, Perkins' self-control gave way and his thin veneer of +decency disappeared completely. + +"You got us into this whole thing!" he screamed as he leaped at Dorothy +with murderous fury gleaming in his pale eyes and his fingers curved +into talons. Instead of reaching her, however, he merely sprawled +grotesquely in midair, and DuQuesne knocked him clear across the vessel +with one powerful blow of his fist. + +"Get back there, you cowardly cur," he said evenly. "Even though we are +a long way from home, try to remember you're a man, at least. One more +break like that and I'll throw you out of the boat. It isn't her fault +that we are out here, but our own. The blame for it is a very small +matter, anyway; the thing of importance is to get back as soon as +possible." + +"But how can we get back?" asked Perkins sullenly from the corner where +he was crouching, fear in every feature. "The power is gone, the +controls are wrecked, and we are hopelessly lost in space." + +"Oh, I wouldn't say 'hopelessly,'" returned the other, "I have never +been in any situation yet that I couldn't get out of, and I won't be +convinced until I am dead that I can't get out of this one. We have two +extra power bars, we can fix the board, and if I can't navigate us back +close enough to our solar system to find it, I am more of a dub than I +think I am. How about a little bite to eat?" + +"Show us where it is!" exclaimed Dorothy. "Now that you mention it, I +find that I am starved to death." + +DuQuesne looked at her keenly. + +"I admire your nerve, Miss Vaneman. I didn't suppose that that animal +over there would show such a wide streak of yellow, but I was rather +afraid that you girls might go to pieces." + +"I'm scared blue, of course," Dorothy admitted frankly, "but hysterics +won't do any good, and we simply _must_ get back." + +"Certainly, we must and we will," stated DuQuesne calmly. "If you like, +you might find something for us to eat in the galley there, while I see +what I can do with this board that I wrecked with my head. By the way, +that cubby-hole there is the apartment reserved for you two ladies. We +are in rather cramped quarters, but I think you will find everything you +need." + +As Dorothy drew herself along the handrail toward the room designated, +accompanied by the other girl who, though conscious, had paid little +attention to anything around her, she could not help feeling a thrill of +admiration for the splendid villain who had abducted her. Calm and cool, +always master of himself, apparently paying no attention to the terrible +bruises which disfigured half his face and doubtless half his body as +well, she admitted to herself that it was only his example, which had +enabled her to maintain her self-control in their present plight. As she +crawled over Perkins' discarded suit, she remembered that he had not +taken any weapons from it. After a rapid glance around to assure herself +that she was not being watched, she quickly searched the coat, bringing +to light not one, but two pistols, which she thrust into her pocket. She +saw with relief that they were regulation army automatics, with whose +use she was familiar from much target practise with Seaton. + +In the room, which was a miniature of the one she had seen on the +Skylark, the girls found clothing, toilet articles, and everything +necessary for a long trip. As they were setting themselves to rights, +Dorothy electing to stay in her riding suit, they surveyed each other +frankly and each was reassured by what she saw. Dorothy saw a girl of +twenty-two, of her own stature, with a mass of heavy, wavy black hair. +Her eyes, a singularly rich and deep brown, contrasted strangely with +the beautiful ivory of her skin. She was normally a beautiful girl, +thought Dorothy, but her beauty was marred by suffering and privation. +Her naturally slender form was thin, her face was haggard and worn. The +stranger broke the silence. + + * * * * * + +"I'm Margaret Spencer," she began abruptly, "former secretary to His +Royal Highness, Brookings of Steel. They swindled my father out of an +invention worth millions and he died, broken-hearted. I got the job to +see if I couldn't get enough evidence to convict them, and I had quite a +lot when they caught me. I had some things that they were afraid to +lose, and I had them so well hidden that they couldn't find them, so +they kidnapped me to make me give them back. They haven't dared kill me +so far for fear the evidence will show up after my death--which it will. +However, I will be legally dead before long, and then they know the +whole thing will come out, so they have brought me out here to make me +talk or kill me. Talking won't do me any good now, though, and I don't +believe it ever would have. They would have killed me after they got the +stuff back, anyway. So you see I, at least, will never get back to the +earth alive." + +"Cheer up--we'll all get back safely." + +"No, we won't. You don't know that man Perkins--if that is his name. I +never heard him called any real name before. He is simply +unspeakable--vile--hideous--everything that is base. He was my jailer, +and I utterly loathe and despise him. He is mean and underhanded and +tricky--he reminds me of a slimy, poisonous snake. He will kill me: I +know it." + +"But how about Doctor DuQuesne? Surely he isn't that kind of man? He +wouldn't let him." + +"I've never met him before, but from what I heard of him in the office, +he's even worse than Perkins, but in an entirely different way. There's +nothing small or mean about him, and I don't believe he would go out of +his way to hurt anyone, as Perkins would. But he is absolutely cold and +hard, a perfect fiend. Where his interests are concerned, there's +nothing under the sun, good or bad, that he won't do. But I'm glad that +Perkins had me instead of 'The Doctor,' as they call him. Perkins raises +such a bitter personal feeling, that anybody would rather die than give +up to him in anything. DuQuesne, however, would have tortured me +impersonally and scientifically--cold and self-contained all the while +and using the most efficient methods, and I am sure he would have got it +out of me some way. He always gets what he goes after." + +"Oh, come, Miss Spencer!" Dorothy interrupted the half-hysterical girl. +"You're too hard on him. Didn't you see him knock Perkins down when he +came after me?" + +"Well, maybe he has a few gentlemanly instincts, which he uses when he +doesn't lose anything by it. More likely he merely intended to rebuke +him for a useless action. He is a firm Pragmatist--anything that is +useful is all right, anything that is useless is a crime. More probably +yet, he wants you left alive. Of course that is his real reason. He went +to the trouble of kidnapping you, so naturally he won't let Perkins or +anybody else kill you until he is through with you. Otherwise he would +have let Perkins do anything he wanted to with you, without lifting a +finger." + +"I can't quite believe that," Dorothy replied, though a cold chill +struck at her heart as she remembered the inhuman crime attributed to +this man, and she quailed at the thought of being in his charge, +countless millions of miles from earth, a thought only partly +counteracted by the fact that she was now armed. "He has treated us with +every consideration so far, let's hope for the best. Anyway, I'm sure +that we'll get back safely." + +"Why so sure? Have you something up your sleeve?" + +"No--or yes, in a way I have, though nothing very definite. I'm Dorothy +Vaneman, and I am engaged to the man who discovered the thing that makes +this space-car go...." + +"That's why they kidnapped you, then--to make him give up all his rights +to it. It's like them." + +"Yes, I think that's why they did it. But they won't keep me long. Dick +Seaton will find me, I know. I feel it." + +"But that's exactly what they want!" cried Margaret excitedly. "In my +spying around I heard a little about this very thing--the name Seaton +brings it to my mind. His car is broken in some way, so that it will +kill him the first time he tries to run it." + +"That's where they underestimated Dick and his partner. You have heard +of Martin Crane, of course?" + +"I think I heard his name mentioned in the office, together with +Seaton's, but that's all." + +"Well, besides other things, Martin is quite a wonderful mechanic, and +he found out that our Skylark was spoiled. So they built another one, a +lot bigger, and I am sure that they are following us, right now." + +"But how can they possibly follow us, when we are going so fast and are +so far away?" queried the other girl, once more despondent. + +"I don't quite know, but I do know that Dick will find a way. He's +simply wonderful. He knows more now than that Doctor DuQuesne will ever +learn in all his life, and he will find us in a few days. I feel it in +my bones. Besides, I picked Perkins' pockets of these two pistols. Can +you shoot an automatic?" + +"Yes," replied the other girl, as she seized one of the guns, assured +herself that its magazine was full, and slipped it into her pocket. "I +used to practise a lot with my father's. This makes me feel a whole lot +better. And call me Peggy, won't you? It will seem good to hear my name +again. After what I've been through lately, even this trip will be a +vacation for me." + +"Well, then, cheer up, Peggy dear, we're going to be great friends. +Let's go get us all something to eat. I'm simply starved, and I know you +are, too." + + * * * * * + +The presence of the pistol in her pocket and Dorothy's unwavering faith +in her lover, lifted the stranger out of the mood of despair into which +the long imprisonment, the brutal treatment, and the present situation +had plunged her, and she was almost cheerful as they drew themselves +along the hand-rail leading to the tiny galley. + +"I simply can't get used to the idea of nothing having any weight--look +here!" laughed Dorothy, as she took a boiled ham out of the refrigerator +and hung it upon an imaginary hook in the air, where it remained +motionless. "Doesn't it make you feel funny?" + +"It is a queer sensation. I feel light, like a toy balloon, and I feel +awfully weird inside. If we have no weight, why does it hurt so when we +bump into anything? And when you throw anything, like the Doctor did +Perkins, why does it hit as hard as ever?" + +"It's mass or inertia or something like that. A thing has it everywhere, +whether it weighs anything or not. Dick explained it all to me. I +understood it when he told me about it, but I'm afraid it didn't sink in +very deep. Did you ever study physics?" + +"I had a year of it in college, but it was more or less of a joke. I +went to a girls' school, and all we had to do in physics was to get the +credit; we didn't have to learn it." + +"Me too. Next time I go to school I'm going to Yale or Harvard or some +such place, and I'll learn so much mathematics and science that I'll +have to wear a bandeau to keep my massive intellect in place." + +During this conversation they had prepared a substantial luncheon and +had arranged it daintily upon two large trays, in spite of the +difficulty caused by the fact that nothing would remain in place by its +own weight. The feast prepared, Dorothy took her tray from the table as +carefully as she could, and saw the sandwiches and bottles start to +float toward the ceiling. Hastily inverting the tray above the escaping +viands, she pushed them back down upon the table. In doing so she lifted +herself clear from the floor, as she had forgotten to hold herself down. + +"What'll we do, anyway?" she wailed when she had recovered her position. +"Everything wants to fly all over the place!" + +"Put another tray on top of it and hold them together," suggested +Margaret. "I wish we had a birdcage. Then we could open the door and +grab a sandwich as it flies out." + +By covering the trays the girls finally carried the luncheon out into +the main compartment, where they gave DuQuesne and Perkins one of the +trays and all fell to eating hungrily. DuQuesne paused with a glint of +amusement in his one sound eye as he saw Dorothy trying to pour ginger +ale out of a bottle. + +"It can't be done, Miss Vaneman. You'll have to drink it through a +straw. That will work, since our air pressure is normal. Be careful not +to choke on it, though; your swallowing will have to be all muscular out +here. Gravity won't help you. Or wait a bit--I have the control board +fixed and it will be a matter of only a few minutes to put in another +bar and get enough acceleration to take the place of gravity." + +He placed one of the extra power bars in the chamber and pushed the +speed lever into the first notch, and there was a lurch of the whole +vessel as it swung around the bar so that the floor was once more +perpendicular to it. He took a couple of steps, returned, and advanced +the lever another notch. + +"There that's about the same as gravity. Now we can act like human +beings and eat in comfort." + +"That's a wonderful relief, Doctor!" cried Dorothy. "Are we going back +toward the earth?" + +"Not yet. I reversed the bar, but we will have to use up all of this one +before we can even start back. Until this bar is gone we will merely be +slowing down." + + * * * * * + +As the meal progressed, Dorothy noticed that DuQuesne's left arm seemed +almost helpless, and that he ate with great difficulty because of his +terribly bruised face. As soon as they had removed the trays she went +into her room, where she had seen a small medicine chest, and brought +out a couple of bottles. + +"Lie down here, Doctor DuQuesne," she commanded. "I'm going to apply a +little first-aid to the injured. Arnica and iodine are all I can find, +but they'll help a little." + +"I'm all right," began the scientist, but at her imperious gesture he +submitted, and she bathed his battered features with the healing lotion +and painted the worst bruises with iodine. + +"I see your arm is lame. Where does it hurt?" + +"Shoulder's the worst. I rammed it through the board when we started +out." + +He opened his shirt at the throat and bared his shoulder, and Dorothy +gasped--as much at the size and power of the muscles displayed, as at +the extent and severity of the man's injuries. Stepping into the +gallery, she brought out hot water and towels and gently bathed away the +clotted blood that had been forced through the skin. + +"Massage it a little with the arnica as I move the arm," he directed +coolly, and she did so, pityingly. He did not wince and made no sign of +pain, but she saw beads of perspiration appear upon his face, and +wondered at his fortitude. + +"That's fine," he said gratefully as she finished, and a peculiar +expression came over his face. "It feels one hundred per cent better +already. But why do you do it? I should think you would feel like +crowning me with that basin instead of playing nurse." + +"Efficiency," she replied with a smile. "I'm taking a leaf out of your +own book. You are our chief engineer, you know, and it won't do to have +you laid up." + +"That's a logical explanation, but it doesn't go far enough," he +rejoined, still studying her intently. She did not reply, but turned to +Perkins. + +"How are you, Mr. Perkins? Do you require medical attention?" + +"No," growled Perkins from the seat in which he had crouched immediately +after eating. "Keep away from me, or I'll cut your heart out!" + +"Shut up!" snapped DuQuesne. "Remember what I said?" + +"I haven't done anything," snarled the other. + +"I said I would throw you out if you made another break," DuQuesne +informed him evenly, "and I meant it. If you can't talk decently, keep +still. Understand that you are to keep off Miss Vaneman, words and +actions. I am in charge of her, and I will put up with no interference +whatever. This is your last warning." + +"How about Spencer, then?" + +"I have nothing to say about her, she's not mine," responded DuQuesne +with a shrug. + +An evil light appeared in Perkins' eyes and he took out a wicked-looking +knife and began to strop it carefully upon the leather of the seat, +glaring at his victim the while. + +"Well, _I_ have something to say...." blazed Dorothy, but she was +silenced by a gesture from Margaret, who calmly took the pistol from her +pocket, jerked the slide back, throwing a cartridge into the chamber, +and held the weapon up on one finger, admiring it from all sides. + + * * * * * + +"Don't worry about his knife. He has been sharpening it for my benefit +for the last month. He doesn't mean anything by it." + +At this unexpected show of resistance, Perkins stared at her for an +instant, then glanced at his coat. + +"Yes, this was yours, once. You needn't bother about picking up your +coat, they're both gone. You might be tempted to throw that knife, so +drop it on the floor and kick it over to me before I count three. + +"One." The heavy pistol steadied into line with his chest and her finger +tightened on the trigger. + +"Two." He obeyed and she picked up the knife. He turned to DuQuesne, who +had watched the scene unmoved, a faint smile upon his saturnine face. + +"Doctor!" he cried, shaking with fear. "Why don't you shoot her or take +that gun away from her? Surely you don't want to see me murdered?" + +"Why not?" replied DuQuesne calmly. "It is nothing to me whether she +kills you or you kill her. You brought it on yourself by your own +carelessness. Any man with brains doesn't leave guns lying around within +reach of prisoners, and a blind man could have seen Miss Vaneman getting +your hardware." + +"You saw her take them and didn't warn me?" croaked Perkins. + +"Why should I warn you? If you can't take care of your own prisoner she +earns her liberty, as far as I am concerned. I never did like your +style, Perkins, especially your methods of handling--or rather +mishandling--women. You could have made her give up the stuff she +recovered from that ass Brookings inside of an hour, and wouldn't have +had to kill her afterward, either." + +"How?" sneered the other. "If you are so good at that kind of thing, why +didn't you try it on Seaton and Crane?" + +"There are seven different methods to use on a woman like Miss Spencer, +each of which will produce the desired result. The reason I did not try +them on either Seaton or Crane is that they would have failed. Your +method of indirect action is probably the only one that will succeed. +That is why I adopted it." + +"Well, what are you going to do about it?" shrieked Perkins. "Are you +going to sit there and lecture all day?" + +"I am going to do nothing whatever," answered the scientist coldly. "If +you had any brains you would see that you are in no danger. Miss Spencer +will undoubtedly kill you if you attack her--not otherwise. That is an +Anglo-Saxon weakness." + +"Did you see me take the pistols?" queried Dorothy. + +"Certainly. I'm not blind. You have one of them in your right coat +pocket now." + +"Then why didn't you, or don't you, try to take it away from me?" she +asked in wonder. + +"If I had objected to your having them, you would never have got them. +If I didn't want you to have a gun now, I would take it away from you. +You know that, don't you?" and his black eyes stared into her violet +ones with such calm certainty of his ability that she felt her heart +sink. + +"Yes," she admitted finally, "I believe you could--that is, unless I +were angry enough to shoot you." + +"That wouldn't help you. I can shoot faster and straighter than you can, +and would shoot it out of your hand. However, I have no objection to +your having the gun, since it is no part of my plan to offer you any +further indignity of any kind. Even if you had the necessary coldness of +nerve or cruelty of disposition--of which I have one, Perkins the other, +and you neither--you wouldn't shoot me now, because you can't get back +to the earth without me. After we get back I will take the guns away +from both of you if I think it desirable. In the meantime, play with +them all you please." + +"Has Perkins any more knives or guns or things in his room?" demanded +Dorothy. + +"How should I know?" indifferently; then, as both girls started for +Perkins' room he ordered brusquely: + +"Sit down, Miss Vaneman. Let them fight it out. Perkins has his orders +to lay off you--you lay off him. I'm not taking any chances of getting +you hurt, that's one reason I wanted you armed. If he gets gay, shoot +him; otherwise, hands off completely." + +Dorothy threw up her head in defiance, but meeting his cold stare she +paused irresolutely and finally sat down, biting her lips in anger, +while the other girl went on. + +"That's better. She doesn't need any help to whip that yellow dog. He's +whipped already. He never would think of fighting unless the odds were +three to one in his favor." + + * * * * * + +When Margaret had returned from a fruitless search of Perkins' room and +had assured herself that he had no more weapons concealed about his +person, she thrust the pistol back into her pocket and sat down. + +"That ends that," she declared. "I guess you will be good now, won't +you, Mr. Perkins?" + +"Yes," that worthy muttered. "I have to be, now that you've got the drop +on me and DuQuesne's gone back on me. But wait until we get back! I'll +get you then, you...." + +"Stop right there!" sharply. "There's nothing I would rather do than +shoot you right now, if you give me the slightest excuse, such as that +name you were about to call me. Now go ahead!" + +DuQuesne broke the silence that followed. + +"Well, now that the battle is over, and since we are fed and rested, I +suggest that we slow down a bit and get ready to start back. Pick out +comfortable seats, everybody, and I'll shoot a little more juice through +that bar." + +Seating himself before the instrument board, he advanced the speed lever +slowly until nearly three-quarters of the full power was on, as much as +he thought the others could stand. + +For sixty hours he drove the car, reducing the acceleration only at +intervals during which they ate and walked about their narrow quarters +in order to restore the blood to circulation in their suffering bodies. +The power was not reduced for sleep; everyone slept as best he could. + +Dorothy and Margaret talked together at every opportunity, and a real +intimacy grew up between them. Perkins was for the most part sullenly +quiet, knowing himself despised by all the others and having no outlet +here for his particular brand of cleverness. DuQuesne was always +occupied with his work and only occasionally addressed a remark to one +or another of the party, except during meals. At those periods of +general recuperation, he talked easily and well upon many topics. There +was no animosity in his bearing nor did he seem to perceive any directed +toward himself, but when any of the others ventured to infringe upon his +ideas of how discipline should be maintained, DuQuesne's reproof was +merciless. Dorothy almost liked him, but Margaret insisted that she +considered him worse than ever. + +When the bar was exhausted, DuQuesne lifted the sole remaining cylinder +into place. + +"We should be nearly stationary with respect to the earth," he remarked. +"Now we will start back." + +"Why, it felt as though we were picking up speed for the last three +days!" exclaimed Margaret. + +"Yes, it feels that way because we have nothing to judge by. Slowing +down in one direction feels exactly like starting up in the opposite +one. There is no means of knowing whether we are standing still, going +away from the earth, or going toward it, since we have nothing +stationary upon which to make observations. However, since the two bars +were of exactly the same size and were exerted in opposite directions +except for a few minutes after we left the earth, we are nearly +stationary now. I will put on power until this bar is something less +than half gone, then coast for three or four days. By the end of that +time we should be able to recognize our solar system from the appearance +of the fixed stars." + +He again advanced the lever, and for many hours silence filled the car +as it hurtled through space. DuQuesne, waking up from a long nap, saw +that the bar no longer pointed directly toward the top of the ship, +perpendicular to the floor, but was inclined at a sharp angle. He +reduced the current, and felt the lurch of the car as it swung around +the bar, increasing the angle many degrees. He measured the angle +carefully and peered out of all the windows on one side of the car. +Returning to the bar after a time, he again measured the angle, and +found that it had increased greatly. + +"What's the matter, Doctor DuQuesne?" asked Dorothy, who had also been +asleep. + +"We are being deflected from our course. You see the bar doesn't point +straight up any more? Of course the direction of the bar hasn't changed, +the car has swung around it." + +"What does that mean?" + +"We have come close enough to some star so that its attraction swings +the bottom of the car around. Normally, you know, the bottom of the car +follows directly behind the bar. It doesn't mean much yet except that we +are being drawn away from our straight line, but if the attraction gets +much stronger it may make us miss our solar system completely. I have +been looking for the star in question, but can't see it yet. We'll +probably pull away from it very shortly." + + * * * * * + +He threw on the power, and for some time watched the bar anxiously, +expecting to see it swing back into the vertical, but the angle +continually increased. He again reduced the current and searched the +heavens for the troublesome body. + +"Do you see it yet?" asked Dorothy with concern. + +"No, there's apparently nothing near enough to account for all this +deflection." + +He took out a pair of large night-glasses and peered through them for +several minutes. + +"Good God! It's a dead sun, and we're nearly onto it! It looks as large +as our moon!" + +Springing to the board, he whirled the bar into the vertical. He took +down a strange instrument, went to the bottom window, and measured the +apparent size of the dark star. Then, after cautioning the rest of the +party to sit tight, he advanced the lever farther than it had been +before. After half an hour he again slackened the pace and made another +observation, finding to his astonishment that the dark mass had almost +doubled its apparent size! Dorothy, noting his expression, was about to +speak, but he forestalled her. + +"We lost ground, instead of gaining, that spurt," he remarked, as he +hastened to his post. "It must be inconceivably large, to exert such an +enormous attractive force at this distance. We'll have to put on full +power. Hang onto yourselves as best you can." + +He then pushed the lever out to its last notch and left it there until +the bar was nearly gone, only to find that the faint disk of the monster +globe was even larger than before, being now visible to the unaided eye. +Revived, the three others saw it plainly--a great dim circle, visible as +is the dark portion of the new moon--and, the power shut off, they felt +themselves falling toward it with sickening speed. Perkins screamed with +mad fear and flung himself grovelling upon the floor. Margaret, her +nerves still unstrung, clutched at her heart with both hands. Dorothy, +though her eyes looked like great black holes in her white face, looked +DuQuesne in the eye steadily. + +"This is the end, then?" + +"Not yet," he replied in a calm and level voice. "The end will not come +for a good many hours, as I have calculated that it will take at least +two days, probably more, to fall the distance we have to go. We have all +that time in which to think out a way of escape." + +"Won't the outer repulsive shell keep us from striking it, or at least +break the force of our fall?" + +"No. It was designed only as protection from meteorites and other small +bodies. It is heavy enough to swing us away from a small planet, but it +will be used up long before we strike." + +He lighted a cigarette and sat at case, as though in his own study, his +brow wrinkled in thought as he made calculations in his notebook. +Finally he rose to his feet. + +"There's only one chance that I can see. That is to gather up every +scrap of copper we have and try to pull ourselves far enough out of line +so that we will take an hyperbolic orbit around that body instead of +falling into it." + +"What good will that do us?" asked Margaret, striving for self-control. +"We will starve to death finally, won't we?" + +"Not necessarily. That will give us time to figure out something else." + +"You won't have to figure out anything else, Doctor," stated Dorothy +positively. "If we miss that moon, Dick and Martin will find us before +very long." + +"Not in this life. If they tried to follow us, they're both dead before +now." + +"That's where even you are wrong!" she flashed at him. "They knew you +were wrecking our machine, so they built another one, a good one. And +they know a lot of things about this new metal that you have never +dreamed of, since they were not in the plans you stole." + + * * * * * + +DuQuesne went directly to the heart of the matter, paying no attention +to her barbed shafts. + +"Can they follow us through space without seeing us?" he demanded. + +"Yes--or at least, I think they can." + +"How do they do it?" + +"I don't know--I wouldn't tell you if I did." + +"You'll tell if you know," he declared, his voice cutting like a knife. +"But that can wait until after we get out of this. The thing to do now +is to dodge that world." + +He searched the vessel for copper, ruthlessly tearing out almost +everything that contained the metal, hammering it flat and throwing it +into the power-plant. He set the bar at right angles to the line of +their fall and turned on the current. When the metal was exhausted, he +made another series of observations upon the body toward which they were +falling, and reported quietly: + +"We made a lot of distance, but not enough. Everything goes in, this +time." + +He tore out the single remaining light-wire, leaving the car in darkness +save for the diffused light of his electric torch, and broke up the only +remaining motor. He then took his almost priceless Swiss watch, his +heavy signet ring, his scarf pin, and the cartridges from his pistol, +and added them to the collection. Flashing his lamp upon Perkins, he +relieved him of everything he had which contained copper. + +"I think I have a few pennies in my pocketbook," suggested Dorothy. + +"Get 'em," he directed briefly, and while she was gone he searched +Margaret, without result save for the cartridges in her pistol, as she +had no jewelry remaining after her imprisonment. Dorothy returned and +handed him everything she had found. + +"I would like to keep this ring," she said slowly, pointing to a slender +circlet of gold set with a solitaire diamond, "if you think there is any +chance of us getting clear." + +"Everything goes that has any copper in it," he said coldly, "and I am +glad to see that Seaton is too good a chemist to buy any platinum +jewelry. You may keep the diamond, though," as he wrenched the jewel out +of its setting and returned it to her. + +He threw all the metal into the central chamber and the vessel gave a +tremendous lurch as the power was again applied. It was soon spent, +however, and after the final observation, the others waiting in +breathless suspense for him to finish his calculations, he made his curt +announcement. + +"Not enough." + +Perkins, his mind weakened by the strain of the last few days, went +completely insane at the words. With a wild howl he threw himself at the +unmoved scientist, who struck him with the butt of his pistol as he +leaped, the mighty force of DuQuesne's blow crushing his skull like an +eggshell and throwing him backward to the opposite side of the vessel. +Margaret lay in her seat in a dead faint. Dorothy and DuQuesne looked at +each other in the feeble light of the torch. To the girl's amazement, +the man was as calm as though he were safe in his own house, and she +made a determined effort to hold herself together. + +"What next, Doctor DuQuesne?" + +"I don't know. We have a couple of days yet, at least. I'll have to +study awhile." + +"In that time Dick will find us, I know." + +"Even if they do find us in time, which I doubt, what good will it do? +It simply means that they will go with us instead of saving us, for of +course they can't pull away, since we couldn't. I hope they don't find +us, but locate this star in time to keep away from it." + +"Why?" she gasped. "You have been planning to kill both of them! I +should think you would be delighted to take them with us?" + +"Far from it. Please try to be logical. I intended to remove them +because they stood in the way of my developing this new metal. If I am +to be out of the way--and frankly, I see very little chance of getting +out of this--I hope that Seaton goes ahead with it. It is the greatest +discovery the world has ever known, and if both Seaton and I, the only +two men in the world who know how to handle it, drop out, it will be +lost for perhaps hundreds of years." + +"If Dick's finding us means that he must go, too, of course I hope that +he won't find us, but I don't believe that. I simply know that he could +get us away from here." + +She continued more slowly, almost speaking to herself, her heart sinking +with her voice: + +"He is following us, and he won't stop even if he does see this dead +star and knows that he can't get away. We will die together." + +"There's no denying the fact that our situation is critical, but you +know a man isn't dead until after his heart stops beating. We have two +whole days yet, and in that time, I can probably dope out some way of +getting away from here." + +"I hope so," she replied, keeping her voice from breaking only by a +great effort. "But go ahead with your doping. I'm worn out." She drew +herself down upon one of the seats and stared at the ceiling, fighting +to restrain an almost overpowering impulse to scream. + +Thus the hours wore by--Perkins dead; Margaret still unconscious; +Dorothy lying in her seat, her thoughts a formless prayer, buoyed up +only by her faith in God and in her lover; DuQuesne self-possessed, +smoking innumerable cigarettes, his keen mind grappling with its most +desperate problem, grimly fighting until the very last instant of +life--while the powerless space-car fell with an appalling velocity, +faster and faster; falling toward that cold and desolate monster of the +heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Rescue + + +Seaton and Crane drove the Skylark in the direction indicated by the +unwavering object-compass with the greatest acceleration they could +stand, each man taking a twelve-hour watch at the instrument board. + +Now, indeed, did the Skylark justify the faith of her builders, and the +two inventors, with an exultant certainty of their success, flew out +beyond man's wildest imaginings. Had it not been for the haunting fear +for Dorothy's safety, the journey would have been one of pure triumph, +and even that anxiety did not prevent a profound joy in the enterprise. + +"If that misguided mutt thinks he can pull off a stunt like that and get +away with it, he's got another think coming," asserted Seaton, after +making a reading on the other car after several days of the flight. "He +went off half-cocked this time, for sure, and we've got him foul. We'd +better put on some negative pretty soon hadn't we, Mart? Only a little +over a hundred light-years now." + +Crane nodded agreement and Seaton continued: + +"It'll take as long to stop, of course, as it has taken to get out here, +and if we ram them--GOOD NIGHT! Let's figure it out as nearly as we +can." + +They calculated their own speed, and that of the other vessel, as shown +by the various readings taken, and applied just enough negative +acceleration to slow the Skylark down to the speed of the other +space-car when they should come up with it. They smiled at each other in +recognition of the perfect working of the mechanism when the huge vessel +had spun, with a sickening lurch, through a complete half-circle, the +instant the power was reversed. Each knew that they were actually +traveling in a direction that to them seemed "down," but with a +constantly diminishing velocity, even though they seemed to be still +going "up" with an increasing speed. + +Until nearly the end of the calculated time the two took turns as +before, but as the time of meeting drew near both men were on the alert, +taking readings on the object-compass every few minutes. Finally Crane +announced: + +"We are almost on them, Dick. They are so close that it is almost +impossible to time the needle--less than ten thousand miles." + +Seaton gradually increased the retarding force until the needle showed +that they were very close to the other vessel and maintaining a constant +distance from it. He then shut off the power, and both men hurried to +the bottom window to search for the fleeing ship with their powerful +night-glasses. They looked at each other in amazement as they felt +themselves falling almost directly downward, with an astounding +acceleration. + +"What do you make of it, Dick?" asked Crane calmly, as he brought his +glasses to his eyes and stared out into the black heavens, studded with +multitudes of brilliant and unfamiliar stars. + +"I don't make it at all, Mart. By the feel, I should say we were falling +toward something that would make our earth look like a pin-head. I +remember now that I noticed that the bus was getting a little out of +plumb with the bar all this last watch. I didn't pay much attention to +it, as I couldn't see anything out of the way. Nothing but a sun could +be big enough to raise all this disturbance, and I can't see any close +enough to be afraid of, can you?" + +"No, and I cannot see the Steel space-car, either. Look sharp." + +"Of course," Seaton continued to argue as he peered out into the night, +"it is theoretically possible that a heavenly body can exist large +enough so that it could exert even this much force and still appear no +larger than an ordinary star, but I don't believe it is probable. Give +me three or four minutes of visual angle and I'll believe anything, but +none of these stars are big enough to have any visual angle at all. +Furthermore...." + +"There is at least half a degree of visual angle!" broke in his friend +intensely. "Just to the left of that constellation that looks so much +like a question mark. It is not bright, but dark, like a very dark +moon--barely perceptible." + +Seaton pointed his glass eagerly in the direction indicated. + +"Great Cat!" he ejaculated. "I'll say that's some moon! Wouldn't that +rattle your slats? And there's DuQuesne's bus, too, on the right edge. +Get it?" + +As they stood up, Seaton's mood turned to one of deadly earnestness, and +a grave look came over Crane's face as the seriousness of their +situation dawned upon them. Trained mathematicians both, they knew +instantly that that unknown world was of inconceivable mass, and that +their chance of escape was none too good, even should they abandon the +other craft to its fate. Seaton stared at Crane, his fists clenched and +drops of perspiration standing on his forehead. Suddenly, with agony in +his eyes and in his voice, he spoke. + +"Mighty slim chance of getting away if we go through with it, old +man.... Hate like the devil.... Have no right to ask you to throw +yourself away, too." + +"Enough of that, Dick. You had nothing to do with my coming: you could +not have kept me away. We will see it through." + +Their hands met in a fierce clasp, broken by Seaton, as he jumped to the +levers with an intense: + +"Well, let's get busy!" + +In a few minutes they had reduced the distance until they could plainly +see the other vessel, a small black circle against the faintly luminous +disk. As it leaped into clear relief in the beam of his powerful +searchlight, Seaton focused the great attractor upon the fugitive car +and threw in the lever which released the full force of that mighty +magnet, while Crane attracted the attention of the vessel's occupants by +means of a momentary burst of solid machine-gun bullets, which he knew +would glance harmlessly off the steel hull. + + * * * * * + +After an interminable silence, DuQuesne drew himself out of his seat. He +took a long inhalation, deposited the butt of his cigarette carefully in +his ash tray, and made his way to his room. He returned with three heavy +fur suits provided with air helmets, two of which he handed to the +girls, who were huddled in a seat with their arms around each other. +These suits were the armor designed by Crane for use in exploring the +vacuum and the intense cold of dead worlds. Air-tight, braced with fine +steel netting, and supplied with air at normal pressure from small tanks +by automatic valves, they made their wearers independent of surrounding +conditions of pressure and temperature. + +"The next thing to do," DuQuesne stated calmly, "is to get the copper +off the outside of the ship. That is the last resort, as it robs us of +our only safeguard against meteorites, but this is the time for +last-resort measures. I'm going after that copper. Put these suits on, +as our air will leave as soon as I open the door, and practically an +absolute vacuum and equally absolute zero will come in." + +As he spoke, the ship was enveloped in a blinding glare and they were +thrown flat as the vessel slowed down in its terrific fall. The thought +flashed across DuQuesne's mind that they had already entered the +atmosphere of that monster globe and were being slowed down and set +afire by its friction, but he dismissed it as quickly as it had +come--the light in that case would be the green of copper, not this +bluish-white. His next thought was that there had been a collision of +meteors in the neighborhood, and that their retardation was due to the +outer coating. While these thoughts were flickering through his mind, +they heard an insistent metallic tapping, which DuQuesne recognized +instantly. + +"A machine-gun!" he blurted in amazement. "How in...." + +"It's Dick!" screamed Dorothy, with flashing eyes. "He's found us, just +as I knew he would. You couldn't beat Dick and Martin in a thousand +years!" + +The tension under which they had been laboring so long suddenly +released, the two girls locked their arms around each other in a +half-hysterical outburst of relief. Margaret's meaningless words and +Dorothy's incoherent praises of her lover and Crane mingled with their +racking sobs as each fought to recover self-possession. + +DuQuesne had instantly mounted to the upper window. Throwing back the +cover, he flashed his torch rapidly. The glare of the searchlight was +snuffed out and he saw a flashing light spell out in dots and dashes: + +"Can you read Morse?" + +"Yes," he signalled back. "Power gone, drifting into...." + +"We know it. Will you resist?" + +"No." + +"Have you fur pressure-suits?" + +"Yes." + +"Put them on. Shut off your outer coating. Will touch so your upper door +against our lower. Open, transfer quick." + +"O. K." + + * * * * * + +Hastily returning to the main compartment, he briefly informed the girls +as to what had happened. All three donned the suits and stationed +themselves at the upper opening. Rapidly, but with unerring precision, +the two ships were brought into place and held together by the +attractor. As the doors were opened, there was a screaming hiss as the +air of the vessels escaped through the narrow crack between them. The +passengers saw the moisture in the air turn into snow, and saw the air +itself first liquefy and then freeze into a solid coating upon the metal +around the orifices at the touch of the frightful cold outside--the +absolute zero of interstellar space, about four hundred sixty degrees +below zero in the every-day scale of temperature. The moisture of their +breath condensed upon the inside of the double glasses of their helmets, +rendering sight useless. + +[Illustration: DuQuesne seized her and tossed her lightly through the +doorway in such a manner that she would not touch the metal, which would +have frozen instantly anything coming into contact with it.] + +Dorothy pushed the other girl ahead of her. DuQuesne seized her and +tossed her lightly through the doorway in such a manner that she would +not touch the metal, which would have frozen instantly anything coming +into contact with it. Seaton was waiting. Feeling a woman's slender form +in his arms, he crushed her to him in a mighty embrace, and was +astonished to feel movements of resistance, and to hear a strange, +girlish voice cry out: + +"Don't! It's me! Dorothy's next!" + +Releasing her abruptly, he passed her on to Martin and turned just in +time to catch his sweetheart, who, knowing that he would be there and +recognizing his powerful arms at the first touch, returned his embrace +with a fierce intensity which even he had never suspected that she could +exert. They stood motionless, locked in each other's arms, while +DuQuesne dove through the opening and snapped the door shut behind him. + +The air-pressure and temperature back to normal, the cumbersome suits +were hastily removed, and Seaton's lips met Dorothy's in a long, +clinging caress. DuQuesne's cold, incisive voice broke the silence. + +"Every second counts. I would suggest that we go somewhere." + +"Just a minute!" snapped Crane. "Dick, what shall we do with this +murderer?" + +Seaton had forgotten DuQuesne utterly in the joy of holding his +sweetheart in his arms, but at his friend's words, he faced about and +his face grew stern. + +"By rights, we ought to chuck him back into his own tub and let him go +to the devil," he said savagely, doubling his fists and turning swiftly. + +"No, no, Dick," remonstrated Dorothy, seizing his arm. "He treated us +very well, and saved my life once. Anyway, you mustn't kill him." + +"No, I suppose not," grudgingly assented her lover, "and I won't, +either, unless he gives me at least half an excuse." + +"We might iron him to a post?" suggested Crane, doubtfully. + +"I think there's a better way," replied Seaton. "He may be able to work +his way. His brain hits on all twelve, and he's strong as a bull. Our +chance of getting back isn't a certainty, as you know." He turned to +DuQuesne. + +"I've heard that your word is good." + +"It has never been broken." + +"Will you give your word to act as one of the party, for the good of us +all, if we don't iron you?" + +"Yes--until we get back to the earth. Provided, of course, that I +reserve the right to escape at any time between now and then if I wish +to and can do so without injuring the vessel or any member of the party +in any way." + +"Agreed. Let's get busy--we're altogether too close to that dud there to +suit me. Sit tight, everybody, we're on our way!" he cried, as he turned +to the board, applied one notch of power, and shut off the attractor. +The Skylark slowed down a trifle in its mad fall, the other vessel +continued on its way--a helpless hulk, manned by a corpse, falling to +destruction upon the bleak wastes of a desert world. + +"Hold on!" said DuQuesne sharply. "Your power is the same as mine was, +in proportion to your mass, isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"Then our goose is cooked. I couldn't pull away from it with everything +I had, couldn't even swing out enough to make an orbit, either +hyperbolic or elliptical around it. With a reserve bar you will be able +to make an orbit, but you can't get away from it." + +"Thanks for the dope. That saves our wasting some effort. Our +power-plant can be doubled up in emergencies, thanks to Martin's +cautious old bean. We'll simply double her up and go away from here." + + * * * * * + +"There is one thing we didn't consider quite enough," said Crane, +thoughtfully. "I started to faint back there before the full power of +even one motor was in use. With the motor doubled, each of us will be +held down by a force of many tons--we would all be helpless." + +"Yes," added Dorothy, with foreboding in her eyes, "we were all +unconscious on the way out, except Dr. DuQuesne." + +"Well, then, Blackie and I, as the huskiest members of the party, will +give her the juice until only one of us is left with his eyes open. If +that isn't enough to pull us clear, we'll have to give her the whole +works and let her ramble by herself after we all go out. How about it, +Blackie?" unconsciously falling into the old Bureau nickname. "Do you +think we can make it stop at unconsciousness with double power on?" + +DuQuesne studied the two girls carefully. + +"With oxygen in the helmets instead of air, we all may be able to stand +it. These special cushions keep the body from flattening out, as it +normally would under such a pressure. The unconsciousness is simply a +suffocation caused by the lateral muscles being unable to lift the +ribs--in other words, the air-pumps aren't strong enough for the added +work put upon them. At least we stand a chance this way. We may live +through the pressure while we are pulling away, and we certainly shall +die if we don't pull away." + +After a brief consultation, the men set to work with furious haste. +While Crane placed extra bars in each of the motors and DuQuesne made +careful observations upon the apparent size of the now plainly visible +world toward which they were being drawn so irresistibly, Seaton +connected the helmets with the air-and oxygen-tanks through a valve upon +the board, by means of which he could change at will the oxygen content +of the air they breathed. He then placed the strange girl, who seemed +dazed by the frightful sensation of their never-ending fall, upon one of +the seats, fitted the cumbersome helmet upon her head, strapped her +carefully into place, and turned to Dorothy. In an instant they were in +each other's arms. He felt her labored breathing and the wild beating of +her heart, pressed so closely to his, and saw the fear of the unknown in +the violet depths of her eyes, but she looked at him unflinchingly. + +"Dick, sweetheart, if this is good-bye...." + +He interrupted her with a kiss. + +"It isn't good-bye yet, Dottie mine. This is merely a trial effort, to +see what we will have to do to get away. Next time will be the time to +worry." + +"I'm not worried, really ... but in case ... you see ... I ... we ..." + +The gray eyes softened and misted over as he pressed his cheek to hers. + +"I understand, sweetheart," he whispered. "This is not good-bye, but if +we don't pull through we'll go together, and that is what we both want." + +As Crane and DuQuesne finished their tasks, Seaton fitted his +sweetheart's helmet, placed her tenderly upon the seat, buckled the +heavy restraining straps about her slender body, and donned his own +helmet. He took his place at the main instrument board, DuQuesne +stationing himself at the other. + +"What did you read on it, Blackie?" asked Seaton. + +"Two degrees, one minute, twelve seconds diameter," replied DuQuesne. +"Altogether too close for comfort. How shall we apply the power? One of +us must stay awake, or we'll go on as long as the bars last." + +"You put on one notch, then I'll put on one. We can feel the bus jump +with each notch. We'll keep it up until one of us is so far gone that he +can't raise the bar--the one that raises last will have to let the ship +run for thirty minutes or an hour, then cut down his power. Then the +other fellow will revive and cut his off, for an observation. How's +that?" + +"All right." + + * * * * * + +They took their places, and Seaton felt the vessel slow down in its +horrible fall as DuQuesne threw his lever into the first notch. He +responded instantly by advancing his own, and notch after notch the +power applied to the ship by the now doubled motor was rapidly +increased. The passengers felt their suits envelope them and began to +labor for breath. Seaton slowly turned the mixing valve, a little with +each advance of his lever, until pure oxygen flowed through the pipes. +The power levers had moved scarcely half of their range, yet minutes now +intervened between each advance instead of seconds, as at the start. + +As each of the two men was determined that he would make the last +advance, the duel continued longer than either would have thought +possible. Seaton made what he thought his final effort and waited--only +to feel, after a few minutes, the upward surge telling him that DuQuesne +was still able to move his lever. His brain reeled. His arm seemed +paralyzed by its own enormous weight, and felt as though it, the rolling +table upon which it rested, and the supporting framework were so +immovably welded together that it was impossible to move it even the +quarter-inch necessary to operate the ratchet-lever. He could not move +his body, which was oppressed by a sickening weight. His utmost efforts +to breathe forced only a little of the life-giving oxygen into his +lungs, which smarted painfully at the touch of the undiluted gas, and he +felt that he could not long retain consciousness under such conditions. +Nevertheless, he summoned all his strength and advanced the lever one +more notch. He stared at the clock-face above his head, knowing that if +DuQuesne could advance his lever again he would lose consciousness and +be beaten. Minute after minute went by, however, and the acceleration of +the ship remained constant. Seaton, knowing that he was in sole control +of the power-plant, fought to retain possession of his faculties, while +the hands of the clock told off the interminable minutes. + +After an eternity of time an hour had passed, and Seaton attempted to +cut down his power, only to find with horror that the long strain had so +weakened him that he could not reverse the ratchet. He was still able, +however, to give the lever the backward jerk which disconnected the +wires completely--and the safety straps creaked with the sudden stress +as, half the power instantly shut off, the suddenly released springs +tried to hurl five bodies against the ceiling. After a few minutes +DuQuesne revived and slowly cut off his power. To the dismay of both men +they were again falling! + +DuQuesne hurried to the lower window to make the observation, remarking: + +"You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din." + +"Only because you're so badly bunged up. One more notch would've got my +goat," replied Seaton frankly as he made his way to Dorothy's side. He +noticed as he reached her, that Crane had removed his helmet and was +approaching the other girl. By the time DuQuesne had finished the +observation, the other passengers had completely recovered, apparently +none the worse for their experience. + + * * * * * + +"Did we gain anything?" asked Seaton eagerly. + +"I make it two, four, thirteen. We've lost about two minutes of arc. How +much power did we have on?" + +"A little over half--thirty-two points out of sixty possible." + +"We were still falling pretty fast. We'll have to put on everything +we've got. Since neither of us can put it on we'll have to rig up an +automatic feed. It'll take time, but it's the only way." + +"The automatic control is already there," put in Crane, forestalling +Seaton's explanation. "The only question is whether we will live through +it--and that is not really a question, since certain death is the only +alternative. We must do it." + +"We sure must," answered Seaton soberly. + +Dorothy gravely nodded assent. + +"What do you fellows think of a little plus pressure on the oxygen?" +asked Seaton. "I think it would help a lot." + +"I think it's a good idea," said DuQuesne, and Crane added: + +"Four or five inches of water will be about all the pressure we can +stand. Any more might burn our lungs too badly." + +The pressure apparatus was quickly arranged and the motors filled to +capacity with reserve bars--enough to last seventy-two hours--the +scientists having decided that they must risk everything on one trial +and put in enough, if possible, to pull them clear out of the influence +of this center of attraction, as the time lost in slowing up to change +bars might well mean the difference between success and failure. Where +they might lie at the end of the wild dash for safety, how they were to +retrace their way with their depleted supply of copper, what other +dangers of dead star, planet, or sun lay in their path--all these were +terrifying questions that had to be ignored. + + * * * * * + +DuQuesne was the only member of the party who actually felt any +calmness, the quiet of the others expressing their courage in facing +fear. Life seemed very sweet and desirable to them, the distant earth a +very Paradise! Through Dorothy's mind flashed the visions she had built +up during long sweet hours, visions of a long life with Seaton. As she +breathed an inaudible prayer, she glanced up and saw Seaton standing +beside her, gazing down upon her with his very soul in his eyes. Never +would she forget the expression upon his face. Even in that crucial +hour, his great love for her overshadowed every other feeling, and no +thought of self was in his mind--his care was all for her. There was a +long farewell caress. Both knew that it might be goodbye, but both were +silent as the violet eyes and the gray looked into each other's depths +and conveyed messages far beyond the power of words. Once more he +adjusted her helmet and strapped her into place. + +As Crane had in the meantime cared for the other girl, the men again +took their places and Seaton started the motor which would automatically +advance the speed levers, one notch every five seconds, until the full +power of both motors was exerted. As the power was increased, he turned +the valve as before, until the helmets were filled with pure oxygen +under a pressure of five inches of water. + +Margaret Spencer, weakened by her imprisonment, was the first to lose +consciousness, and soon afterward Dorothy felt her senses leave her. A +half-minute, in the course of which six mighty surges were felt, as more +of the power of the doubled motor was released, and Crane had gone, +calmly analyzing his sensations to the last. After a time DuQuesne also +lapsed into unconsciousness, making no particular effort to avoid it, as +he knew that the involuntary muscles would function quite as well +without the direction of the will. Seaton, although he knew it was +useless, fought to keep his senses as long as possible, counting the +impulses he felt as the levers were advanced. + +"Thirty-two." He felt exactly as he had before, when he had advanced the +lever for the last time. + +"Thirty-three." A giant hand shut off his breath completely, though he +was fighting to his utmost for air. An intolerable weight rested upon +his eyeballs, forcing them backward into his head. The universe whirled +about him in dizzy circles--orange and black and green stars flashed +before his bursting eyes. + +"Thirty-four." The stars became more brilliant and of more variegated +colors, and a giant pen dipped in fire was writing equations and +mathematico-chemical symbols upon his quivering brain. He joined the +circling universe, which he had hitherto kept away from him by main +strength, and whirled about his own body, tracing a logarithmic spiral +with infinite velocity--leaving his body an infinite distance behind. + +"Thirty-five." The stars and the fiery pen exploded in a wild +coruscation of searing, blinding light and he plunged from his spiral +into a black abyss. + + * * * * * + +In spite of the terrific stress put upon the machine, every part +functioned perfectly, and soon after Seaton had lost consciousness the +vessel began to draw away from the sinister globe; slowly at first, +faster and faster as more and more of the almost unlimited power of the +mighty motor was released. Soon the levers were out to the last notch +and the machine was exerting its maximum effort. One hour and an +observer upon the Skylark would have seen that the apparent size of the +massive unknown world was rapidly decreasing; twenty hours and it was so +far away as to be invisible, though its effect was still great; forty +hours and the effect was slight; sixty hours and the Skylark was out of +range of the slightest measurable force of the monster it had left. + +Hurtled onward by the inconceivable power of the unleashed copper demon +in its center, the Skylark flew through the infinite reaches of +interstellar space with an unthinkable, almost incalculable +velocity--beside which the velocity of light was as that of a snail to +that of a rifle bullet; a velocity augmented every second by a quantity +almost double that of light itself. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Through Space Into the Carboniferous + + +Seaton opened his eyes and gazed about him wonderingly. Only half +conscious, bruised and sore in every part of his body, he could not at +first realize what had happened. Instinctively drawing a deep breath, he +coughed and choked as the undiluted oxygen filled his lungs, bringing +with it a complete understanding of the situation. Knowing from the lack +of any apparent motion that the power had been sufficient to pull the +car away from that fatal globe, his first thought was for Dorothy, and +he tore off his helmet and turned toward her. The force of even that +slight movement, wafted him gently into the air where he hung suspended +several minutes before his struggles enabled him to clutch a post and +draw himself down to the floor. A quick glance around informed him that +Dorothy, as well as the others, was still unconscious. Making his way +rapidly to her, he placed her face downward upon the floor and began +artificial respiration. Very soon he was rewarded by the coughing he had +longed to hear. He tore off her helmet and clasped her to his breast in +an agony of relief, while she sobbed convulsively upon his shoulder. The +first ecstasy of their greeting over, Dorothy started guiltily. + +"Oh, Dick!" she exclaimed. "How about Peggy? You must see how she is!" + +"Never mind," answered Crane's voice cheerily. "She is coming to +nicely." + +Glancing around quickly, they saw that Crane had already revived the +stranger, and that DuQuesne was not in sight. Dorothy blushed, the vivid +wave of color rising to her glorious hair, and hastily disengaged her +arms from around her lover's neck, drawing away from him. Seaton, also +blushing, dropped his arms, and Dorothy floated away from him, +frantically clutching at a brace just beyond reach. + +"Pull me down, Dick!" she called, laughing gaily. + +Seaton, seizing her instinctively, neglected his own anchorage and they +hung in the air together, while Crane and Margaret, each holding a +strap, laughed with unrestrained merriment. + +"Tweet, tweet--I'm a canary!" chuckled Seaton. "Throw us a rope!" + +"A Dicky-bird, you mean," interposed Dorothy. + +"I knew that you were a sleight-of-hand expert, Dick, but I did not know +that levitation was one of your specialties," remarked Crane with mock +gravity. "That is a peculiar pose you are holding now. What are you +doing--sitting on an imaginary pedestal?" + +"I'll be sitting on your neck if you don't get a wiggle on with that +rope!" retorted Seaton, but before Crane had time to obey the command +the floating couple had approached close enough to the ceiling so that +Seaton, with a slight pressure of his hand against the leather, sent +them floating back to the floor, within reach of one of the handrails. + +Seaton made his way to the power-plant, lifted in one of the remaining +bars, and applied a little power. The Skylark seemed to jump under them, +then it seemed as though they were back on Earth--everything had its +normal weight once more, as the amount of power applied was just enough +to equal the acceleration of gravity. After this fact had been +explained, Dorothy turned to Margaret. + +"Now that we are able to act intelligently, the party should be +introduced to each other. Peggy, this is Dr. Dick Seaton, and this is +Mr. Martin Crane. Boys, this is Miss Margaret Spencer, a dear friend of +mine. These are the boys I have told you so much about, Peggy. Dick +knows all about atoms and things; he found out how to make the Skylark +go. Martin, who is quite a wonderful inventor, made the engines and +things for it." + +"I may have heard of Mr. Crane," replied Margaret eagerly. "My father +was an inventor, and I have heard him speak of a man named Crane who +invented a lot of instruments for airplanes. He used to say that the +Crane instruments revolutionized flying. I wonder if you are that Mr. +Crane?" + +"That is rather unjustifiably high praise, Miss Spencer," replied Crane, +"but as I have been guilty of one or two things along that line, I may +be the man he meant." + +"Pardon me if I seem to change the subject," put in Seaton, "but where's +DuQuesne?" + +"We came to at the same time, and he went into the galley to fix up +something to eat." + +"Good for him!" exclaimed Dorothy. "I'm simply starved to death. I would +have been demanding food long ago, but I have so many aches and pains +that I didn't realize how hungry I was until you mentioned it. Come on, +Peggy, I know where our room is. Let's go powder our noses while these +bewhiskered gentlemen reap their beards. Did you bring along any of my +clothes, Dick, or did you forget them in the excitement?" + +"I didn't think anything about clothes, but Martin did. You'll find your +whole wardrobe in your room. I'm with you, Dot, on that eating +proposition--I'm hungry enough to eat the jamb off the door!" + + * * * * * + +After the girls had gone, Seaton and Crane went to their rooms, where +they exercised vigorously to restore the circulation to their numbed +bodies, shaved, bathed, and returned to the saloon feeling like new men. +They found the girls already there, seated at one of the windows. + +"Hail and greeting!" cried Dorothy at sight of them. "I hardly +recognized you without your whiskers. Do hurry over here and look out +this perfectly wonderful window. Did you ever in your born days see +anything like this sight? Now that I'm not scared pea-green, I can enjoy +it thoroughly!" + +The two men joined the girls and peered out into space through the +window, which was completely invisible, so clear was the glass. As the +four heads bent, so close together, an awed silence fell upon the little +group. For the blackness of the interstellar void was not the dark of an +earthly night, but the absolute black of the absence of all light, +beside which the black of platinum dust is pale and gray; and laid upon +this velvet were the jewel stars. They were not the twinkling, +scintillating beauties of the earthly sky, but minute points, so small +as to seem dimensionless, yet of dazzling brilliance. Without the +interference of the air, their rays met the eye steadily and much of the +effect of comparative distance was lost. All seemed nearer and there was +no hint of familiarity in their arrangement. Like gems thrown upon +darkness they shone in multi-colored beauty upon the daring wanderers, +who stood in their car as easily as though they were upon their parent +Earth, and gazed upon a sight never before seen by eye of man nor +pictured in his imaginings. + +Through the daze of their wonder, a thought smote Seaton like a blow +from a fist. His eyes leaped to the instrument board and he exclaimed: + +"Look there, Mart! We're heading almost directly away from the Earth, +and we must be making billions of miles per second. After we lost +consciousness, the attraction of that big dud back there would swing us +around, of course, but the bar should have stayed pointed somewhere near +the Earth, as I left it. Do you suppose it could have shifted the +gyroscopes?" + +"It not only could have, it did," replied Crane, turning the bar until +it again pointed parallel with the object-compass which bore upon the +Earth. "Look at the board. The angle has been changed through nearly +half a circumference. We couldn't carry gyroscopes heavy enough to +counteract that force." + +"But they were heavier there--Oh, sure, you're right. It's mass, not +weight, that counts. But we sure are in one fine, large jam now. Instead +of being half-way back to the Earth we're--where are we, anyway?" + +They made a reading on an object-compass focused upon the Earth. +Seaton's face lengthened as seconds passed. When it had come to rest, +both men calculated the distance. + +"What d'you make it, Mart? I'm afraid to tell you my result." + +"Forty-six point twenty-seven light-centuries," replied Crane, calmly. +"Right?" + +"Right, and the time was 11:32 P. M. of Thursday, by the chronometer +there. We'll time it again after a while and see how fast we're +traveling. It's a good thing you built the ship's chronometers to stand +any kind of stress. My watch is a total loss. Yours is, too?" + +"All of our watches must be broken. We will have to repair them as soon +as we get time." + +"Well, let's eat next! No human being can stand my aching void much +longer. How about you, Dot?" + +"Yes, for Cat's sake, let's get busy!" she mimicked him gaily. "Doctor +DuQuesne's had dinner ready for ages, and we're all dying by inches of +hunger." + + * * * * * + +The wanderers, battered, bruised, and sore, seated themselves at a +folding table, Seaton keeping a watchful eye upon the bar and upon the +course, while enjoying Dorothy's presence to the full. Crane and +Margaret talked easily, but at intervals. Save when directly addressed. +DuQuesne maintained silence--not the silence of one who knows himself to +be an intruder, but the silence of perfect self-sufficiency. The meal +over, the girls washed the dishes and busied themselves in the galley. +Seaton and Crane made another observation upon the Earth, requesting +DuQuesne to stay out of the "engine room" as they called the +partially-enclosed space surrounding the main instrument board, where +were located the object-compasses and the mechanism controlling the +attractor, about which DuQuesne knew nothing. As they rejoined DuQuesne +in the main compartment, Seaton said: + +"DuQuesne, we're nearly five thousand light-years away from the Earth, +and are getting farther at the rate of about one light-year per minute." + +"I suppose that it would be poor technique to ask how you know?" + +"It would--very poor. Our figures are right. The difficulty is that we +have only four bars left--enough to stop us and a little to spare, but +not nearly enough to get back with, even if we could take a chance on +drifting straight that far without being swung off--which, of course, is +impossible." + +"That means that we must land somewhere and dig some copper, then." + +"Exactly. + +"The first thing to do is to find a place to land." + +Seaton picked out a distant star in their course and observed it through +the spectroscope. Since it was found to contain copper in notable +amounts, all agreed that its planets probably also contained copper. + +"Don't know whether we can stop that soon or not," remarked Seaton as he +set the levers, "but we may as well have something to shoot at. We'd +better take our regular twelve-hour tricks, hadn't we, Mart? It's a +wonder we got as far as this without striking another snag. I'll take +the first trick at the board--beat it to bed." + +"Not so fast, Dick," argued Crane, as Seaton turned toward the +engine-room: "It's my turn." + +"Flip a nickel," suggested Seaton. "Heads I get it." + +Crane flipped a coin. Heads it was, and the worn-out party went to their +rooms, all save Dorothy, who lingered after the others to bid her lover +a more intimate good-night. + +Seated beside him, his arm around her and her head upon his shoulder, +Dorothy exclaimed: + +"Oh, Dicky, Dicky, it is wonderful to be with you again! I've lived as +many years in the last week as we have covered miles!" + +Seaton kissed her with ardor, then turned her fair face up to his and +gazed hungrily at every feature. + +"It sure was awful until we found you, sweetheart girl. Those two days +at Wilson's were the worst and longest I ever put in. I could have wrung +Martin's cautious old neck! + +"But isn't he a wiz at preparing for trouble? We sure owe him a lot, +little dimpled lady." + +Dorothy was silent for a moment, then a smile quirked at one corner of +her mouth and a dimple appeared. Seaton promptly kissed it, whereupon it +deepened audaciously. + +"What are you thinking about--mischief?" he asked. + +"Only of how Martin is going to be paid what we owe him," she answered +teasingly. "Don't let the debt worry you any." + +"Spill the news, Reddy," he commanded, as his arm tightened about her. + +She stuck out a tiny tip of red tongue at him. + +"Don't let Peggy find out he's a millionaire." + +"Why not?" he asked wonderingly, then he saw her point and laughed: + +"You little matchmaker!" + +"I don't care, laugh if you want to. Martin's as nice a man as I know, +and Peggy's a real darling. Don't you let slip a word about Martin's +money, that's all!" + +"She wouldn't think any less of him, would she?" + +"Dick, sometimes you are absolutely dumb. It would spoil everything. If +she knew he was a millionaire she would be scared to death--not of him, +of course, but because she would think that he would think that she was +chasing him, and then of course he would think that she was, see? As it +is, she acts perfectly natural, and so does he. Didn't you notice that +while we were eating they talked together for at least fifteen minutes +about her father's invention and the way they stole the plans and one +thing and another? I don't believe he has talked that much to any girl +except me the last five years--and he wouldn't talk to me until he knew +that I couldn't see any man except you. Much as we like Martin, we've +got to admit that about him. He's been chased so much that he's wild. If +any other girl he knows had talked to him that long, he would have been +off to the North Pole or somewhere the next morning, and the best part +of it is that he didn't think anything of it." + + * * * * * + +"You think she is domesticating the wild man?" + +"Now, Dick, don't be foolish. You know what I mean. Martin is a perfect +dear, but if she knew that he is _the_ M. Reynolds Crane, everything +would be ruined. You know yourself how horribly hard it is to get +through his shell to the real Martin underneath. He is lonely and +miserable inside, I know, and the right kind of girl, one that would +treat him right, would make life Heaven for him, and herself too." + +"Yes, and the wrong kind would make it...." + +"She would," interrupted Dorothy hastily, "but Peggy's the right kind. +Wouldn't it be fine to have Martin and Peggy as happy, almost, as you +and I are?" + +"All right, girlie, I'm with you," he answered, embracing her as though +he intended never to let her go, "but you'd better go get some +sleep--you're all in." + +Considerably later, when Dorothy had finally gone, Seaton settled +himself for the long vigil. Promptly at the end of the twelve hours +Crane appeared, alert of eye and of bearing. + +"You look fresh as a daisy, Mart. Feeling fit?" + +"Fit as the proverbial fiddle. I could not have slept any better or +longer if I had had a week off. Seven hours and a half is a luxury, you +know." + +"All wrong, old top. I need eight every night, and I'm going to take +about ten this time." + +"Go to it, twelve if you like. You have earned it." + +Seaton stumbled to his room and slept as though in a trance for ten +hours. Rising, he took his regular morning exercises and went into the +saloon. All save Martin were there, but he had eyes only for his +sweetheart, who was radiantly beautiful in a dress of deep bronze-brown. + +"Good morning, Dick," she hailed him joyously. "You woke up just in +time--we are all starving again, and were just going to eat without +you!" + +"Good morning, everybody. I would like to eat with you, Dottie, but I've +got to relieve Martin. How'd it be for you to bring breakfast into the +engine room and cheer my solitude, and let Crane eat with the others?" + +"Fine--that's once you had a good idea, if you never have another!" + +After the meal DuQuesne, who abhorred idleness with all his vigorous +nature, took the watches of the party and went upstairs to the "shop," +which was a completely-equipped mechanical laboratory, to repair them. +Seaton stayed at the board, where Dorothy joined him as a matter of +course. Crane and Margaret sat down at one of the windows. + +She told him her story, frankly and fully, shuddering with horror as she +recalled the awful, helpless fall, during which Perkins had met his end. + +"Dick and I have a heavy score to settle with that Steel crowd and with +DuQuesne," Crane said slowly. "We have no evidence that will hold in +law, but some day DuQuesne will over-reach himself. We could convict him +of abduction now, but the penalty for that is too mild for what he has +done. Perkins' death was not murder, then?" + +"Oh, no, it was purely self-defense. Perkins would have killed him if he +could. And he really deserved it--Perkins was a perfect fiend. The +Doctor, as they call him, is no better, although entirely different. He +is so utterly heartless and ruthless, so cold and scientific. Do you +know him very well?" + +"We know all that about him, and more. And yet Dorothy said he saved her +life?" + +"He did, from Perkins, but I still think it was because he didn't want +Perkins meddling in his affairs. He seems to me to be the very +incarnation of a fixed purpose--to advance himself in the world." + +"That expresses my thoughts exactly. But he slips occasionally, as in +this instance, and he will again. He will have to walk very carefully +while he is with us. Nothing would please Dick better than an excuse for +killing him, and I must admit that I feel very much the same way." + +"Yes, all of us do, and the way he acts proves what a machine he is. He +knows just exactly how far to go, and never goes beyond it." + +They felt the Skylark lurch slightly. + +"Oh, Mart!" called Seaton. "Going to pass that star we were headed +for--too fast to stop. I'm giving it a wide berth and picking out +another one. There's a big planet a few million miles off in line with +the main door, and another one almost dead ahead--that is, straight +down. We sure are traveling. Look at that sun flit by!" + + * * * * * + +They saw the two planets, one like a small moon, the other like a large +star, and saw the strange sun increase rapidly in size as the Skylark +flew on at such a pace that any earthly distance would have been covered +as soon as it was begun. So appalling was their velocity that their ship +was bathed in the light of that sun for only a short time, then was +again surrounded by the indescribable darkness. Their seventy-two-hour +flight without a pilot had seemed a miracle, now it seemed entirely +possible that they might fly in a straight line for weeks without +encountering any obstacle, so vast was the emptiness in comparison with +the points of light that punctuated it. Now and then they passed so +close to a star that it apparently moved rapidly, but for the most part +the silent sentinels stood, like distant mountain peaks to the travelers +in an express train, in the same position for many minutes. + +Awed by the immensity of the universe, the two at the window were +silent, not with the silence of embarrassment, but with that of two +friends in the presence of something beyond the reach of words. As they +stared out into the infinity each felt as never before the pitiful +smallness of even our whole solar system and the utter insignificance of +human beings and their works. Silently their minds reached out to each +other in mutual understanding. + +Unconsciously Margaret half shuddered and moved closer to her +companion, the movement attracting his attention but not her own. A +tender expression came into Crane's steady blue eyes as he looked down +at the beautiful young woman by his side. For beautiful she undoubtedly +was. Untroubled rest and plentiful food had erased the marks of her +imprisonment; Dorothy's deep, manifestly unassumed faith in the ability +of Seaton and Crane to bring them safely back to Earth had quieted her +fears; and a complete costume of Dorothy's simple but well-cut clothes, +which fitted her perfectly, and in which she looked her best and knew +it, had completely restored her self-possession. He quickly glanced away +and again gazed at the stars, but now, in addition to the wonders of +space, he saw masses of wavy black hair, high-piled upon a queenly head; +deep down brown eyes half veiled by long, black lashes; sweet, sensitive +lips; a firmly rounded but dimpled chin; and a perfectly-formed young +body. + +After a time she drew a deep, tremulous breath. As he turned, her eyes +met his. In their shadowy depths, still troubled by the mystery of the +unknowable, he read her very soul--the soul of a real woman. + +"I had hoped," said Margaret slowly, "to take a long flight above the +clouds, but anything like this never entered my mind. How unbelievably +great it is! So much vaster than any perception we could get upon earth! +It seems strange that we were ever awed by the sea or the mountains ... +and yet...." + +She paused, with her lip caught under two white teeth, then went on +hesitatingly: + +"Doesn't it seem to you, Mr. Crane, that there is something in man as +great as all this? Otherwise, Dorothy and I could not be sailing here in +a wonder like the Lark, which you and Dick Seaton have made." + + * * * * * + +Since from the first, Dorothy had timed her waking hours with those of +Seaton--waiting upon him, preparing his meals, and lightening the long +hours of his vigils at the board--Margaret took it upon herself to do +the same thing for Crane. But often they assembled in the engine-room, +and there was much fun and laughter, as well as serious talk, among the +four. Margaret was quickly accepted as a friend, and proved a delightful +companion. Her wavy, jet-black hair, the only color in the world that +could hold its own with Dorothy's auburn glory, framed features +self-reliant and strong, yet of womanly softness; and in this genial +atmosphere her quick tongue had a delicate wit and a facility of +expression that delighted all three. Dorothy, after the manner of +Southern women, became the hostess of this odd "party," as she styled +it, and unconsciously adopted the attitude of a lady in her own home. + +Early in their flight, Crane suggested that they should take notes upon +the systems of stars through which were passing. + +"I know very little of astronomy," he said to Seaton, "but with our +telescope, spectroscope, and other instruments, we should be able to +take some data that will be of interest to astronomers. Possibly Miss +Spencer would be willing to help us?" + +"Sure," Seaton returned readily. "We'd be idiots to let a chance like +this slide. Go to it!" + +Margaret was delighted at the opportunity to help. + +"Taking notes is the best thing I do!" she cried, and called for a pad +and pencil. + +Stationed at the window, they fell to work in earnest. For several hours +Crane took observations, calculated distances, and dictated notes to +Margaret. + +"The stars are wonderfully different!" she exclaimed to him once. "That +planet, I'm sure, has strange and lovely life upon it. See how its color +differs from most of the others we have seen so near? It is rosy and +soft like a home fire. I'm sure its people are happy." + +They fell into a long discussion, laughing a little at their fancies. +Were these multitudes of worlds peopled as the Earth? Could it be that +only upon Earth had occurred the right combination for the generation of +life, so that the rest of the Universe was unpeopled? + +"It is unthinkable that they are all uninhabited," mused Crane. "There +must be life. The beings may not exist in any form with which we are +familiar--they may well be fulfilling some purpose in ways so different +from ours that we should be unable to understand them at all." + +Margaret's eyes widened in startled apprehension, but in a moment she +shook herself and laughed. + +"But there's no reason to suppose they would be awful," she remarked, +and turned with renewed interest to the window. + +Thus days went by and the Skylark passed one solar system after another, +with a velocity so great that it was impossible to land upon any planet. +Margaret's association with Crane, begun as a duty, soon became an +intense pleasure for them both. Taking notes or seated at the board in +companionable conversation or sympathetic silence, they compressed into +a few days more real companionship than is ordinarily enjoyed in months. +Oftener and oftener, as time went on, Crane found the vision of his +dream home floating in his mind as he steered the Skylark in her +meteoric flight or as he strapped himself into his narrow bed. Now, +however, the central figure of the vision, instead of being an +indistinct blur, was clear and sharply defined. And for her part, more +and more was Margaret drawn to the quiet and unassuming, but utterly +dependable and steadfast young inventor, with his wide knowledge and his +keen, incisive mind. + + * * * * * + +Sometimes, when far from any star, the pilot would desert his post and +join the others at meals. Upon one such occasion Seaton asked: + +"How's the book on astronomy, oh, learned ones?" + +"It will be as interesting as Egyptian hieroglyphics," Margaret replied, +as she opened her notebook and showed him pages of figures and symbols. + +"May I see it, Miss Spencer?" asked DuQuesne from across the small +table, extending his hand. + +She looked at him, hot hostility in her brown eyes, and he dropped his +hand. + +"I beg your pardon," he said, with amused irony. + +After the meal Seaton and Crane held a short consultation, and the +former called to the girls, asking them to join in the "council of war." +There was a moment's silence before Crane said diffidently: + +"We have been talking about DuQuesne, Miss Spencer, trying to decide a +very important problem." + +Seaton smiled in spite of himself as the color again deepened in +Margaret's face, and Dorothy laughed outright. + +"Talk about a red-headed temper! Your hair must be dyed, Peggy!" + +"I know I acted like a naughty child," Margaret said ruefully, "but he +makes me perfectly furious and scares me at the same time. A few more +remarks like that 'I beg your pardon' of his and I wouldn't have a +thought left in my head!" + +Seaton, who had opened his mouth, shut it again ludicrously, without +saying a word, and Margaret gave him a startled glance. + +"Now I _have_ said it!" she exclaimed. "I'm not afraid of him, boys, +really. What do you want me to do?" + +Seaton plunged in. + +"What we were trying to get up nerve enough to say is that he'd be a +good man on the astronomy job," and Crane added quickly: + +"He undoubtedly knows more about it than I do, and it would be a pity to +lose the chance of using him. Besides, Dick and I think it rather +dangerous to leave him so much time to himself, in which to work up a +plan against us." + +"He's cooking one right now, I'll bet a hat," Seaton put in, and Crane +added: + +"If you are sure that you have no objections, Miss Spencer, we might go +below, where we can have it dark, and all three of us see what we can +make of the stargazing. We are really losing an unusual opportunity." + +Margaret hid gallantly any reluctance she might have felt. + +"I wouldn't deserve to be here if I can't work with the Doctor and hate +him at the same time." + +"Good for you, Peg, you're a regular fellow!" Seaton exclaimed. "You're +a trump!" + + * * * * * + +Finally, the enormous velocity of the cruiser was sufficiently reduced +to effect a landing, a copper-bearing sun was located, and a course was +laid toward its nearest planet. + +As the vessel approached its goal a deep undercurrent of excitement kept +all the passengers feverishly occupied. They watched the distant globe +grow larger, glowing through its atmosphere more and more clearly as a +great disk of white light, its outline softened by the air about it. Two +satellites were close beside it. Its sun, a great, blazing orb, a little +nearer than the planet, looked so great and so hot that Margaret became +uneasy. + +"Isn't it dangerous to get so close, Dick? We might burn up, mightn't +we?" + +"Not without an atmosphere," he laughed. + +"Oh," murmured the girl apologetically, "I might have known that." + +Dropping rapidly into the atmosphere of the planet, they measured its +density and analyzed it in apparatus installed for that purpose, finding +that its composition was very similar to the Earth's air and that its +pressure was not enough greater to be uncomfortable. When within one +thousand feet of the surface, Seaton weighed a five-pound weight upon a +spring-balance, finding that it weighed five and a half pounds, thus +ascertaining that the planet was either somewhat larger than the Earth +or more dense. The ground was almost hidden by a rank growth of +vegetation, but here and there appeared glade-like openings. + +Seaton glanced at the faces about him. Tense interest marked them all. +Dorothy's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shone. She looked at him with +awe and pride. + +"A strange world, Dorothy," he said gravely. "You are not afraid?" + +"Not with you," she answered. "I am only thrilled with wonder." + +"Columbus at San Salvador," said Margaret, her dark eyes paying their +tribute of admiration. + +A dark flush mounted swiftly into Seaton's brown face and he sought to +throw most of the burden upon Crane, but catching upon his face also a +look of praise, almost of tenderness, he quickly turned to the controls. + +"Man the boats!" he ordered an imaginary crew, and the Skylark descended +rapidly. + +Landing upon one of the open spaces, they found the ground solid and +stepped out. What had appeared to be a glade was in reality a rock, or +rather, a ledge of apparently solid metal, with scarcely a loose +fragment to be seen. At one end of the ledge rose a giant tree +wonderfully symmetrical, but of a peculiar form. Its branches were +longer at the top than at the bottom, and it possessed broad, dark-green +leaves, long thorns, and odd, flexible, shoot-like tendrils. It stood as +an outpost of the dense vegetation beyond. Totally unlike the forests of +Earth were those fern-like trees, towering two hundred feet into the +air. They were of an intensely vivid green and stood motionless in the +still, hot air of noonday. Not a sign of animal life was to be seen; the +whole landscape seemed asleep. + +The five strangers stood near their vessel, conversing in low tones and +enjoying the sensation of solid ground beneath their feet. After a few +minutes DuQuesne remarked: + +"This is undoubtedly a newer planet than ours. I should say that it was +in the Carboniferous age. Aren't those trees like those in the +coal-measures, Seaton?" + +"True as time, Blackie--there probably won't be a human race here for +ages, unless we bring out some colonists." + +Seaton kicked at one of the loose lumps of metal questioningly with his +heavy shoe, finding that it was as immovable as though it were part of +the ledge. Bending over, he found that it required all his great +strength to lift it and he stared at it with an expression of surprise, +which turned to amazement as he peered closer. + +"DuQuesne! Look at this!" + + * * * * * + +DuQuesne studied the metal, and was shaken out of his habitual +taciturnity. + +"Platinum, by all the little gods!" + +"We'll grab some of this while the grabbing's good," announced Seaton, +and the few visible lumps were rolled into the car. "If we had a pickaxe +we could chop some more off one of those sharp ledges down there." + +"There's an axe in the shop," replied DuQuesne. "I'll go get it. Go +ahead, I'll soon be with you." + +"Keep close together," warned Crane as the four moved slowly down the +slope. "This is none too safe, Dick." + +"No, it isn't, Mart. But we've got to see whether we can't find some +copper, and I would like to get some more of this stuff, too. I don't +think it's platinum, I believe that it's X." + +As they reached the broken projections, Margaret glanced back over her +shoulder and screamed. The others saw that her face was white and her +eyes wide with horror, and Seaton instinctively drew his pistol as he +whirled about, only to check his finger on the trigger and lower his +hand. + +"Nothing but X-plosive bullets," he growled in disgust, and in helpless +silence the four watched an unspeakably hideous monster slowly appear +from behind the Skylark. Its four huge, squat legs supported a body at +least a hundred feet long, pursy and ungainly; at the extremity of a +long and sinuous neck a comparatively small head seemed composed +entirely of a cavernous mouth armed with row upon row of carnivorous +teeth. Dorothy gasped with terror and both girls shrank closer to the +two men, who maintained a baffled silence as the huge beast passed his +revolting head along the hull of the vessel. + +"I dare not shoot, Martin," Seaton whispered, "it would wreck the bus. +Have you got any solid bullets?" + +"No. We must hide behind these small ledges until it goes away," +answered Crane, his eyes upon Margaret's colorless face. "You two hide +behind that one, we will take this one." + +"Oh, well, it's nothing to worry about, anyway. We can kill him as soon +as he gets far enough away from the boat," said Seaton as, with Dorothy +clinging to him, he dropped behind one of the ledges. Margaret, her +staring eyes fixed upon the monster, remained standing until Crane +touched her gently and drew her down beside him. + +"He will go away soon," his even voice assured her. "We are in no +danger." + +In spite of their predicament, a feeling of happiness flowed through +Crane's whole being as he crouched beside the wall of metal with one arm +protectingly around Margaret, and he longed to protect her through life +as he was protecting her then. Accustomed as he was to dangerous +situations, he felt no fear. He felt only a great tenderness for the +girl by his side, who had ceased trembling but was still staring +wide-eyed at the monster through a crevice. + +"Scared, Peggy?" he whispered. + +"Not now, Martin, but if you weren't here I would die of fright." + +At this reply his arm tightened involuntarily, but he forced it to +relax. + +"It will not be long," he promised himself silently, "until she is back +at home among her friends, and then...." + +There came the crack of a rifle from the Skylark. There was an awful +roar from the dinosaur, which was quickly silenced by a stream of +machine-gun bullets. + +"Blackie's on the job--let's go!" cried Seaton, and they raced up the +slope. Making a detour to avoid the writhing and mutilated mass they +plunged through the opening door. DuQuesne shut it behind them and in +overwhelming relief, the adventurers huddled together as from the +wilderness without there arose an appalling tumult. + + * * * * * + +The scene, so quiet a few moments before, was instantly changed. The +trees, the swamp, and the air seemed filled with monsters so hideous as +to stagger the imagination. Winged lizards of prodigious size hurtled +through the air, plunging to death against the armored hull. +Indescribable flying monsters, with feathers like birds, but with the +fangs of tigers, attacked viciously. Dorothy screamed and started back +as a scorpion-like thing with a body ten feet in length leaped at the +window in front of her, its terrible sting spraying the glass with +venom. As it fell to the ground, a huge spider--if an eight-legged +creature with spines instead of hair, many-faceted eyes, and a bloated, +globular body weighing hundreds of pounds, may be called a +spider--leaped upon it and, mighty mandibles against poisonous sting, +the furious battle raged. Several twelve-foot cockroaches climbed nimbly +across the fallen timber of the morass and began feeding voraciously +upon the body of the dead dinosaur, only to be driven away by another +animal, which all three men recognized instantly as that king of all +prehistoric creatures, the saber-toothed tiger. This newcomer, a tawny +beast towering fifteen feet high at the shoulder, had a mouth +disproportionate even to his great size--a mouth armed with four great +tiger-teeth more than three feet in length. He had barely begun his +meal, however, when he was challenged by another nightmare, a something +apparently half-way between a dinosaur and a crocodile. At the first +note the tiger charged. Clawing, striking, rending each other with their +terrible teeth, a veritable avalanche of bloodthirsty rage, the +combatants stormed up and down the little island. But the fighters were +rudely interrupted, and the earthly visitors discovered that in this +primitive world it was not only animal life that was dangerous. + +[Illustration: The great tree standing on the farther edge of the island +suddenly bent over, lashing out like a snake and grasping both. It +transfixed them with the terrible thorns, which were now seen to be +armed with needlepoints and to possess barbs like fish-hooks.] + +The great tree standing on the farther edge of the island suddenly bent +over, lashing out like a snake and grasping both. It transfixed them +with the terrible thorns, which were now seen to be armed with +needlepoints and to possess barbs like fish-hooks. It ripped at them +with the long branches, which were veritable spears. The broad leaves, +armed with revolting sucking disks, closed about the two animals, while +the long, slender twigs, each of which was now seen to have an eye at +its extremity, waved about, watching each movement of the captives from +a safe distance. + +If the struggle between the two animals had been awful, this was +Titanic. The air was torn by the roars of the reptile, the screams of +the great cat, and the shrieks of the tree. The very ground rocked with +the ferocity of the conflict. There could be but one result--soon the +tree, having absorbed the two gladiators, resumed its upright position +in all its beauty. + +The members of the little group stared at each other, sick at heart. + +"This is NO place to start a copper-mine. I think we'd better beat it," +remarked Seaton presently, wiping drops of perspiration from his +forehead. + +"I think so," acquiesced Crane. "We found air and Earth-like conditions +here; we probably will elsewhere." + +"Are you all right, Dottie?" asked Seaton. + +"All right, Dicky," she replied, the color flowing back into her cheeks. +"It scared me stiff, and I think I have a lot of white hairs right now, +but I wouldn't have missed it for anything." + +She paused an instant, and continued: + +"Dick, there must be a queer streak of brutality in me, but would you +mind blowing up that frightful tree? I wouldn't mind its nature if it +were ugly--but look at it! It's so deceptively beautiful! You wouldn't +think it had the disposition of a fiend, would you?" + + * * * * * + +A general laugh relieved the nervous tension, and Seaton stepped +impulsively toward DuQuesne with his hand outstretched. + +"You've squared your account, Blackie. Say the word and the war's all +off." + +DuQuesne ignored the hand and glanced coldly at the group of eager, +friendly faces. + +"Don't be sentimental," he remarked evenly as he turned away to his +room. "Emotional scenes pain me. I gave my word to act as one of the +party." + +"Well, may I be kicked to death by little red spiders!" exclaimed +Seaton, dumbfounded, as the other disappeared. "He ain't a man, he's a +fish!" + +"He's a machine. I always thought so, and now I know it," stated +Margaret, and the others nodded agreement. + +"Well, we'll sure pull his cork as soon as we get back!" snapped Seaton. +"He asked for it, and we'll give him both barrels!" + +"I know I acted the fool out there," Margaret apologized, flushing hotly +and looking at Crane. "I don't know what made me act so stupid. I used +to have a little nerve." + +"You were a regular little brick, Peg," Seaton returned instantly. "Both +you girls are all to the good--the right kind to have along in ticklish +places." + +Crane held out his steady hand and took Margaret's in a warm clasp. + +"For a girl in your weakened condition you were wonderful. You have no +reason to reproach yourself." + +Tears filled the dark eyes, but were held back bravely as she held her +head erect and returned the pressure of his hand. + +"Just so you don't leave me behind next time," she returned lightly, and +the last word concerning the incident had been said. + +Seaton applied the power and soon they were approaching another planet, +which was surrounded by a dense fog. Descending slowly, they found it to +be a mass of boiling-hot steam and rank vapors, under enormous pressure. + +The next planet they found to have a clear atmosphere, but the ground +had a peculiar, barren look; and analysis of the gaseous envelope proved +it to be composed almost entirely of chlorin. No life of an earthly type +could be possible upon such a world, and a search for copper, even with +the suits and helmets, would probably be fruitless if not impossible. + +"Well," remarked Seaton as they were again in space, "we've got enough +copper to visit several more worlds--several more solar systems, if +necessary. But there's a nice, hopeful-looking planet right in front of +us. It may be the one we're looking for." + +Arrived in the belt of atmosphere, they tested it as before, and found +it satisfactory. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Mastery of Mind Over Matter + + +They descended rapidly, directly over a large and imposing city in the +middle of a vast, level, beautifully-planted plain. While they were +watching it, the city vanished and the plain was transformed into a +heavily-timbered mountain summit, the valleys falling away upon all +sides as far as the eye could reach. + +"Well, I'll say that's SOME mirage!" exclaimed Seaton, rubbing his eyes +in astonishment. "I've seen mirages before, but never anything like +that. Wonder what this air's made of? But we'll land, anyway, if we +finally have to swim!" + +The ship landed gently upon the summit, the occupants half expecting to +see the ground disappear before their eyes. Nothing happened, however, +and they disembarked, finding walking somewhat difficult because of the +great mass of the planet. Looking around, they could see no sign of +life, but they _felt_ a presence near them--a vast, invisible something. + +Suddenly, out of the air in front of Seaton, a man materialized: a man +identical with him in every feature and detail, even to the smudge of +grease under one eye, the small wrinkles in his heavy blue serge suit, +and the emblem of the American Chemical Society upon his watch-fob. + +"Hello, folks," the stranger began in Seaton's characteristic careless +speech. "I see you're surprised at my knowing your language. You're a +very inferior race of animals--don't even understand telepathy, don't +understand the luminiferous ether, or the relation between time and +space. Your greatest things, such as the Skylark and your +object-compass, are merely toys." + +Changing instantly from Seaton's form to that of Dorothy, likewise a +perfect imitation, the stranger continued without a break: + +"Atoms and electrons and things, spinning and whirling in their dizzy +little orbits...." It broke off abruptly, continuing in the form of +DuQuesne: + +"Couldn't make myself clear as Miss Vaneman--not a scientific +convolution in her foolish little brain. You are a freer type, DuQuesne, +unhampered by foolish, soft fancies. But you are very clumsy, although +working fairly well with your poor tools--Brookings and his +organization, the Perkins Café and its clumsy wireless telephones. All +of you are extremely low in the scale. Such animals have not been known +in our universe for ten million years, which is as far back as I can +remember. You have millions of years to go before you will amount to +anything; before you will even rise above death and its attendant +necessity, sex." + +The strange being then assumed form after form with bewildering +rapidity, while the spectators stared in dumb astonishment. In rapid +succession it took on the likeness of each member of the party, of the +vessel itself, of the watch in Seaton's pocket--reappearing as Seaton. + +"Well, bunch," it said in a matter-of-fact voice, "there's no mental +exercise in you and you're such a low form of life that you're of no use +on this planet; so I'll dematerialize you." + + * * * * * + +A peculiar light came into its eyes as they stared intently into +Seaton's, and he felt his senses reel under the impact of an awful +mental force, but he fought back with all his power and remained +standing. + +"What's this?" the stranger demanded in surprise, "This is the first +time in history that mere matter--which is only a manifestation of +mind--has ever refused to obey mind. There's a screw loose somewhere." + +"I must reason this out," it continued analytically, changing +instantaneously into Crane's likeness. "Ah! I am not a perfect +reproduction. This is the first matter I have ever encountered that I +could not reproduce perfectly. There is some subtle difference. The +external form is the same, the organic structure likewise. The molecules +of substance are arranged as they should be, as are also the atoms in +the molecule. The electrons in the atom--ah! There is the difficulty. +The arrangement and number of electrons, as well as positive charges, +are entirely different from what I had supposed. I must derive the +formula." + +"Let's go, folks!" said Seaton hastily, drawing Dorothy back toward the +Skylark. "This dematerialization stunt may be play for him, but I don't +want any of it in my family." + +"No, you really _must_ stay," remonstrated the stranger. "Much as it is +against my principles to employ brute force, you must stay and be +properly dematerialized, alive or dead. Science demands it." + +As he spoke, he started to draw his automatic pistol. Being in Crane's +form, he drew slowly, as Crane did; and Seaton, with the dexterity of +much sleight-of-hand work and of years of familiarity with his weapon, +drew and fired in one incredibly rapid movement, before the other had +withdrawn the pistol from his pocket. The X-plosive shell completely +volatilized the stranger and hurled the party backward toward the +Skylark, into which they fled hastily. As Crane, the last one to enter +the vessel, fired his pistol and closed the massive door, Seaton leaped +to the levers. As he did so, he saw a creature materialize in the air of +the vessel and fall to the floor with a crash as he threw on the power. +It was a frightful thing, like nothing ever before seen upon any world; +with great teeth, long, sharp claws, and an automatic pistol clutched +firmly in a human hand. Forced flat by the terrific acceleration of the +vessel, it was unable to lift either itself or the weapon, and lay +helpless. + +"We take one trick, anyway!" blazed Seaton, as he threw on the power of +the attractor and diffused its force into a screen over the party, so +that the enemy could not materialize in the air above them and crush +them by mere weight. "As pure mental force, you're entirely out of my +class, but when you come down to matter, which I can understand, I'll +give you a run for your money until my angles catch fire." + +"That is a childish defiance. It speaks well for your courage, but ill +for your intelligence," the animal said, and vanished. + +A moment later Seaton's hair almost stood on end as he saw an automatic +pistol appear upon the board directly in front of him, clamped to it by +bands of steel. Paralyzed by this unlooked-for demonstration of the +mastery of mind over matter, unable to move a muscle, he lay helpless, +staring at the engine of death in front of him. Although the whole +proceeding occupied only a fraction of a second, it seemed to Seaton as +though he watched the weapon for hours. As the sleeve drew back, cocking +the pistol and throwing a cartridge into the chamber, the trigger moved, +and the hammer descended to speed on its way the bullet which was to +blot out his life. There was a sharp click as the hammer fell--Seaton +was surprised to find himself still alive until a voice spoke, +apparently from the muzzle of the pistol, with the harsh sound of a +metallic diaphragm. + +"I was almost certain that it wouldn't explode," the stranger said, +chattily. "You see, I haven't derived that formula yet, so I couldn't +make a real explosive. I could of course, materialize beside you, under +your protective screen, and crush you in a vise. I could materialize as +a man of metal, able to stand up under this acceleration, and do you to +death. I could even, by a sufficient expenditure of mental energy, +materialize a planet around your ship and crush it. However, these crude +methods are distasteful in the extreme, especially since you have +already given me some slight and unexpected mental exercise. In return, +I shall give you one chance for your lives. I cannot dematerialize +either you or your vessel until I work out the formula for your peculiar +atomic structure. If I can derive the formula before you reach the +boundaries of my home-space, beyond which I cannot go, I shall let you +go free. Deriving the formula will be a neat little problem. It should +be fairly easy, as it involves only a simple integration in ninety-seven +dimensions." + + * * * * * + +Silence ensued, and Seaton advanced his lever to the limit of his +ability to retain consciousness. Almost overcome by the horror of their +position, in an agony of suspense, expecting every instant to be hurled +into nothingness, he battled on, with no thought of yielding, even in +the face of those overwhelming mental odds. + +"You can't do it, old top," he thought savagely, concentrating all the +power of his highly-trained mind against the intellectual monster. "You +can't dematerialize us, and you can't integrate above ninety-five +dimensions to save your neck. You can't do it--you're slipping--you're +all balled up right now!" + +For more than an hour the silent battle raged, during which time the +Skylark flew millions upon millions of miles toward Earth. Finally the +stranger spoke again. + +"You three win," it said abruptly. In answer to the unspoken surprise of +all three men it went on: "Yes, all three of you got the same idea and +Crane even forced his body to retain consciousness to fight me. Your +efforts were very feeble, of course, but were enough to interrupt my +calculations at a delicate stage, every time. You are a low form of +life, undoubtedly, but with more mentality than I supposed at first. I +could get that formula, of course, in spite of you, if I had time, but +we are rapidly approaching the limits of my territory, outside of which +even I could not think my way back. That is one thing in which your +mechanical devices are superior to anything my own race developed before +we became pure intellectuals. They point the way back to your Earth, +which is so far away that even my mentality cannot grasp the meaning of +the distance. I can understand the Earth, can visualize it from your +minds, but I cannot project myself any nearer to it than we are at +present. Before I leave you, I will say that you have conferred a real +favor upon me--you have given me something to think about for thousands +of cycles to come. Good-bye." + +Assured that their visitor had really gone, Seaton reduced the power to +that of gravity and Dorothy soon sat up, Margaret reviving more slowly. + +"Dick," said Dorothy solemnly, "did that happen or have I been +unconscious and just had a nightmare?" + +"It happened, all right," returned her lover, wiping his brow in relief. +"See that pistol clamped upon the top of the board? That's a token in +remembrance of him." + +Dorothy, though she had been only half conscious, had heard the words of +the stranger. As she looked at the faces of the men, white and drawn +with the mental struggle, she realized what they had gone through, and +she drew Seaton down into one of the seats, stroking his hair tenderly. + +Margaret went to her room immediately, and as she did not return, +Dorothy followed. She came back presently with a look of concern upon +her face. + +"This life is a little hard on Peggy. I didn't realize how much harder +for her it would be than it is for me until I went in there and found +her crying. It is much harder for her, of course, since I am with you, +Dick, and with you, Martin, whom I know so well. She must feel terribly +alone." + +"Why should she?" demanded Seaton. "We think she's some game little guy. +Why, she's one of the bunch! She must know that!" + +"Well, it isn't the same," insisted Dorothy. "You be extra nice to her, +Dick. But don't you dare let her know I told you about the tears, or +she'd eat me alive!" + +Crane said nothing--a not unusual occurrence--but his face grew +thoughtful and his manner, when Margaret appeared at mealtime, was more +solicitous than usual and more than brotherly in its tenderness. + +"I shall be an interstellar diplomat," Dorothy whispered to Seaton as +soon as they were alone. "Wasn't that a beautiful bee I put upon +Martin?" + +Seaton stared at her a moment, then shook her gently before he took her +into his arms. + + * * * * * + +The information, however, did not prevent him from calling to Crane a +few minutes later, even though he was still deep in conversation with +Margaret. Dorothy gave him an exasperated glance and walked away. + +"I sure pulled a boner that time," Seaton muttered as he plucked at his +hair ruefully. "It nearly did us. + +"Let's test this stuff out and see if it's X, Mart, while DuQuesne's out +of the way. If it is X, it's SOME find!" + +Seaton cut off a bit of metal with his knife, hammered it into a small +piece of copper, and threw the copper into the power-chamber, out of +contact with the plating. As the metal received the current the vessel +started slightly. + +"It _is_ X! Mart, we've got enough of this stuff to supply three +worlds!" + +"Better put it away somewhere," suggested Crane, and after the metal had +been removed to Seaton's cabin, the two men again sought a +landing-place. Almost in their line of flight they saw a close cluster +of stars, each emitting a peculiar greenish light which, in the +spectroscope, revealed a blaze of copper lines. + +"That's our meat, Martin. We ought to be able to grab some copper in +that system, where there's so much of it that it colors their sunlight." + +"The copper is undoubtedly there, but it might be too dangerous to get +so close to so many suns. We may have trouble getting away." + +"Well, our copper's getting horribly low. We've got to find some pretty +quick, somewhere, or else walk back home, and there's our best chance. +We'll feel our way along. If it gets too strong, we'll beat it." + +When they had approached so close that the suns were great stars widely +spaced in the heavens, Crane relinquished the controls to Seaton. + +"If you will take the lever awhile, Dick, Margaret and I will go +downstairs and see if we can locate a planet." + +After a glance through the telescope, Crane knew that they were still +too far from the group of suns to place any planet with certainty, and +began taking notes. His mind was not upon his work, however, but was +completely filled with thoughts of the girl at his side. The intervals +between his comments became longer and longer until they were standing +in silence, both staring with unseeing eyes out into the trackless void. +But it was in no sense their usual companionable silence. Crane was +fighting back the words he longed to say. This lovely girl was not here +of her own accord--she had been torn forcibly from her home and from her +friends, and he would not, could not, make her already difficult +position even more unpleasant by forcing his attentions upon her. +Margaret sensed something unusual and significant in his attitude and +held herself tense, her heart beating wildly. + +At that moment an asteroid came within range of the Skylark's watchful +repeller, and at the lurch of the vessel, as it swung around the +obstruction, Margaret would have fallen had not Crane instinctively +caught her with one arm. Ordinarily this bit of courtesy would have gone +unnoticed by both, as it had happened many times before, but in that +heavily-charged atmosphere it took on a new significance. Both blushed +hotly, and as their eyes met each saw that which held them spellbound. +Slowly, almost as if without volition, Crane put his other arm around +her. A wave of deeper crimson swept over her face and she bent her +handsome head as her slender body yielded to his arms with no effort to +free itself. Finally Crane spoke, his usually even voice faltering. + +"Margaret, I hope you will not think this unfair of me ... but we have +been through so much together that I feel as though we had known each +other forever. Until we went through this last experience I had intended +to wait--but why should we wait? Life is not lived in years alone, and +you know how much I love you, my dearest!" he finished, passionately. + +Her arms crept up around his neck, her bowed head lifted, and her eyes +looked deep into his as she whispered her answer: + +"I think I do ... Oh, Martin!" + +Presently they made their way back to the engine-room, keeping the +singing joy in their hearts inaudible and the kisses fresh upon their +lips invisible. They might have kept their secret for a time, had not +Seaton promptly asked: + +"Well, what did you find, Mart?" + +A panicky look appeared upon Crane's self-possessed countenance and +Margaret's fair face glowed like a peony. + +"_Yes_, what _did_ you find?" demanded Dorothy, as she noticed their +confusion. + +"My future wife," Crane answered steadily. + +The two girls rushed into each other's arms and the two men silently +gripped hands in a clasp of steel; for each of the four knew that these +two unions were not passing fancies, lightly entered into and as lightly +cast aside, but were true partnerships which would endure throughout the +entire span of life. + + * * * * * + +A planet was located and the Skylark flew toward it. Discovering that it +was apparently situated in the center of the cluster of suns, they +hesitated; but finding that there was no dangerous force present, they +kept on. As they drew nearer, so that the planet appeared as a very +small moon, they saw that the Skylark was in a blaze of green light, and +looking out of the windows, Crane counted seventeen great suns, +scattered in all directions in the sky! Slowing down abruptly as the +planet was approached, Seaton dropped the vessel slowly through the +atmosphere, while Crane and DuQuesne tested and analyzed it. + +"Pressure, thirty pounds per square inch. Surface gravity as compared to +that of the Earth, two-fifths. Air-pressure about double that of the +Earth, while a five-pound weight weighs only two pounds. A peculiar +combination," reported Crane, and DuQuesne added: + +"Analysis about the same as our air except for two and three-tenths per +cent of a gas that isn't poisonous and which has a peculiar, fragrant +odor. I can't analyze it and think it probably an element unknown upon +Earth, or at least very rare." + +"It would have to be rare if you don't know what it is," acknowledged +Seaton, locking the Skylark in place and going over to smell the strange +gas. + +Deciding that the air was satisfactory, the pressure inside the vessel +was slowly raised to the value of that outside and two doors were +opened, to allow the new atmosphere free circulation. + +Seaton shut off the power actuating the repeller and let the vessel +settle slowly toward the ocean which was directly beneath them--an ocean +of a deep, intense, wondrously beautiful blue, which the scientists +studied with interest. Arrived at the surface, Seaton moistened a rod in +a wave, and tasted it cautiously, then uttered a yell of joy--a yell +broken off abruptly as he heard the sound of his own voice. Both girls +started as the vibrations set up in the dense air smote upon their +eardrums. Seaton moderated his voice and continued: + +"I forgot about the air-pressure. But hurrah for this ocean--it's +ammoniacal copper sulphate solution! We can sure get all the copper we +want, right here, but it would take weeks to evaporate the water and +recover the metal. We can probably get it easier ashore. Let's go!" + +They started off just above the surface of the ocean toward the nearest +continent, which they had observed from the air. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Nalboon of Mardonale + + +As the Skylark approached the shore, its occupants heard a rapid +succession of heavy detonations, apparently coming from the direction in +which they were traveling. + +"Wonder what that racket is?" asked Seaton. + +"It sounds like big guns," said Crane, and DuQuesne nodded agreement. + +"Big guns is right. They're shooting high explosive shells, too, or I +never heard any. Even allowing for the density of the air, that kind of +noise isn't made by pop-guns." + +"Let's go see what's doing," and Seaton started to walk toward one of +the windows with his free, swinging stride. Instantly he was a-sprawl, +the effort necessary to carry his weight upon the Earth's surface +lifting him into the air in a succession of ludicrous hops, but he soon +recovered himself and walked normally. + +"I forgot this two-fifths gravity stuff," he laughed. "Walk as though we +had only a notch of power on and it goes all right. It sure is funny to +feel so light when we're so close to the ground." + +He closed the doors to keep out a part of the noise and advanced the +speed lever a little, so that the vessel tilted sharply under the pull +of the almost horizontal bar. + +"Go easy," cautioned Crane. "We do not want to get in the way of one of +their shells. They may be of a different kind than those we are familiar +with." + +"Right--easy it is. We'll stay forty miles above them, if necessary." + +As the great speed of the ship rapidly lessened the distance, the sound +grew heavier and clearer--like one continuous explosion. So closely did +one deafening concussion follow another that the ear could not +distinguish the separate reports. + +"I see them," simultaneously announced Crane, who was seated at one of +the forward windows searching the country with his binoculars, and +Seaton, who, from the pilot's seat, could see in any direction. + +The others hurried to the windows with their glasses and saw an +astonishing sight. + +"Aerial battleships, eight of 'em!" exclaimed Seaton, "as big as the +Idaho. Four of 'em are about the same shape as our battleships. No +wings--they act like helicopters." + +"Four of them are battleships, right enough, but what about the other +four?" asked DuQuesne. "They are not ships or planes or anything else +that I ever heard of." + +"They are animals," asserted Crane. "Machines never were and never will +be built like that." + +As the Skylark cautiously approached, it was evident to the watchers +that four of the contestants were undoubtedly animals. Here indeed was a +new kind of animal, an animal able to fight on even terms with a +first-class battleship! Frightful aerial monsters they were. Each had an +enormous, torpedo-shaped body, with scores of prodigiously long +tentacles like those of a devil-fish and a dozen or more great, soaring +wings. Even at that distance they could see the row of protruding eyes +along the side of each monstrous body and the terrible, prow-like beaks +tearing through the metal of the warships opposing them. They could see, +by the reflection of the light from the many suns, that each monster was +apparently covered by scales and joints of some transparent armor. That +it was real and highly effective armor there could be no doubt, for each +battleship bristled with guns of heavy caliber and each gun was vomiting +forth a continuous stream of fire. Shells bursting against each of the +creatures made one continuous blaze, and the uproar was +indescribable--an uninterrupted cataclysm of sound appalling in its +intensity. + + * * * * * + +The battle was brief. Soon all four of the battleships had crumpled to +the ground, their crews absorbed by the terrible sucking arms or +devoured by the frightful beaks. They did not die in vain--three of the +monsters had been blown to atoms by shells which had apparently +penetrated their armor. The fourth was pursuing something, which Seaton +now saw was a fleet of small airships, which had flown away from the +scene of conflict. Swift as they were, the monster covered three feet to +their one. + +"We can't stand for anything like that," cried Seaton, as he threw on +the power and the Skylark leaped ahead. "Get ready to bump him off, +Mart, when I jerk him away. He acts hard-boiled, so give him a real +one--fifty milligrams!" + +Sweeping on with awful speed the monster seized the largest and most +gaily decorated plane in his hundred-foot tentacles just as the Skylark +came within sighting distance. In four practically simultaneous +movements Seaton sighted the attractor at the ugly beak, released all +its power, pointed the main bar of the Skylark directly upward, and +advanced his speed lever. There was a crash of rending metal as the +thing was torn loose from the plane and jerked a hundred miles into the +air, struggling so savagely in that invisible and incomprehensible grip +that the three-thousand-ton mass of the Skylark tossed and pitched like +a child's plaything. Those inside her heard the sharp, spiteful crack of +the machine-gun, and an instant later they heard a report that paralyzed +their senses, even inside the vessel and in the thin air of their +enormous elevation, as the largest X-plosive bullet prepared by the +inventors struck full upon the side of the hideous body. There was no +smoke, no gas or vapor of any kind--only a huge volume of intolerable +flame as the energy stored within the atoms of copper, instantaneously +liberated, heated to incandescence and beyond all the atmosphere within +a radius of hundreds of feet. The monster disappeared utterly, and +Seaton, with unerring hand, reversed the bar and darted back down toward +the fleet of airships. He reached them in time to focus the attractor +upon the wrecked and helpless plane in the middle of its +five-thousand-foot fall and lowered it gently to the ground, surrounded +by the fleet. + +The Skylark landed easily beside the wrecked machine, and the wanderers +saw that their vessel was completely surrounded by a crowd of +people--men and women identical in form and feature with themselves. +They were a superbly molded race, the men fully as large as Seaton and +DuQuesne; the women, while smaller than the men, were noticeably taller +than the two women in the car. The men wore broad collars of metal, +numerous metallic ornaments, and heavily-jeweled leather belts and +shoulder-straps which were hung with weapons of peculiar patterns. The +women carried no weapons, but were even more highly decorated than were +the men--each slender, perfectly-formed body scintillated with the +brilliance of hundreds of strange gems, flashing points of fire. Jeweled +bands of metal and leather restrained their carefully-groomed hair; +jeweled collars encircled their throats; jeweled belts, jeweled +bracelets, jeweled anklets, each added its quota of brilliance to the +glittering whole. The strangers wore no clothing, and their smooth skins +shone a dark, livid, utterly indescribable color in the peculiar, +unearthly, yellowish-bluish-green glare of the light. Green their skins +undoubtedly were, but not any shade of green visible in the Earthly +spectrum. The "whites" of their eyes were a light yellowish-green. The +heavy hair of the women and the close-cropped locks of the men were +green as well--a green so dark as to be almost black, as were also their +eyes. + +"Well, what d'you know about that?" pondered Seaton, dazedly. "They're +human, right enough, but ye gods, what a color!" + +"It is hard to tell how much of that color is real, and how much of it +is due to this light," answered Crane. "Wait until you get outside, away +from our daylight lamps, and you will probably look like a Chinese +puzzle. As to the form, it is logical to suppose that wherever +conditions are similar to those upon the Earth, and the age is anywhere +nearly the same, development would be along the same lines as with us." + +"That's right, too. Dottie, your hair will sure look gorgeous in this +light. Let's go out and give the natives a treat!" + +"I wouldn't look like that for a million dollars!" retorted Dorothy, +"and if I'm going to look like that I won't get out of the ship, so +there!" + +"Cheer up, Dottie, you won't look like that. Your hair will be black in +this light." + +"Then what color will mine be?" asked Margaret. + +Seaton glanced at her black hair. + +"Probably a very dark and beautiful green," he grinned, his gray eyes +sparkling, "but we'll have to wait and see. Friends and +fellow-countrymen, I've got a hunch that this is going to be SOME visit. +How about it, shall we go ahead with it?" + +Dorothy went up to him, her face bright with eagerness. + +"Oh, what a lark! Let's go!" + + * * * * * + +Even in DuQuesne's cold presence, Margaret's eyes sought those of her +lover, and his sleeve, barely touching her arm, was enough to send a +dancing thrill along it. + +"Onward, men of Earth!" she cried, and Seaton, stepping up to the +window, rapped sharply upon the glass with the butt of his pistol and +raised both hands high above his head in the universal sign of peace. In +response, a man of Herculean mold, so splendidly decorated that his +harness was one blazing mass of jewels, waved his arm and shouted a +command. The crowd promptly fell back, leaving a clear space of several +hundred yards. The man, evidently one in high command, unbuckled his +harness, dropping every weapon, and advanced toward the Skylark, both +arms upraised in Seaton's gesture. + +Seaton went to the door and started to open it. + +"Better talk to him from inside," cautioned Crane. + +"I don't think so, Mart. He's peaceable, and I've got my gun in my +pocket. Since he doesn't know what clothes are he'll think I'm unarmed, +which is as it should be; and if he shows fight, it won't take more than +a week for me to get into action." + +"All right, go on. DuQuesne and I will come along." + +"Absolutely not. He's alone, so I've got to be. I notice that some of +his men are covering us, though. You might do the same for them, with a +couple of the machine guns." + +Seaton stepped out of the car and went to meet the stranger. When they +had approached to within a few feet of each other the stranger stopped. +He flexed his left arm smartly, so that the finger-tips touched his left +ear, and smiled broadly, exposing a row of splendid, shining, green +teeth. Then he spoke, a meaningless jumble of sounds. His voice, though +light and thin, nevertheless seemed to be of powerful timbre. + +Seaton smiled in return and saluted. + +"Hello, Chief. I get your idea all right, and we're glad you're +peaceable, but your language doesn't mean a thing in my young life." + +The Chief tapped himself upon the chest, saying distinctly and +impressively: + +"Nalboon." + +"Nalboon," repeated Seaton, and added, pointing to himself: + +"Seaton." + +"See Tin," answered the stranger, and again indicating himself, "Domak +gok Mardonale." + +"That must be his title," thought Seaton rapidly. "Have to give myself +one, I guess." + +"Boss of the Road," he replied, drawing himself up with pride. + +The introduction made, Nalboon pointed to the wrecked plane, inclined +his head in thanks, and turned to his people with one arm upraised, +shouting an order in which Seaton could distinguish something that +sounded like "See Tin, Bass uvvy Rood." Instantly every right arm in the +assemblage was aloft, that of each man bearing a weapon, while the left +arms snapped into the peculiar salute and a mighty cry arose as all +repeated the name and title of the distinguished visitor. + +Seaton turned to the Skylark, motioning to Crane to open the door. + +"Bring out one of those big four-color signal rockets, Mart!" he called. +"They're giving us a royal reception--let's acknowledge it right." + + * * * * * + +The party appeared, Crane carrying the huge rocket with an air of +deference. As they approached, Seaton shrugged one shoulder and his +cigarette-case appeared in his hand. Nalboon started, and in spite of +his utmost efforts at self-control, he glanced at it in surprise. The +case flew open and Seaton, taking a cigarette, extended the case. + +"Smoke?" he asked affably. The other took one, but showed plainly that +he had no idea of the use to which it was to be put. This astonishment +of the stranger at a simple sleight-of-hand feat and his apparent +ignorance of tobacco emboldened Seaton. Reaching into his mouth, he +pulled out a flaming match, at which Nalboon started violently. While +all the natives watched in amazement, Seaton lighted the cigarette, and +after half consuming it in two long inhalations, he apparently swallowed +the remainder, only to bring it to light again. Having smoked it, he +apparently swallowed the butt, with evident relish. + +"They don't know anything about matches or smoking," he said, turning to +Crane. "This rocket will tie them up in a knot. Step back, everybody." + +He bowed deeply to Nalboon, pulling a lighted match from his ear as he +did so, and lighted the fuse. There was a roar, a shower of sparks, a +blaze of colored fire as the great rocket flew upward; but to Seaton's +surprise, Nalboon took it quite as a matter of course, saluting as an +acknowledgment of the courtesy. + +Seaton motioned to his party to approach, and turned to Crane. + +"Better not, Dick. Let him think that you are the king of everything in +sight." + +"Not on your life. If he is one king, we are two," and he introduced +Crane, with great ceremony, to the Domak as the "Boss of the Skylark," +at which the salute by his people was repeated. + +Nalboon then shouted an order and a company of soldiers led by an +officer came toward them, surrounding a small group of people, +apparently prisoners. These captives, seven men and seven women, were +much lighter in color than the rest of the gathering, having skins of a +ghastly, pale shade, practically the same color as the whites of their +eyes. In other bodily aspects they were the same as their captors in +appearance, save that they were entirely naked except for the jeweled +metal collars worn by all and a massive metal belt worn by one man. They +walked with a proud and lofty carriage, scorn for their captors in every +step. + +Nalboon barked an order to the prisoners. They stared in defiance, +motionless, until the man wearing the belt who had studied Seaton +closely, spoke a few words in a low tone, when they all prostrated +themselves. Nalboon then waved his hand, giving the whole group to +Seaton as slaves. Seaton, with no sign of his surprise, thanked the +giver and motioned his slaves to rise. They obeyed and placed themselves +behind the party--two men and two women behind Seaton and the same +number behind Crane; one man and one woman behind each of the others. + +Seaton then tried to make Nalboon understand that they wanted copper, +pointing to his anklet, the only copper in sight. The chief instantly +removed the trinket and handed it to Seaton; who, knowing by the gasp of +surprise of the guard that it was some powerful symbol, returned it with +profuse apologies. After trying in vain to make the other understand +what he wanted, he led him into the Skylark and showed him the remnant +of the power-bar. He showed him its original size and indicated the +desired number by counting to sixteen upon his fingers. Nalboon nodded +his comprehension and going outside, pointed upward toward the largest +of the eleven suns visible, motioning its rising and setting, four +times. + +He then invited the visitors, in unmistakable sign language, to +accompany him as guests of honor, but Seaton refused. + +"Lead on, MacDuff, we follow," he replied, explaining his meaning by +signs as they turned to enter the vessel. The slaves followed closely +until Crane remonstrated. + +"We don't want them aboard, do we, Dick? There are too many of them." + +"All right," Seaton replied, and waved them away. As they stepped back +the guard seized the nearest, a woman, and forced her to her knees; +while a man, adorned with a necklace of green human teeth and carrying a +shining broadsword, prepared to decapitate her. + +"We must take them with us, I see," said Crane, as he brushed the guards +aside. Followed by the slaves, the party entered the Skylark, and the +dark green people embarked in their airplanes and helicopters. + +Nalboon rode in a large and gaily-decorated plane, which led the fleet +at its full speed of six hundred miles an hour, the Skylark taking a +placing a few hundred yards above the flagship. + +"I don't get these folks at all, Mart," said Seaton, after a moment's +silence. "They have machines far ahead of anything we have on Earth and +big guns that shoot as fast as machine-guns, and yet are scared to death +at a little simple sleight-of-hand. They don't seem to understand +matches at all, and yet treat fire-works as an every-day occurrence." + +"We will have to wait until we know them better," replied Crane, and +DuQuesne added: + +"From what I have seen, their power seems to be all electrical. Perhaps +they aren't up with us in chemistry, even though they are ahead of us in +mechanics?" + + * * * * * + +Flying above a broad, but rapid and turbulent stream, the fleet soon +neared a large city, and the visitors from Earth gazed with interest at +this metropolis of the unknown world. The buildings were all the same +height, flat-roofed, and arranged in squares very much as our cities are +arranged. There were no streets, the spaces between the buildings being +park-like areas, evidently laid out for recreation, amusement, and +sport. There was no need for streets; all traffic was in the air. The +air seemed full of flying vehicles, darting in all directions, but it +was soon evident that there was exact order in the apparent confusion, +each class of vessel and each direction of traffic having its own level. +Eagerly the three men studied the craft, which ranged in size from +one-man helicopters, little more than single chairs flying about in the +air, up to tremendous multiplane freighters, capable of carrying +thousands of tons. + +Flying high over the city to avoid its congested air-lanes, the fleet +descended toward an immense building just outside the city proper, and +all landed upon its roof save the flagship, which led the Skylark to a +landing-dock nearby--a massive pile of metal and stone, upon which +Nalboon and his retinue stood to welcome the guests. After Seaton had +anchored the vessel immovably by means of the attractor, the party +disembarked, Seaton remarking with a grin: + +"Don't be surprised at anything I do, folks. I'm a walking storehouse of +junk of all kinds, so that if occasion arises I can put on a real +exhibition." + +As they turned toward their host, a soldier, in his eagerness to see the +strangers, jostled another. Without a word two keen swords flew from +their scabbards and a duel to the death ensued. The visitors stared in +amazement, but no one else paid any attention to the combat, which was +soon over; the victor turning away from the body of his opponent and +resuming his place without creating a ripple of interest. + +Nalboon led the way into an elevator, which dropped rapidly to the +ground-floor level. Massive gates were thrown open, and through ranks of +people prostrate upon their faces the party went out into the palace +grounds of the Domak, or Emperor, of the great nation of Mardonale. + +Never before had Earthly eyes rested upon such scenes of splendor. Every +color and gradation of their peculiar spectrum was present, in solid, +liquid, and gas. The carefully-tended trees were all colors of the +rainbow, as were the grasses and flowers along the walks. The fountains +played streams of many and constantly-changing hues, and even the air +was tinted and perfumed, swirling through metal arches in billows of +ever-varying colors and scents. Colors and combinations of colors +impossible to describe were upon every hand, fantastically beautiful in +that peculiar, livid light. Diamonds and rubies, their colors so +distorted by the green radiance as to be almost unrecognizable; emeralds +glowing with an intense green impossible in earthly light, together with +strange gems peculiar to this strange world, sparkled and flashed from +railings, statues, and pedestals throughout the ground. + +"Isn't this gorgeous, Dick?" whispered Dorothy. "But what do I look +like? I wish I had a mirror--you look simply awful. Do I look like you +do?" + +"Not being able to see myself, I can't say, but I imagine you do. You +look as you would under a county-fair photographer's mercury-vapor arc +lamps, only worse. The colors can't be described. You might as well try +to describe cerise to a man born blind as to try to express these +colors in English, but as near as I can come to it, your eyes are a dark +sort of purplish green, with the whites of your eyes and your teeth a +kind of plush green. Your skin is a pale yellowish green, except for the +pink of your cheeks, which is a kind of black, with orange and green +mixed up in it. Your lips are black, and your hair is a funny kind of +color, halfway between black and old rose, with a little green and...." + +"Heavens, Dick, stop! That's enough!" choked Dorothy. "We all look like +hobgoblins. We're even worse than the natives." + +"Sure we are. They were born here and are acclimated to it--we are +strangers and aren't. I would like to see what one of these people would +look like in Washington." + + * * * * * + +Nalboon led them into the palace proper and into a great dining hall, +where a table was already prepared for the entire party. This room was +splendidly decorated with jewels, its many windows being simply masses +of gems. The walls were hung with a cloth resembling silk, which fell to +the floor in shimmering waves of color. + +Woodwork there was none. Doors, panels, tables, and chairs were +cunningly wrought of various metals. Seaton and DuQuesne could recognize +a few of them, but for the most part they were unknown upon the Earth; +and were, like the jewels and vegetation of this strange world, of many +and various peculiar colors. A closer inspection of one of the marvelous +tapestries showed that it also was of metal, its threads numbering +thousands to the inch. Woven of many different metals, of vivid but +harmonious colors in a strange and intricate design, it seemed to writhe +as its colors changed with every variation in the color of the light; +which, pouring from concealed sources, was reflected by the +highly-polished metal and innumerable jewels of the lofty, domed +ceiling. + +"Oh ... isn't this too perfectly gorgeous?" breathed Dorothy. "I'd give +anything for a dress made out of that stuff, Dick. Cloth-of-gold is +common by comparison!" + +"Would you dare wear it, Dottie?" asked Margaret. + +"_Would_ I? I'd wear it in a minute if I could only get it. It would +take Washington by storm!" + +"I'll try to get a piece of it, then," smiled Seaton. "I'll see about it +while we are getting the copper." + +"We'd better be careful in choosing what we eat here, Seaton," suggested +DuQuesne, as the Domak himself led them to the table. + +"We sure had. With a copper ocean and green teeth, I shouldn't be +surprised if copper, arsenic, and other such trifles formed a regular +part of their diet." + +"The girls and I will wait for you two chemists to approve every dish +before we try it, then," said Crane. + +Nalboon placed his guests, the light-skinned slaves standing at +attention behind them, and numerous servants, carrying great trays, +appeared. The servants were intermediate in color between the light and +the dark races, with dull, unintelligent faces, but quick and deft in +their movements. + +The first course--a thin, light wine, served in metal goblets--was +approved by the chemists, and the dinner was brought on. There were +mighty joints of various kinds of meat; birds and fish, both raw and +cooked in many ways; green, pink, purple, and white vegetables and +fruits. The majordomo held each dish up to Seaton for inspection, the +latter waving away the fish and the darkest green foods, but approving +the others. Heaping plates, or rather metal trays, of food were placed +before the diners, and the attendants behind their chairs handed them +peculiar implements--knives with razor edges, needle-pointed stilettoes +instead of forks, and wide, flexible spatulas, which evidently were to +serve the purposes of both forks and spoons. + +"I simply can't eat with these things!" exclaimed Dorothy in dismay, +"and I don't like to drink soup out of a can, so there!" + +"That's where my lumberjack training comes in handy," grinned Seaton. +"With this spatula I can eat faster than I could with two forks. What do +you want, girls, forks or spoons, or both?" + +"Both, please." + +Seaton reached out over the table, seizing forks and spoons from the air +and passing them to the others, while the natives stared in surprise. +The Domak took a bowl filled with brilliant blue crystals from the +major-domo, sprinkled his food liberally with the substance, and passed +it to Seaton, who looked at the crystals attentively. + +"Copper sulphate," he said to Crane. "It's a good thing they add it at +the table instead of cooking with it, or we'd be out of luck." + +Waving the copper sulphate away, he again reached out, this time +producing a pair of small salt-and pepper-shakers, which he passed to +the Domak after he had seasoned the dishes before him. Nalboon tasted +the pepper cautiously and smiled in delight, half-emptying the shaker +upon his plate. He then sprinkled a few grains of salt into his palm, +stared at them with an expression of doubting amazement, and after a few +rapid sentences poured them into a dish held by an officer who had +sprung to his side. The officer studied them closely, then carefully +washed his chief's hand. Nalboon turned to Seaton, plainly asking for +the salt-cellar. + +"Sure, old top. Keep 'em both, there's lots more where those came from," +as he produced several more sets in the same mysterious way and handed +them to Crane, who in turn passed them to the others. + + * * * * * + +The meal progressed merrily, with much conversation in the sign-language +between the two parties. It was evident that Nalboon, usually stern and +reticent, was in an unusually pleasant mood. The viands, though of +peculiar flavor, were in the main pleasing to the palates of the Earthly +visitors. + +"This fruit salad, or whatever it is, is divine," remarked Dorothy, +after an experimental bite. "May we eat as much as we like, or had we +better just eat a little?" + +"Go as far as you like," returned her lover. "I wouldn't recommend it, +as a steady diet, as I imagine everything contains copper and other +heavy metals in noticeable amounts, and probably considerable arsenic, +but for a few days it can't very well hurt us much." + +After the meal, Nalboon bade them a ceremonious farewell, and they were +escorted to a series of five connecting rooms by the royal usher, +escorted by an entire company of soldiers, who mounted guard outside the +doors. Gathered in one room, they discussed sleeping arrangements. The +girls insisted that they would sleep together, and that the men should +occupy the rooms at either side. As the girls turned away, the four +slaves followed. + +"We don't want these people, and I can't make them go away!" cried +Dorothy. + +"I don't want them, either," replied Seaton, "but if we chase them out +they'll get their heads chopped off. You girls take the women and we'll +take the men." + +Seaton waved all the women into the girls' room, but they paused +irresolutely. One of them went up to the man wearing the metal belt, +evidently their leader, and spoke to him rapidly as she threw her arms +around his neck. He shook his head, motioning toward Seaton several +times as he spoke to her reassuringly. With his arm about her tenderly, +he led her to the door, the other women following. Crane and DuQuesne +having gone to their rooms with their attendants, the man wearing the +belt drew the blinds and turned to assist Seaton in taking off his +clothes. + +"I never had a valet before, but go as far as you like if it pleases +you," remarked Seaton, as he began to throw off his clothes. A multitude +of small articles fell from their hiding-places in his garments as he +removed them. Almost stripped, Seaton stretched vigorously, the muscles +writhing and rippling in great ridges under the satin skin of his broad +back and mighty arms and shoulders as he filled his capacious lungs and +twisted about, working off the stiffness caused by the days of +comparative confinement. + +The four slaves stared in open-mouthed astonishment at this display of +muscular development and conversed among themselves as they gathered up +Seaton's discarded clothing. Their leader picked up a salt-shaker, a +couple of silver knives and forks, and some other articles, and turned +to Seaton, apparently asking permission to do something with them. +Seaton nodded assent carelessly and turned to his bed. As he did so, he +heard a slight clank of arms in the hall as the guard was changed, and +lifting the blind a trifle he saw that guards were stationed outside as +well. As he went to bed, he wondered whether the guards were guards of +honor or jailers; whether he and his party were honored guests or +prisoners. + +Three of the slaves, at a word from their chief, threw themselves upon +the floor and slept, but he himself did not rest. Opening the apparently +solid metal belt, he took out a great number of small tools, many tiny +instruments, and several spools of insulated wire. He then took the +articles Seaton had given him, taking great pains not to spill a single +grain of salt, and set to work. Hour after hour he labored, a strange, +exceedingly complex instrument taking form under his clever fingers. + + + + + +--------------------------------------+ + | | + | _By the time you finish reading the | + | final instalment of "The Skylark of | + | Space," we are certain that you will | + | agree with us that it is one of the | + | outstanding scienti-fiction stories | + | of the decade; an interplanetarian | + | story that will not be eclipsed | + | soon. It will be referred to by all | + | scienti-fiction fans for years to | + | come. It will be read and reread. | + | This is not a mere prophecy of ours, | + | because we have been deluged with | + | letters since we began publishing | + | this story. In the closing chapters, | + | you will follow the adventures with | + | bated breath, and you will find that | + | though the two preceding instalments | + | were hair-raising and thought | + | absorbing, the final instalment | + | eclipses the others a good deal. | + | Plots, counterplots, hair-raising | + | and hair-breadth escapes, mixed with | + | love, adventure and good science | + | seem to fairly tumble all over the | + | pages. By the time you finish this | + | instalment, you will wish to go back | + | to the beginning of the story and | + | read it more carefully and thrill | + | all over again._ | + | | + +--------------------------------------+ + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Nalboon Unmasked + + +After a long, sound sleep, Seaton awoke and sprang out of bed. No sooner +had he started to shave, however, than one of the slaves touched his +arm, motioning him into a reclining chair and showing him a keen blade, +long and slightly curved. Seaton lay down and the slave shaved him with +a rapidity and smoothness he had never before experienced, so +wonderfully sharp was the peculiar razor. After Seaton had dressed, the +barber started to shave the chief slave, without any preliminary +treatment save rubbing his face with a perfumed oil. + +"Hold on a minute," interjected Seaton, who was watching the process +with interest, "here's something that helps a lot." He lathered the face +with his brush and the man looked up in surprised pleasure as his stiff +beard was swept away without a sound. + +Seaton called to the others and soon the party was assembled in his +room, all dressed very lightly, because of the unrelieved and unvarying +heat, which was constant at one hundred degrees. A gong sounded, and one +of the slaves opened the door, ushering in a party of servants bearing a +table, ready set. During the meal, Seaton was greatly surprised at +hearing Dorothy carrying on a halting conversation, with one of the +women standing behind her. + +"I knew that you were a language shark, Dottie, with five or six +different ones to your credit, but I didn't suppose you could learn to +talk this stuff in one day." + +"I can't," she replied, "but I've picked up a few words of it. I can +understand very little of what they are trying to tell me." + +The woman spoke rapidly to the man standing behind Seaton, and as soon +as the table had been carried away, he asked permission to speak to +Dorothy. Fairly running across to her, he made a slight obeisance and in +eager tones poured forth such a stream of language that she held up her +hand to silence him. + +"Go slower, please," she said, and added a couple of words in his own +tongue. + +There ensued a strange dialogue, with many repetitions and much use of +signs. She turned to Seaton, with a puzzled look. + +"I can't make out all he says, Dick, but he wants you to take him into +another room of the palace here, to get back something or other that +they took from him when they captured him. He can't go alone--I think he +says he will be killed if he goes anywhere without you. And he says that +when you get there, you must be sure not to let the guards come inside." + +"All right, let's go!" and Seaton motioned the man to precede him. As +Seaton started for the door, Dorothy fell into step beside him. + +"Better stay back, Dottie, I'll be back in a minute," he said at the +door. + +"I will not stay back. Wherever you go, I go," she replied in a voice +inaudible to the others. "I simply will not stay away from you a single +minute that I don't have to." + +"All right, little girl," he replied in the same tone. "I don't want to +be away from you, either, and I don't think that we're in any danger +here." + +Preceded by the chief slave and followed by half a dozen others, they +went out into the hall. No opposition was made to their progress, but a +full half-company of armed guards fell in around them as an escort, +regarding Seaton with looks composed of equal parts of reverence and +fear. The slave led the way rapidly to a room in a distant wing of the +palace and opened the door. As Seaton stepped in, he saw that it was +evidently an audience-chamber or court-room, and that it was now +entirely empty. As the guard approached the door, Seaton waved them +back. All retreated across the hall except the officer in charge, who +refused to move. Seaton, the personification of offended dignity, first +stared at the offender, who returned the stare, and stepped up to him +insolently, then pushed him back roughly, forgetting that his strength, +great upon Earth, would be gigantic upon this smaller world. The officer +spun across the corridor, knocking down three of his men in his flight. +Picking himself up, he drew his sword and rushed, while his men fled in +panic to the extreme end of the corridor. Seaton did not wait for him, +but in one bound leaped half-way across the intervening space to meet +him. With the vastly superior agility of his earthly muscles he dodged +the falling broadsword and drove his left fist full against the fellow's +chin, with all the force of his mighty arm and all the momentum of his +rapidly moving body behind the blow. The crack of breaking bones was +distinctly audible as the officer's head snapped back. The force of the +blow lifted him high into the air, and after turning a complete +somersault, he brought up with a crash against the opposite wall, +dropping to the floor stone dead. As several of his men, braver than the +others, lifted their peculiar rifles, Seaton drew and fired in one +incredibly swift motion, the X-plosive bullet obliterating the entire +group of men and demolishing that end of the palace. + + * * * * * + +In the meantime the slave had taken several pieces of apparatus from a +cabinet in the room and had placed them in his belt. Stopping only to +observe for a few moments a small instrument which he clamped upon the +head of the dead man, he rapidly led the way back to the room they had +left and set to work upon the instrument he had constructed while the +others had been asleep. He connected it, in an intricate system of +wiring, with the pieces of apparatus he had just recovered. + +"That's a complex job of wiring," said DuQuesne admiringly. "I've seen +several intricate pieces of apparatus myself, but he has so many +circuits there that I'm lost. It would take an hour to figure out the +lines and connections alone." + +Straightening abruptly, the slave clamped several electrodes upon his +temples and motioned to Seaton and the others, speaking to Dorothy as he +did so. + +"He wants us to let him put those things on our heads," she translated. +"Shall we let him, Dick?" + +"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "I've got a real hunch that he's +our friend, and I'm not sure of Nalboon. He doesn't act right." + +"I think so, too," agreed the girl, and Crane added: + +"I can't say that I relish the idea, but since I know that you are a +good poker player, Dick, I am willing to follow your hunch. How about +you, DuQuesne?" + +"Not I," declared that worthy, emphatically. "Nobody wires me up to +anything I can't understand, and that machine is too deep for me." + +Margaret elected to follow Crane's example, and, impressed by the need +for haste evident in the slave's bearing, the four walked up to the +machine without further talk. The electrodes were clamped into place +quickly and the slave pressed a lever. Instantly the four visitors felt +that they had a complete understanding of the languages and customs of +both Mardonale, the nation in which they now were, and of Kondal, to +which nation the slaves belonged, the only two civilized nations upon +Osnome. While the look of amazement at this method of receiving +instruction was still upon their faces, the slave--or rather, as they +now knew him, Dunark, the Kofedix or Crown Prince of the great nation of +Kondal--began to disconnect the wires. He cut out the wires leading to +the two girls and to Crane, and was reaching for Seaton's, when there +was a blinding flash, a crackling sound, the heavy smoke of burning +metal and insulation, and both Dunark and Seaton fell to the floor. + +Before Crane could reach them, however, they were upon their feet and +the stranger said in his own tongue, now understood by every one but +DuQuesne: + +"This machine is a mechanical educator, a thing entirely new, in our +world at least. Although I have been working on it for a long time, it +is still in a very crude form. I did not like to use it in its present +state of development, but it was necessary in order to warn you of what +Nalboon is going to do to you, and to convince you that the best way of +saving your lives would save our lives as well. The machine worked +perfectly until something, I don't know what, went wrong. Instead of +stopping, as it should have done, at teaching your party to speak our +languages, it short-circuited us two completely, so that every +convolution in each of our brains has been imprinted upon the brain of +the other. It was the sudden formation of all the new convolutions that +rendered us unconscious. I can only apologize for the break-down, and +assure you that my intentions were of the best." + +"You needn't apologize," returned Seaton. "That was a wonderful +performance, and we're both gainers, anyway, aren't we? It has taken us +all our lives to learn what little we know, and now we each have the +benefit of two lifetimes, spent upon different worlds! I must admit, +though, that I have a whole lot of knowledge that I don't know how to +use." + +"I am glad you take it that way," returned the other warmly, "for I am +infinitely the better off for the exchange. The knowledge I imparted was +nothing, compared to that which I received. But time presses--I must +tell you our situation. I am, as you now know, the Kofedix of Kondal. +The other thirteen are fedo and fediro, or, as you would say, princes +and princesses of the same nation. We were captured by one of Nalboon's +raiding parties while upon a hunting trip, being overcome by some new, +stupefying gas, so that we could not kill ourselves. As you know, Kondal +and Mardonale have been at war for over ten thousand karkamo--something +more than six thousand years of your time. The war between us is one of +utter extermination. Captives are never exchanged and only once during +an ordinary lifetime does one ever escape. Our attendants were killed +immediately. We were being taken to furnish sport for Nalboon's party by +being fed to one of his captive kolono--animals something like your +earthly devilfish--when the escort of battleships was overcome by those +four karlono, the animals you saw, and one of them seized Nalboon's +plane, in which we were prisoners. You killed the karlon, saving our +lives as well as those of Nalboon and his party. + + * * * * * + +"Having saved his life, you and your party should be honored guests of +the most honored kind, and I venture to say that you would be so +regarded in any other nation of the universe. But Nalboon, the Domak--a +title equivalent to your word 'Emperor' and our word 'Karfedix'--of +Mardonale, is utterly without either honor or conscience, as are all +Mardonalians. At first he was afraid of you, as were we all. We thought +you visitors from a planet of our fifteenth sun, which is now at its +nearest possible approach to us. After your display of superhuman power +and ability, we expected instant annihilation. However, after seeing the +Skylark as a machine, discovering that you are short of power, and +finding that you are gentle instead of bloodthirsty by nature, Nalboon +lost his fear of you and resolved to rob you of your vessel, with its +wonderful secrets of power. Though we are so ignorant of chemistry that +I cannot understand the thousandth part of what I just learned from you, +we are a race of mechanics and have developed machines of many kinds to +a high state of efficiency, including electrical machines of all kinds. +In fact, electricity, generated by our great waterfalls, is our only +power. No scientist upon Osnome has ever had an inkling that +intra-atomic energy exists. Nalboon cannot understand the power, but he +solved the means of liberating it at a glance--and that glance sealed +your death-warrants. With the Skylark, he could conquer Kondal, and to +assure the downfall of my nation he would do anything. + +"Also, he or any other Osnomian scientist would go to any lengths +whatever--would challenge the great First Cause itself--to secure even +one of those little bottles of the chemical you call 'salt.' It is far +and away the scarcest and most precious substance in the world. It is so +rare that those bottles you produced at the table held more than the +total amount previously known to exist upon Osnome. We have great +abundance of all the heavy metals, but the lighter metals are rare. +Sodium and chlorin are the rarest of all known elements. Its immense +value is due, not to its rarity, but to the fact that it is an +indispensable component of the controlling instruments of our wireless +power stations and that it is used as a catalyst in the manufacture of +our hardest metals. + +"For these reasons, you understand why Nalboon does not intend to let +you escape and why he intends that this kokam (our equivalent of a day) +shall be your last. About the second or third kam (hour) of the sleeping +period he intends to break into the Skylark, learn its control, and +secure the salt you undoubtedly have in the vessel. Then my party and +myself will be thrown to the kolon. You and your party will be killed +and your bodies smelted to recover the salt that is in them. This is the +warning I had to give you. Its urgency explains the use of my untried +mechanical educator; the hope that my party could escape with yours, in +your vessel, explains why you saw me, the Kofedix of Kondal, prostrate +myself before that arch-fiend Nalboon." + +"How do you, a captive prince of another nation, know these things?" +asked Crane, doubtfully. + +"I read Nalboon's ideas from the brain of that officer whom the Karfedix +Seaton killed. He was a ladex of the guards--an officer of about the +same rank as one of your colonels. He was high in Nalboon's favor, and +he was to have been in charge of the work of breaking into the Skylark +and killing us all. Let me caution you now; do not let any Mardonalian +touch our hands with a wire, for if you do, your thoughts will be +recorded and the secrets of the Skylark and your many other mysterious +things, such as smoking, matches, and magic feats, will be secrets no +longer." + +"Thanks for the information," responded Seaton, "but I want to correct +your title for me. I'm no Karfedix--merely a plain citizen." + +"In one way I see that that is true," replied the Kofedix with a puzzled +look. "I cannot understand your government at all--but the inventor of +the Skylark must certainly rank as a Karfedix." + +As he spoke, a smile of understanding passed over his face and he +continued: + +"I see. Your title is Doctor of Philosophy, which must mean that you are +the Karfedix of Knowledge of the Earth." + +"No, no. You're way off. I'm...." + +"Certainly Seaton is the Karfedix of Knowledge," broke in DuQuesne. "Let +it go at that, anyway, whatever it means. The thing to do now is to +figure a way out of this." + +"You chirped it then, Blackie. Dunark, you know this country better than +we do; what do you suggest?" + +"I suggest that you take my party into the Skylark and escape from +Mardonale as soon as possible. I can pilot you to Kondalek, the capital +city of our nation. There, I can assure you, you will be welcomed as you +deserve. My father, the Karfedix, will treat you as a Karfedix should be +treated. As far as I am concerned, nothing I can ever do will lighten +the burden of my indebtedness to you, but I promise you all the copper +you want, and anything else you may desire that is within the power of +man to give you." + + * * * * * + +Seaton thought deeply a moment, then shook Dunark's hand vigorously. + +"That suits me, Kofedix," he said warmly. "I thought from the first that +you were our friend. Shall we make for the Skylark right now, or wait a +while?" + +"We had better wait until after the second meal," the prince replied. +"We have no armor, and no way of making any. We would be helpless +against the bullets of any except a group small enough so that you could +kill them all before they could fire. The kam after the second meal is +devoted to strolling about the grounds, so that our visiting the Skylark +would look perfectly natural. As the guard is very lax at that time, it +is the best time for the attempt." + +"But how about my killing his company of guards and blowing up one wing +of his palace? Won't he have something to say about that?" + +"I don't know," replied the Kofedix doubtfully. "It depends upon whether +his fear of you or his anger is the greater. He should pay his call of +state here in your apartment in a short time, as it is the inviolable +rule of Osnome, that any visitor shall receive a call of state from one +of his own rank before leaving his apartment for the first time. His +actions may give you some idea as to his feelings, though he is an +accomplished diplomat and may conceal his real feelings entirely. But +let me caution you not to be modest or soft-spoken. He will mistake +softness for fear." + +"All right," grinned Seaton. "In that case I won't wait to try to find +out what he thinks. If he shows any signs of hostility at all, I'll open +up on him." + +"Well," remarked Crane, calmly, "if we have some time to spare, we may +as well wait comfortably instead of standing in the middle of the room. +I, for one, have a lot of questions to ask about this new world." + +Acting upon this suggestion, the party seated themselves upon +comfortable divans, and Dunark rapidly dismantled the machine he had +constructed. The captives remained standing, always behind the visitors +until Seaton remonstrated. + +"Please sit down, everybody. There's no need of keeping up this farce of +your being slaves as long as we're alone, is there, Dunark?" + +"No, but at the first sound of the gong announcing a visitor we must be +in our places. Now that we are all comfortable and waiting, I will +introduce my party to yours. + +"Fellow Kondalians, greet the Karfedo Seaton and Crane," he began, his +tongue fumbling over the strange names, "of a distant world, the Earth, +and the two noble ladies, Miss Vaneman and Miss Spencer, soon to be +their Karfediro. + +"Guests from Earth, allow me to present to you the Kofedir Sitar, the +only one of my wives who accompanied me upon our ill-fated hunting +expedition." + +Then, still ignoring DuQuesne as a captive, he introduced the other +Kondolians in turn as his brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, and +nephews--all members of the great ruling house of Kondal. + +"Now," he concluded, "after I have a word with you in private, Doctor +Seaton, I will be glad to give the others all the information in my +power." + +He led Seaton out of earshot of the others and said in a low voice: + +"It is no part of Nalboon's plan to kill the two women. They are so +beautiful, so different from our Osnomian women, that he intends to keep +them--alive. Understand?" + +"Yes," returned Seaton grimly, his eyes turning hard, "I get you all +right--but what he'll do and what he thinks he'll do are two entirely +different breeds of cats." + +Returning to the others, they found Dorothy and Sitar deep in +conversation. + +"So a man has half a dozen or so wives?" Dorothy was asking in surprise. +"How do you get along together? I'd fight like a wildcat if my husband +tried to have other wives!" + +"We get along splendidly, of course," returned the Osnomian princess in +equal surprise. "I would not think of being a man's only wife. I +wouldn't consider marrying a man who could win only one wife--think what +a disgrace it would be! And think how lonely one would be while her +husband is away at war--we would go insane if we did not have the +company of the other wives. There are six of us, and we could not get +along at all without each other." + +"I've got a compliment for you and Peggy, Dottie," said Seaton. "Dunark +here thinks that you two girls look good enough to eat--or words to that +effect." Both girls flushed slightly, the purplish-black color suffusing +their faces. They glanced at each other and Dorothy voiced the thought +of both as she said: + +"How can you, Kofedix Dunark? In this horrible light we both look +perfectly dreadful. These other girls would be beautiful, if we were +used to the colors, but we two look simply hideous." + +"Oh, no," interrupted Sitar. "You have a wonderfully rich coloring. It +is a shame to hide so much of yourselves with robes." + +"Their eyes interpret colors differently than ours do," explained +Seaton. "What to us are harsh and discordant colors are light and +pleasing to their eyes. What looks like a kind of sloppy greenish black +to us may--in fact, does--look a pale pink to them." + +"Are Kondal and Mardonale the only two nations upon Osnome?" asked +Crane. + +"The only civilized nations, yes. Osnome is divided into two great and +almost equal continents, separated by a wide ocean which encircles the +globe. One is Kondal, the other Mardonale. Each nation has several +nations or tribes of savages, which inhabit various waste places." + + * * * * * + +"You are the light race, Mardonale the dark," continued Crane. "What are +the servants, who seem half-way between?" + +"They are slaves...." + +"Captured savages?" interrupted Dorothy. + +"No. They are a separate race. They are a race so low in intelligence +that they cannot exist except as slaves, but they can be trained to +understand language and to do certain kinds of work. They are harmless +and mild, making excellent servants, otherwise they would have perished +ages ago. All menial work and most of the manual labor is done by the +slave race. Formerly criminals were sterilized and reduced to unwilling +slavery, but there have been no unwilling slaves in Kondal for hundreds +of karkamo." + +"Why? Are there no criminals any more?" + +"No. With the invention of the thought recorder an absolutely fair trial +was assured and the guilty were all convicted. They could not reproduce +themselves, and as a natural result crime died out." + +"That is," he added hastily, "what we regard as crime. Duelling, for +instance, is a crime upon Earth; here it is a regular custom. In Kondal +duels are rather rare and are held only when honor is involved, but here +in Mardonale they are an every-day affair, as you saw when you landed." + +"What makes the difference?" asked Dorothy curiously. + +"As you know, with us every man is a soldier. In Kondal we train our +youth in courage, valor, and high honor--in Mardonale they train them in +savage blood-thirstiness alone. Each nation fixed its policy in bygone +ages to produce the type of soldier it thought most efficient." + +"I notice that everyone here wears those heavy collars," said Margaret. +"What are they for?" + +"They are identification marks. When a child is nearly grown, a collar +bearing his name and the device of his house is cast about his neck. +This collar is made of 'arenak,' a synthetic metal which, once formed, +cannot be altered by any usual means. It cannot be scratched, cut, bent, +broken, or worked in any way except at such a high temperature that +death would result, if such heat were applied to the collar. Once the +arenak collar is cast about a person's neck he is identified for life, +and any adult Osnomian not wearing a collar is put to death." + +"That must be an interesting metal," remarked Crane. "Is your belt a +similar mark?" + +"This belt is an idea of my own," and Dunark smiled broadly. "It looks +like opaque arenak, but isn't. It is merely a pouch in which I carry +anything I am particularly interested in. Even Nalboon thought it was +arenak, so he didn't trouble to try to open it. If he had opened it and +taken my tools and instruments, I couldn't have built the educator." + +"Is that transparent armor arenak?" + +"Yes, the only difference being that nothing is added to the matrix to +color or make opaque the finished metal. It is in the preparation of +this metal that salt is indispensable. It acts only as a catalyst, being +recovered afterward, but neither nation has ever had enough salt to make +all the armor they want." + +"Aren't those monsters--karlono, I think you called them--covered by the +same thing? And what are those animals, anyway?" Dorothy asked. + +"Yes, they are armored with arenak, and it is thought that the beasts +grow it, the same as fishes grow scales. The karlono are the most +frightful scourge of Osnome. Very little is known of them, though every +scientist has theorized upon them since time immemorial. It is very +seldom that one is ever killed, as they easily outfly our swiftest +battleships, and only fight when they can be victorious. To kill one +requires a succession of the heaviest high-explosive shells in the same +spot, a joint in the armor; and after the armor is once penetrated, the +animal is blown into such small fragments that reconstruction is +impossible. From such remains it has been variously described as a bird, +a beast, a fish, and a vegetable; sexual, asexual, and hermaphroditic. +Its habitat is unknown, it being variously supposed to live high in the +air, deep in the ocean, and buried in the swamps. Another theory is that +they live upon one of our satellites, which encounters our belt of +atmosphere every karkam. Nothing is certainly known about the monsters +except their terrible destructiveness and their insatiable appetites. +One of them will devour five or six airships at one time, absorbing the +crews and devouring the cargo and all of the vessels except the very +hardest of the metal parts." + +"Do they usually go in groups?" asked Crane. "If they do, I should think +that a fleet of warships would be necessary for every party." + +"No, they are almost always found alone. Only very rarely are two found +together. This is the first time in history that more than two have ever +been seen together. Two battleships can always defeat one karlon, so +they are never attacked. With four battleships Nalboon considered his +expedition perfectly safe, especially as they are now rare. The navies +hunted down and killed what was supposed to be the last one upon Osnome +more than a karkam ago, and none have been seen since, until we were +attacked...." + + * * * * * + +The gong over the door sounded and the Kondalians leaped to their +positions back of the Earthly visitors. The Kofedix went to the door. +Nalboon brushed him aside and entered, escorted by a full company of +heavily-armed soldiery. A scowl of anger was upon his face and he was +plainly in an ugly mood. + +"Stop, Nalboon of Mardonale!" thundered Seaton in the Mardonalian tongue +and with the full power of his mighty voice. "Dare you invade my privacy +unannounced and without invitation?" + +The escort shrank back, but the Domak stood his ground, although he was +plainly taken aback. With an apparent effort he smoothed his face into +lines of cordiality. + +"I merely came to inquire why my guards are slain and my palace +destroyed by my honored guest?" + +"As for slaying your guards, they sought to invade my privacy. I warned +them away, but one of them was foolish enough to try to kill me. Then +the others attempted to raise their childish rifles against me, and I +was obliged to destroy them. As for the wall, it happened to be in the +way of the thought-waves I hurled against your guards--consequently it +was demolished. An honored guest! Bah! Are honored guests put to the +indignity of being touched by the filthy hands of a mere ladex?" + +"You do not object to the touch of slaves!" with a wave of his hand +toward the Kondalians. + +"That is what slaves are for," coldly. "Is a Domak to wait upon himself +in the court of Mardonale? But to return to the issue. Were I an honored +guest this would never have happened. Know, Nalboon, that when you +attempt to treat a visiting Domak of MY race as a low-born captive, you +must be prepared to suffer the consequences of your rashness!" + +"May I ask how you, so recently ignorant, know our language?" + +"You question me? That is bold! Know that I, the Boss of the Road, show +ignorance or knowledge, when and where I please. You may go." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +The Escape from Mardonale + + +"That was a wonderful bluff, Dick!" exclaimed the Kofedix in English as +soon as Nalboon and his guards had disappeared. "That was exactly the +tone to take with him, too--you've sure got him guessing!" + +"It seemed to get him, all right, but I'm wondering how long it'll hold +him. I think we'd better make a dash for the Skylark right now, before +he has time to think it over, don't you?" + +"That is undoubtedly the best way," Dunark replied, lapsing into his own +tongue. "Nalboon is plainly in awe of you now, but if I understand him +at all, he is more than ever determined to seize your vessel, and every +darkam's delay is dangerous." + +The Earth-people quickly secured the few personal belongings they had +brought with them. Stepping out into the hall and waving away the +guards, Seaton motioned Dunark to lead the way. The other captives fell +in behind, as they had done before, and the party walked boldly toward +the door of the palace. The guards offered no opposition, but stood at +attention and saluted as they passed. As they approached the entrance, +however, Seaton saw the major-domo hurrying away and surmised that he +was carrying the news to Nalboon. Outside the door, walking directly +toward the landing dock, Dunark spoke in a low voice to Seaton, without +turning. + +"Nalboon knows by this time that we are making our escape, and it will +be war to the death from here to the Skylark. I do not think there will +be any pursuit from the palace, but he has warned the officers in charge +of the dock and they will try to kill us as soon as we step out of the +elevator, perhaps sooner. Nalboon intended to wait, but we have forced +his hand and the dock is undoubtedly swarming with soldiers now. Shoot +first and oftenest. Shoot first and think afterward. Show no mercy, as +you will receive none--remember that the quality you call 'mercy' does +not exist upon Osnome." + +Rounding a great metal statue about fifty feet from the base of the +towering dock, they saw that the door leading into one of the elevators +was wide open and that two guards stood just inside it. As they caught +sight of the approaching party, the guards raised their rifles; but, +quick as they were, Seaton was quicker. At the first sight of the open +door he had made two quick steps and had hurled himself across the +intervening forty feet in a long football plunge. Before the two guards +could straighten, he crashed into them, his great momentum hurling them +across the elevator cage and crushing them into unconsciousness against +its metal wall. + +"Good work!" said Dunark, as he preceded the others into the elevator, +and, after receiving Seaton's permission, distributed the weapons of the +two guards among the men of his party. "Now we can surprise those upon +the roof. That was why you didn't shoot?" + +"Yes, I was afraid to risk a shot--it would give the whole thing away," +Seaton replied, as he threw the unconscious guards out into the grounds +and closed the massive door. + +"Aren't you going to kill them?" asked Sitar, amazement in every feature +and a puzzled expression in her splendid eyes. A murmur arose from the +other Kondalians, which was quickly silenced by the Kofedix. + +"It is dishonorable for a soldier of Earth to kill a helpless prisoner," +he said briefly. "We cannot understand it, but we must not attempt to +sway him in any point of honor." + +Dunark stepped to the controls and the elevator shot upward, stopping at +a landing several stories below the top of the dock. He took a peculiar +device from his belt and fitted it over the muzzle of his strange +pistol. + +"We will get out here," he instructed the others, "and go up the rest of +the way by a little-used flight of stairs. We will probably encounter +some few guards, but I can dispose of them without raising an alarm. You +will all stay behind me, please." + +Seaton remonstrated, and Dunark went on: + +"No, Seaton, you have done your share, and more. I am upon familiar +ground now, and can do the work alone better than if you were to help +me. I will call upon you, however, before we reach the dock." + +The Kofedix led the way, his pistol resting lightly against his hip, and +at the first turn of the corridor they came full upon four guards. The +pistol did not move from its place at the side of the leader, but there +were four subdued clicks and the four guards dropped dead, with bullets +through their brains. + +"Seaton, that is _some_ silencer," whispered DuQuesne. "I didn't suppose +a silencer could work that fast." + +"They don't use powder," Seaton replied absently, all his faculties +directed toward the next corner. "The bullets are propelled by an +electrical charge." + +In the same manner Dunark disposed of several more guards before the +last stairway was reached. + + * * * * * + +"Seaton," he whispered in English, "now is the time we need your rapid +pistol-work and your high-explosive shells. There must be hundreds of +soldiers on the other side of that door, armed with machine-cannon +shooting high-explosive shells at the rate of a thousand per minute. Our +chance is this--their guns are probably trained upon the elevators and +main stairways, since this passage is unused and none of us would be +expected to know of it. Most of them don't know of it themselves. It +will take them a second or two to bring their guns to bear upon us. We +must do all the damage we can--kill them all, if possible--in that +second or two. If Crane will lend me a pistol, we'll make the rush +together." + +"I've a better scheme than that," interrupted DuQuesne. "Next to you, +Seaton, I'm the fastest man with a gun here. Also, like you, I can use +both hands at once. Give me a couple of clips of those special +cartridges and you and I will blow that bunch into the air before they +know we're here." + +It was decided that the two pistol experts should take the lead, closely +followed by Crane and Dunark. The weapons were loaded to capacity and +put in readiness for instant use. + +"Let's go, bunch!" said Seaton. "The quicker we start the quicker we'll +get back. Get ready to run out there, all the rest of you, as soon as +the battle's over. Ready? On your marks--get set--go!" + +He kicked the door open and there was a stuttering crash as the four +automatic pistols simultaneously burst into practically continuous +flame--a crash obliterated by an overwhelming concussion of sound as the +X-plosive shells, sweeping the entire roof with a rapidly-opening fan of +death, struck their marks and exploded. Well it was for the little group +of wanderers that the two men in the door were past masters in the art +of handling their weapons; well it was that they had in their tiny +pistol-bullets the explosive force of hundreds of giant shells! For rank +upon rank of soldiery were massed upon the roof; rapid-fire cannon, +terrible engines of destruction, were pointing toward the elevators and +toward the main stairways and approaches. But so rapid and fierce was +the attack, that even those trained gunners had no time to point their +guns. The battle lasted little more than a second, being over before +either Crane or Dunark could fire a shot, and silence again reigned even +while broken and shattered remnants of the guns and fragments of the +metal and stone of the dock were still falling to the ground through a +fine mist of what had once been men. + +Assured by a rapid glance that not a single Mardonalian remained upon +the dock, Seaton turned back to the others. + +"Make it snappy, bunch! This is going to be a mighty unhealthy spot for +us in a few minutes." + +Dorothy threw her arms around his neck in relief. With one arm about +her, he hastily led the way across the dock toward the Skylark, choosing +the path with care because of the yawning holes blown into the structure +by the terrific force of the explosions. The Skylark was still in place, +held immovable by the attractor, but what a sight she was! Her crystal +windows were shattered; her mighty plates of four-foot Norwegian armor +were bent and cracked and twisted; two of her doors, warped and +battered, hung awry from their broken hinges. Not a shell had struck +her: all this damage had been done by flying fragments of the guns and +of the dock itself; and Seaton and Crane, who had developed the new +explosive, stood aghast at its awful power. + +They hastily climbed into the vessel, and Seaton assured himself that +the controls were uninjured. + +"I hear battleships," Dunark said. "Is it permitted that I operate one +of your machine guns?" + +"Go as far as you like," responded Seaton, as he placed the women +beneath the copper bar--the safest place in the vessel--and leaped to +the instrument board. Before he reached it, and while DuQuesne, Crane, +and Dunark were hastening to the guns, the whine of giant +helicopter-screws was plainly heard. A ranging shell from the first +warship, sighted a little low, exploded against the side of the dock +beneath them. He reached the levers just as the second shell screamed +through the air a bare four feet above them. As he shot the Skylark into +the air under five notches of power, a steady stream of the huge bombs +poured through the spot where, an instant before, the vessel had been. +Crane and DuQuesne aimed several shots at the battleships, which were +approaching from all sides, but the range was so extreme that no damage +was done. + +They heard the continuous chattering of the machine gun operated by the +Kofedix, however, and turned toward him. He was shooting, not at the +warships, but at the city rapidly growing smaller beneath them; moving +the barrel of the rifle in a tiny spiral; spraying the entire city with +death and destruction! As they looked, the first of the shells reached +the ground, just as Dunark ceased firing for lack of ammunition. They +saw the palace disappear as if by magic, being instantly blotted out in +a cloud of dust--a cloud which, with a spiral motion of dizzying +rapidity, increased in size until it obscured the entire city. + + * * * * * + +Having attained sufficient altitude to be safe from any possible pursuit +and out of range of even the heaviest guns, Seaton stopped the vessel +and went out into the main compartment to consult with the other +members of the group, about their next move. + +"It sure does feel good to get a breath of cool air, folks," he said, as +he drew with relief a deep breath of the air, which, at that great +elevation, was of an icy temperature and very thin. He glanced at the +little group of Kondalians as he spoke, then leaped back to the +instrument board with an apology on his lips--they were gasping for +breath and shivering with the cold. He switched on the heating coils and +dropped the Skylark rapidly in a long descent toward the ocean. + +"If that is the temperature you enjoy, I understand at last why you wear +clothes," said the Kofedix, as soon as he could talk. + +"Do not your planes fly up into the regions of low temperature?" asked +Crane. + +"Only occasionally, and all high-flying vessels are enclosed and heated +to our normal temperature. We have heavy wraps, but we dislike to wear +them so intensely that we never subject ourselves to any cold." + +"Well, there's no accounting for tastes," returned Seaton, "but I can't +hand your climate a thing. It's hotter even than Washington in August; +'and that,' as the poet feelingly remarked, 'is going some!' + +"But there's no reason for sitting here in the dark," he continued, as +he switched on the powerful daylight lamps which lighted the vessel with +the nearest approach to sunlight possible to produce. As soon as the +lights were on, Dorothy looked intently at the strange women. + +"Now we can see what color they really are," she explained to her lover +in a low voice. "Why, they aren't so very different from what they were +before, except that the colors are much softer and more pleasing. They +really are beautiful, in spite of being green. Don't you think so, +Dick?" + +"They're a handsome bunch, all right," he agreed, and they were. Their +skins were a light, soft green, tanned to an olive shade by their many +fervent suns. Their teeth were a brilliant and shining grass-green. +Their eyes and their long, thick hair were a glossy black. + +The Kondalians looked at the Earthly visitors and at each other, and the +women uttered exclamations of horror. + +"What a frightful light?" exclaimed Sitar. "Please shut it off. I would +rather be in total darkness than look like this!" + +"What's the matter, Sitar?" asked the puzzled Dorothy as Seaton turned +off the lights. "You look perfectly stunning in this light." + +"They see things differently than we do," explained Seaton. "Their optic +nerves react differently than ours do. While we look all right to them, +and they look all right to us, in both kinds of light, they look just as +different to themselves under our daylight lamps as we do to ourselves +in their green light. Is that explanation clear?" + +"It's clear enough as far as it goes, but what do they look like to +themselves?" + +"That's too deep for me--I can't explain it, any better than you can. +Take the Osnomian color 'mlap,' for instance. Can you describe it?" + +"It's a kind of greenish orange--but it seems as though it ought not to +look like that color either." + +"That's it, exactly. From the knowledge you received from the educator, +it should be a brilliant purple. That is due to the difference in the +optic nerves, which explains why we see things so differently from the +way the Osnomians do. Perhaps they can describe the way they look to +each other in our white light." + +"Can you, Sitar?" asked Dorothy. + +"One word describes it--'horrible.'" replied the Kondalian princess, and +her husband added: + +"The colors are distorted and unrecognizable, just as your colors are to +your eyes in our light." + +"Well, now that the color question is answered, let's get going. I +pretty nearly asked you the way, Dunark--forgot that I know it as well +as you do." + + * * * * * + +The Skylark set off at as high an altitude as the Osnomians could stand. +As they neared the ocean several great Mardonalian battleships, warned +of the escape, sought to intercept them; but the Skylark hopped over +them easily, out of range of their heaviest guns, and flew onward at +such speed that pursuit was not even attempted. The ocean was quickly +crossed. Soon the space-car came to rest over a great city, and Seaton +pointed out the palace; which, with its landing dock nearby, was very +similar to that of Nalboon, in the capital city of Mardonale. + +Crane drew Seaton to one side. + +"Do you think it is safe to trust these Kondalians, any more than it was +the others? How would it be to stay in the Lark instead of going into +the palace?" + +"Yes, Mart, this bunch can be trusted. Dunark has a lot of darn queer +ideas, but he's square as a die. He's our friend, and will get us the +copper. We have no choice now, anyway, look at the bar. We haven't an +ounce of copper left--we're down to the plating in spots. Besides, we +couldn't go anywhere if we had a ton of copper, because the old bus is a +wreck. She won't hold air--you could throw a cat out through the shell +in any direction. She'll have to have a lot of work done on her before +we can think of leaving. As to staying in her, that wouldn't help us a +bit. Steel is as soft as wood to these folks--their shells would go +through her as though she were made of mush. They are made of metal that +is harder than diamond and tougher than rubber, and when they strike +they bore in like drill-bits. If they are out to get us they'll do it +anyway, whether we're here or there, so we may as well be guests. But +there's no danger, Mart. You know I swapped brains with him, and I know +him as well as I know myself. He's a good, square man--one of our kind +of folks." + +Convinced, Crane nodded his head and the Skylark dropped toward the +dock. While they were still high in air, Dunark took an instrument from +his belt and rapidly manipulated a small lever. The others felt the air +vibrate--a peculiar, pulsating wave, which, to the surprise of the +Earthly visitors, they could read without difficulty. It was a message +from the Kofedix to the entire city, telling of the escape of his party +and giving the news that he was accompanied by two great Karfedo from +another world. Then the pulsations became unintelligible, and all knew +that he had tuned his instrument away from the "general" key into the +individual key of some one person. + +"I just let my father, the Karfedix, know that we are coming," he +explained, as the vibrations ceased. + +From the city beneath them hundreds of great guns roared forth a +welcome, banners and streamers hung from every possible point, and the +air became tinted and perfumed with a bewildering variety of colors and +scents and quivered with the rush of messages of welcome. The Skylark +was soon surrounded by a majestic fleet of giant warships, who escorted +her with impressive ceremony to the landing dock, while around them +flitted great numbers of other aircraft. The tiny one-man helicopters +darted hither and thither, apparently always in imminent danger of +colliding with some of their larger neighbors, but always escaping as +though by a miracle. Beautiful pleasure-planes soared and dipped and +wheeled like giant gulls; and, cleaving their stately way through the +numberless lesser craft; immense multiplane passenger liners partially +supported by helicopter screws turned aside from their scheduled courses +to pay homage to the Kofedix of Kondal. + +As the Skylark approached the top of the dock, all the escorting vessels +dropped away and Crane saw that instead of the brilliant assemblage he +had expected to see upon the landing-place there was only a small group +of persons, as completely unadorned as were those in the car. In answer +to his look of surprise, the Kofedix said, with deep feeling: + +"My father, mother, and the rest of the family. They know that we, as +escaped captives, would be without harness or trappings, and are meeting +us in the same state." + + * * * * * + +Seaton brought the vessel to the dock near the little group, and the +Earthly visitors remained inside their vessel while the rulers of Kondal +welcomed the sons and daughters they had given up for dead. + +After the affecting reunion, which was very similar to an earthly one +under similar circumstances, the Kofedix led his father up to the +Skylark and his guests stepped down upon the dock. + +"Friends," Dunark began, "I have told you of my father, Roban, the +Karfedix of Kondal. Father, it is a great honor to present to you those +who rescued us from Mardonale--Seaton, Karfedix of Knowledge; Crane, +Karfedix of Wealth; Miss Vaneman; and Miss Spencer. Karfedix DuQuesne," +waving his hand toward him, "is a lesser Karfedix of Knowledge, captive +to the others." + +"The Kofedix Dunark exaggerates our services," deprecated Seaton, "and +doesn't mention the fact that he saved all our lives. But for him we all +should have been killed." + +The Karfedix, disregarding Seaton's remark, acknowledged the +indebtedness of Kondal in heartfelt accents before he led them back to +the other party and made the introductions. As all walked toward the +elevators, the emperor turned to his son with a puzzled expression. + +"I know from your message, Dunark, that our guests are from a distant +solar system, and I can understand your accident with the educator, but +I cannot understand the titles of these men. Knowledge and wealth are +not ruled over. Are you sure that you have translated their titles +correctly?" + +"As correctly as I can--we have no words in our language to express the +meaning. Their government is a most peculiar one, the rulers all being +chosen by the people of the whole nation...." + +"Extraordinary!" interjected the older man. "How, then, can anything be +accomplished?" + +"I do not understand the thing myself, it is so utterly unheard-of. But +they have no royalty, as we understand the term. In America, their +country, every man is equal. + +"That is," he hastened to correct himself, "they are not all equal, +either, as they have two classes which would rank with royalty--those +who have attained to great heights of knowledge and those who have +amassed great wealth. This explanation is entirely inadequate and does +not give the right idea of their positions, but it is as close as I can +come to the truth in our language." + +"I am surprised that you should be carrying a prisoner with you, +Karfedo," said Roban, addressing Seaton and Crane. "You will, of course, +be at perfect liberty to put him to death in any way that pleases you, +just as though you were in your own kingdoms. But perchance you are +saving him so that his death will crown your home-coming?" + +The Kofedix spoke in answer while Seaton, usually so quick to speak, was +groping for words. + +"No, father, he is not to be put to death. That is another peculiar +custom of the Earth-men; they consider it dishonorable to harm a +captive, or even an unarmed enemy. For that reason we must treat the +Karfedix DuQuesne with every courtesy due his rank, but at the same time +he is to be allowed to do only such things as may be permitted by Seaton +and Crane." + +"Yet they do not seem to be a weak race," mused the older man. + +"They are a mighty race, far advanced in evolution," replied his son. +"It is not weakness, but a peculiar moral code. We have many things to +learn from them, and but few to give them in return. Their visit will +mean much to Kondal." + + * * * * * + +During this conversation they had descended to the ground and had +reached the palace, after traversing grounds even more sumptuous and +splendid than those surrounding the palace of Nalboon. Inside the palace +walls the Kofedix himself led the guests to their rooms, accompanied by +the major-domo and an escort of guards. He explained to them that the +rooms were all inter-communicating, each having a completely equipped +bathroom. + +"Complete except for cold water, you mean," said Seaton with a smile. + +"There is cold water," rejoined the other, leading him into the bathroom +and releasing a ten-inch stream of lukewarm water into the small +swimming pool, built of polished metal, which forms part of every +Kondalian bathroom. "But I am forgetting that you like extreme cold. We +will install refrigerating machines at once." + +"Don't do it--thanks just the same. We won't be here long enough to make +it worth while." + +Dunark smilingly replied that he would make his guests as comfortable as +he could, and after informing them that in one kam he would return and +escort them in to koprat, took his leave. Scarcely had the guests +freshened themselves when he was back, but he was no longer the Dunark +they had known. He now wore a metal-and-leather harness which was one +blaze of precious gems, and a leather belt hung with jeweled weapons +replaced the familiar hollow girdle of metal. His right arm, between the +wrist and the elbow, was almost covered by six bracelets of a +transparent metal, deep cobalt-blue in color, each set with an +incredibly brilliant stone of the same shade. On his left wrist he wore +an Osnomian chronometer. This was an instrument resembling the odometer +of an automobile, whose numerous revolving segments revealed a large and +constantly increasing number--the date and time of the Osnomian day, +expressed in a decimal number of the karkamo of Kondalian history. + +"Greetings, oh guests from Earth! I feel more like myself, now that I am +again in my trappings and have my weapons at my side. Will you accompany +me to koprat, or are you not hungry?" as he attached the peculiar +timepieces to the wrists of the guests, with bracelets of the deep-blue +metal. + +"We accept with thanks," replied Dorothy promptly. "We're starving to +death, as usual." + +As they walked toward the dining hall, Dunark noticed that Dorothy's +eyes strayed toward his bracelets, and he answered her unasked question: + +"These are our wedding rings. Man and wife exchange bracelets as part of +the ceremony." + +"Then you can tell whether a man is married or not, and how many wives +he has, simply by looking at his arm? We should have something like that +on Earth, Dick--then married men wouldn't find it so easy to pose as +bachelors!" + +Roban met them at the door of the great dining hall. He also was in full +panoply, and Dorothy counted ten of the heavy bracelets upon his right +arm as he led them to places near his own. The room was a replica of the +other Osnomian dining hall they had seen and the women were decorated +with the same barbaric splendor of scintillating gems. + +After the meal, which was a happy one, taking the nature of a +celebration in honor of the return of the captives, DuQuesne went +directly to his room while the others spent the time until the zero hour +in strolling about the splendid grounds, always escorted by many guards. +Returning to the room occupied by the two girls, the couples separated, +each girl accompanying her lover to the door of his room. + +Margaret was ill at ease, though trying hard to appear completely +self-possessed. + +"What is the matter, sweetheart Peggy?" asked Crane, solicitously. + +"I didn't know that you...." she broke off and continued with a rush: +"What did the Kofedix mean just now, when he called you the Karfedix of +Wealth?" + +"Well, you see, I happen to have some money...." he began. + +"Then you are the great M. Reynolds Crane?" she interrupted, in +consternation. + +"Leave off 'the great,'" he said, then, noting her expression, he took +her in his arms and laughed slightly. + +"Is that all that was bothering you? What does a little money amount to +between you and me?" + +"Nothing--but I'm awfully glad that I didn't know it before," she +replied, as she returned his caress with fervor. "That is, it means +nothing if you are perfectly sure I'm not...." + +Crane, the imperturbable, broke a life-long rule and interrupted her. + +"Do not say that, dear. You know as well as I do that between you and me +there never have been, are not now, and never shall be, any doubts or +any questions." + + * * * * * + +"If I could have a real cold bath now, I'd feel fine," remarked Seaton, +standing in his own door with Dorothy by his side. "I'm no blooming +Englishman but in weather as hot as this I sure would like to dive into +a good cold tank. How do you feel after all this excitement, Dottie? Up +to standard?" + +"I'm scared purple," she replied, nestling against him, "or, at least, +if not exactly scared, I'm apprehensive and nervous. I always thought I +had good nerves, but everything here is so horrible and unreal, that I +can't help but feel it. When I'm with you I really enjoy the experience, +but when I'm alone or with Peggy, especially in the sleeping-period, +which is so awfully long and when it seems that something terrible is +going to happen every minute, my mind goes off in spite of me into +thoughts of what may happen. Why, last night, Peggy and I just huddled +up to each other in a ghastly yellow funk--dreading we knew not +what--the two of us slept hardly at all." + +"I'm sorry, little girl," replied Seaton, embracing her tenderly, +"sorrier than I can say. I know that your nerves are all right, but you +haven't roughed it enough, or lived in strange environments enough, to +be able to feel at home. The reason you feel safer with me is that I +feel perfectly at home here myself, not that your nerves are going to +pieces or anything like that. It won't be for long, though, +sweetheart--as soon as we get the chariot fixed up we'll beat it back to +the Earth so fast it'll make your head spin." + +"Yes, I think that's the reason, lover. I hope you won't think I'm a +clinging vine, but I can't help being afraid of something here every +time I'm away from you. You're so self-reliant, so perfectly at ease +here, that it makes me feel the same way." + +"I am perfectly at ease. There's nothing to be afraid of. I've been in +hundreds of worse places, right on Earth. I sure wish I could be with +you all the time, sweetheart girl--only you can understand just how much +I wish it--but, as I said before, it won't be long until we can be +together all the time." + +Dorothy pushed him into his room, followed him within it, closed the +door, and put both hands on his arm. + +"Dick, sweetheart," she whispered, while a hot blush suffused her face, +"you're not as dumb as I thought you were--you're dumber! But if you +simply won't say it, I will. Don't you know that a marriage that is +legal where it is performed is legal anywhere, and that no law says that +the marriage must be performed upon the Earth?" + +He pressed her to his heart in a mighty embrace, and his low voice +showed in every vibration the depth of the feeling he held for the +beautiful woman in his arms as he replied: + +"I never thought of that, sweetheart, and I wouldn't have dared mention +it if I had. You're so far away from your family and your friends that +it would seem...." + +"It wouldn't seem anything of the kind," she broke in earnestly. "Don't +you see, you big, dense, wonderful man, that it is the only thing to do? +We need each other, or at least, I need you, so much now...." + +"Say 'each other'; it's right," declared her lover with fervor. + +"It's foolish to wait. Mother would like to have seen me married, of +course; but there will be great advantages, even on that side. A grand +wedding, of the kind we would simply have to have in Washington, doesn't +appeal to me any more than it does to you--and it would bore you to +extinction. Dad would hate it, too--it's better all around to be married +here." + +Seaton, who had been trying to speak, silenced her. + +"I'm convinced, Dottie, have been ever since the first word. If you can +see it that way I'm so glad that I can't express it. I've been scared +stiff every time I thought of our wedding. I'll speak to the Karfedix +the first thing in the morning, and we'll be married tomorrow--or rather +today, since it is past the zero kam," as he glanced at the chronometer +upon his wrist, which, driven by wireless impulses from the master-clock +in the national observatory, was clicking off the darkamo with an almost +inaudible purr of its smoothly-revolving segments. + +"How would it be to wake him up and have it done now?" + +"Oh, Dick, be reasonable! That would never do. Tomorrow will be most +awfully sudden, as it is! And Dick, please speak to Martin, will you? +Peggy's even more scared than I am, and Martin, the dear old stupid, is +even less likely to suggest such a thing as this kind of a wedding than +you are. Peggy's afraid to suggest it to him." + +"Woman!" he said in mock sternness, "Is this a put-up job?" + +"It certainly is. Did you think I had nerve enough to do it without +help?" + +Seaton turned and opened the door. + +"Mart! Bring Peggy over here!" he called, as he led Dorothy back into +the girls' room. + +"Heavens, Dick, be careful! You'll spoil the whole thing!" + +"No, I won't. Leave it to me--I bashfully admit that I'm a regular +bear-cat at this diplomatic stuff. Watch my smoke!" + +"Folks," he said, when the four were together, "Dottie and I have been +talking things over, and we've decided that today's the best possible +date for a wedding. Dottie's afraid of these long, daylight nights, and +I admit that I'd sleep a lot sounder if I knew where she was all the +time instead of only part of it. She says she's willing, provided you +folks see it the same way and make it double. How about it?" + +Margaret blushed furiously and Crane's lean, handsome face assumed a +darker color as he replied: + +"A marriage here would, of course, be legal anywhere, provided we have a +certificate, and we could be married again upon our return if we think +it desirable. It might look as though we were taking an unfair advantage +of the girls, Dick, but considering all the circumstances, I think it +would be the best thing for everyone concerned." + +He saw the supreme joy in Margaret's eyes, and his own assumed a new +light as he drew her into the hollow of his arm. + +"Peggy has known me only a short time, but nothing else in the world is +as certain as our love. It is the bride's privilege to set the date, so +I will only say that it cannot be too soon for me." + +"The sooner the better," said Margaret, with a blush that would have +been divine in any earthly light, "did you say 'today,' Dick?" + +"I'll see the Karfedix as soon as he gets up," he answered, and walked +with Dorothy to his door. + +"I'm just too supremely happy for words," Dorothy whispered in Seaton's +ear as he bade her good-night. "I won't be able to sleep or anything!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +An Osnomian Marriage + + +Seaton awoke, hot and uncomfortable, but with a great surge of joy in +his heart--this was his wedding day! Springing from the bed, he released +the full stream of the "cold" water, filling the tank in a few moments. +Poising lightly upon the edge, he made a clean, sharp dive, and yelled +in surprise as he came snorting to the surface. For Dunark had made good +his promise--the water was only a few degrees above the freezing point! +After a few minutes of vigorous splashing in the icy water, he rubbed +himself down with a coarse towel, shaved, threw on his clothes, and +lifted his powerful, but musical, bass voice in the wedding chorus from +"The Rose Maiden." + + _"Rise, sweet maid, arise, arise, + Rise, sweet maid, arise, arise, + 'Tis the last fair morning for thy maiden eyes,"_ + +he sang lustily, out of his sheer joy in being alive, and was surprised +to hear Dorothy's clear soprano, Margaret's pleasing contralto, and +Crane's mellow tenor chime in from the adjoining room. Crane threw open +the door and Seaton joined the others. + +"Good morning. Dick, you sound happy," said Crane. + +"Who wouldn't be? Look what's doing today," as he ardently embraced his +bride-to-be. "Besides, I found some cold water this morning." + +"Everyone in the palace heard you discovering it," dryly returned Crane, +and the girls laughed merrily. + +"It surprised me at first," admitted Seaton, "but it's great after a +fellow once gets wet." + +"We warmed ours a trifle," said Dorothy. "I like a cold bath myself, but +not in ice-water." + +All four became silent, thinking of the coming event of the day, until +Crane said: + +"They have ministers here, I know, and I know something of their +religion, but my knowledge is rather vague. You know more about it than +we do, Dick, suppose you tell us about it while we wait." + +Seaton paused a moment, with an odd look on his face. As one turning the +pages of an unfamiliar book of reference, he was seeking the answer to +Crane's question in the vast store of Osnomian information received from +Dunark. His usually ready speech came a little slowly. + +"Well, as nearly as I can explain it, it's a funny kind of a +mixture--partly theology, partly Darwinism, or at least, making a fetish +of evolution, and partly pure economic determinism. They believe in a +Supreme Being, whom they call the First Cause--that is the nearest +English equivalent--and they recognize the existence of an immortal and +unknowable life-principle, or soul. They believe that the First Cause +has decreed the survival of the fittest as the fundamental law, which +belief accounts for their perfect physiques...." + +"Perfect physiques? Why, they're as weak as children," interrupted +Dorothy. + +"Yes, but that is because of the smallness of the planet," returned +Seaton. "You see, a man of my size weighs only eighty-six pounds here, +on a spring balance, so he would need only the muscular development of a +boy of twelve or so. In a contest of strength, either of you girls could +easily handle two of the strongest men upon Osnome. In fact, the average +Osnomian could stand up on our Earth only with the greatest difficulty. +But that isn't the fault of the people; they are magnificently developed +for their surroundings. They have attained this condition by centuries +of weeding out the unfit. They have no hospitals for the feeble-minded +or feeble-bodied--abnormal persons are not allowed to live. The same +reasoning accounts for their perfect cleanliness, moral and physical. +Vice is practically unknown. They believe that clean living and clean +thinking are rewarded by the production of a better physical and mental +type...." + +"Yes, especially as they correct wrong living by those terrible +punishments the Kofedix told us about," interrupted Margaret. + +"That probably helps some. They also believe that the higher the type +is, the faster will evolution proceed, and the sooner will mankind reach +what they call the Ultimate Goal, and know all things. Believing as they +do that the fittest must survive, and thinking themselves, of course, +the superior type, it is ordained that Mardonale must be destroyed +utterly, root and branch. They believe that the slaves are so low in the +scale, millions of years behind in evolution, that they do not count. +Slaves are simply intelligent and docile animals, little more than +horses or oxen. Mardonalians and savages are unfit to survive and must +be exterminated. + +"Their ministers are chosen from the very fittest. They are the +strongest, cleanest-living, and most vigorous men of this clean and +vigorous nation, and are usually high army officers as well as +ministers." + + * * * * * + +An attendant announced the coming of the Karfedix and his son, to pay +the call of state. After the ceremonious greetings had been exchanged, +all went into the dining hall for darprat. As soon as the meal was over, +Seaton brought up the question of the double wedding that kokam, and the +Karfedix was overjoyed. + +"Karfedix Seaton," he said earnestly, "nothing could please us more than +to have such a ceremony performed in our palace. Marriage between such +highly-evolved persons as are you four is wished by the First Cause, +whose servants we are. Aside from that, it is an unheard-of honor for +any ruler to have even one karfedix married beneath his roof, and you +are granting me the privilege of two! I thank you, and assure you that +we will do our poor best to make the occasion memorable." + +"Don't do anything fancy," said Seaton hastily. "A simple, plain wedding +will do." + +Unheeding Seaton's remark, the Karfedix took his wireless from its hook +at his belt and sent a brief message. + +"I have summoned Karbix Tarnan to perform the ceremony. Our usual time +for ceremonies is just before koprat--is that time satisfactory to you?" + +Assured that it was, he turned to his son. + +"Dunark, you are more familiar than I with the customs of our +illustrious visitors. May I ask you to take charge of the details?" + +While Dunark sent a rapid succession of messages, Dorothy whispered to +Seaton: + +"They must be going to make a real function of our double wedding, Dick. +The Karbix is the highest dignitary of the church, isn't he?" + +"Yes, in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of all the Kondalian +armies. Next to the Karfedix he is the most powerful man in the empire. +Something tells me, Dottie, that this is going to be SOME ceremony!" + +As Dunark finished telegraphing, Seaton turned to him. + +"Dorothy said, a while ago, that she would like to have enough of that +tapestry-fabric for a dress. Do you suppose it could be managed?" + +"Certainly. In all state ceremonials we always wear robes made out of +the same fabric as the tapestries, but much finer and more delicate. I +would have suggested it, but thought perhaps the ladies would prefer +their usual clothing. I know that you two men do not care to wear our +robes?" + +"We will wear white ducks, the dressiest and coolest things we have +along," replied Seaton. "Thank you for your offer, but you know how it +is. We should feel out of place in such gorgeous dress." + +"I understand. I will call in a few of our most expert robe-makers, who +will weave the gowns. Before they come, let us decide upon the ceremony. +I think you are familiar with our marriage customs, but I will explain +them to make sure. Each couple is married twice. The first marriage is +symbolized by the exchange of plain bracelets and lasts four karkamo, +during which period divorce may be obtained at will. The children of +such divorced couples formerly became wards of the state, but in my +lifetime I have not heard of there being any such children--all divorces +are now between couples who discover their incompatibility before +children are conceived." + +"That surprises me greatly," said Crane. "Some system of trial-marriage +is advocated among us on Earth every few years, but they all so surely +degenerate into free love that no such system has found a foothold." + +"We are not troubled in that way at all. You see, before the first +marriage, each couple, from the humblest peasantry to the highest +royalty, must submit to a mental examination. If they are marrying for +any reason at all other than love, such as any thought of trifling in +the mind of the man, or if the woman is marrying him for his wealth or +position, he or she is summarily executed, regardless of station." + +No other questions being asked, Dunark continued: + +"At the end of four karkamo the second marriage is performed, which is +indissoluble. In this ceremony jeweled bracelets are substituted for the +plain ones. In the case of highly-evolved persons it is permitted that +the two ceremonies be combined into one. Then there is a third ceremony, +used only in the marriage of persons of the very highest evolution, in +which the 'eternal' vows are taken and the faidon, the eternal jewel, is +exchanged. As you are all in the permitted class, you may use the +eternal ceremony if you wish." + +"I think we all know our minds well enough to know that we want to be +married for good--the longer the better," said Seaton, positively. +"We'll make it the eternal, won't we, folks?" + +"I should like to ask one question," said Crane, thoughtfully. "Does +that ceremony imply that my wife would be breaking her vows if she +married again upon my death?" + +"Far from it. Numbers of our men are killed every karkam. Their wives, +if of marriageable age, are expected to marry again. Then, too, you know +that most Kondalian men have several wives. No matter how many wives or +husbands may be linked together in that way, it merely means that after +death their spirits will be grouped into one. Just as in your +chemistry," smiling in comradely fashion at Seaton, "a varying number of +elements may unite to form a stable compound." + + * * * * * + +After a short pause, the speaker went on: + +"Since you are from the Earth and unaccustomed to bracelets, rings will +be substituted for them. The plain rings will take the place of your +Earthly wedding rings, the jeweled ones that of your engagement rings. +The only difference is that while we discard the plain bracelets, you +will continue to wear them. Have you men any objections to wearing the +rings during the ceremony? You may discard them later if you wish and +still keep the marriage valid." + +"Not I! I'll wear mine all my life," responded Seaton earnestly, and +Crane expressed the same thought. + +"There is only one more thing," added the Kofedix. "That is, about the +mental examination. Since it is not your custom, it is probable that the +justices would waive the ruling, especially since everyone must be +examined by a jury of his own or a superior rank, so that only one man, +my father alone, could examine you." + +"Not in a thousand years!" replied Seaton emphatically. "I want to be +examined, and have Dorothy see the record. I don't care about having her +put through it, but I want her to know exactly the kind of a guy she is +getting." + +Dorothy protested at this, but as all four were eager that they +themselves should be tested, the Karfedix was notified and Dunark +clamped sets of multiple electrodes, connected to a set of instruments, +upon the temples of his father, Dorothy, and Seaton. He pressed a lever, +and instantly Dorothy and Seaton read each other's minds to the minutest +detail, and each knew that the Karfedix was reading the minds of both. + +After Margaret and Crane had been examined, the Karfedix expressed +himself as more than satisfied. + +"You are all of the highest evolution and your minds are all untainted +by any base thoughts in your marriage. The First Cause will smile upon +your unions," he said solemnly. + +"Let the robe-makers appear," the Karfedix ordered, and four women, hung +with spools of brilliantly-colored wire of incredible fineness and with +peculiar looms under their arms, entered the room and accompanied the +two girls to their apartment. + +As soon as the room was empty save for the four men, Dunark said: + +"While I was in Mardonale, I heard bits of conversation regarding an +immense military discovery possessed by Nalboon, besides the gas whose +deadly effects we felt. I could get no inkling of its nature, but feel +sure that it is something to be dreaded. I also heard that both of these +secrets had been stolen from Kondal, and that we were to be destroyed by +our own superior inventions." + +The Karfedix nodded his head gloomily. + +"That is true, my son--partly true, at least. We shall not be destroyed, +however. Kondal shall triumph. The discoveries were made by a Kondalian, +but I am as ignorant as are you concerning their nature. An obscure +inventor, living close to the bordering ocean, was the discoverer. He +was rash enough to wireless me concerning them. He would not reveal +their nature, but requested a guard. The Mardonalian patrol intercepted +the message and captured both him and his discoveries before our guard +could arrive." + +"That's easily fixed," suggested Seaton. "Let's get the Skylark fixed +up, and we'll go jerk Nalboon out of his palace--if he's still +alive--bring him over here, and read his mind." + +"That might prove feasible," answered the Kofedix, "and in any event we +must repair the Skylark and replenish her supply of copper immediately. +That must be our first consideration, so that you, our guests, will +have a protection in any emergency." + +The Karfedix went to his duties and the other three made their way to +the wrecked space-car. They found that besides the damage done to the +hull, many of the instruments were broken, including one of the +object-compasses focused upon the Earth. + +"It's a good thing you had three of them, Mart. I sure hand it to you +for preparedness," said Seaton, as he tossed the broken instruments out +upon the dock. Dunark protested at this treatment, and placed the +discarded instruments in a strong metal safe, remarking: + +"These things may prove useful at some future time." + +"Well, I suppose the first thing to do is to get some powerful jacks and +straighten these plates," said Seaton. + +"Why not throw away this soft metal, steel, and build it of arenak, as +it should be built? You have plenty of salt," suggested Dunark. + +"Fine! We have lots of salt in the galley, haven't we, Mart?" + +"Yes, nearly a hundred pounds. We are stocked for emergencies, with two +years' supply of food, you know." + + * * * * * + +Dunark's eyes opened in astonishment at the amount mentioned, in spite +of his knowledge of earthly conditions. He started to say something, +then stopped in confusion, but Seaton divined his thought. + +"We can spare him fifty pounds as well as not, can't we, Mart?" + +"Certainly. Fifty pounds of salt is a ridiculously cheap price for what +he is doing for us, even though it is very rare here." + +Dunark acknowledged the gift with shining eyes and heartfelt, but not +profuse, thanks, and bore the precious bag to the palace under a heavy +escort. He returned with a small army of workmen, and after making tests +to assure himself that the power-bar would work as well through arenak +as through steel, he instructed the officers concerning the work to be +done. As the wonderfully skilled mechanics set to work without a single +useless motion, the prince stood silent, with a look of care upon his +handsome face. + +"Worrying about Mardonale, Dunark?" + +"Yes. I cannot help wondering what that terrible new engine of +destruction is, which Nalboon now has at his command." + +"Say, why don't you build a bus like the Skylark, and blow Mardonale off +the map?" + +"Building the vessel would be easy enough, but X is as yet unknown upon +Osnome." + +"We've got a lot of it...." + +"I could not accept it. The salt was different, since you have plenty. +X, however, is as scarce upon Earth as salt is upon Osnome." + +"Sure you can accept it. We stopped at a planet that has lots of it, and +we've got an object-compass pointing at it so that we can go back and +get more of it any time we want it. We've got more of it on hand now +than we're apt to need for a long time, so have a hunk and get busy," +and he easily carried one of the lumps out of his cabin and tossed it +upon the dock, from whence it required two of Kondal's strongest men to +lift it. + +The look of care vanished from the face of the prince and he summoned +another corps of mechanics. + +"How thick shall the walls be? Our battleships are armed with arenak the +thickness of a hand, but with your vast supply of salt you may have it +any thickness you wish, since the materials of the matrix are cheap and +abundant." + +"One inch would be enough, but everything in the bus is designed for a +four-foot shell, and if we change it from four feet we'll have to +redesign our guns and all our instruments. Let's make it four feet." + +Seaton turned to the crippled Skylark, upon which the first crew of +Kondalian mechanics were working with skill and with tools undreamed-of +upon Earth. The whole interior of the vessel was supported by a complex +falsework of latticed metal, then the four-foot steel plates and the +mighty embers, the pride of the great MacDougall, were cut away as +though they were made of paper by revolving saws and enormous power +shears. The sphere, grooved for the repellers and with the members, +braces, and central machinery complete, of the exact dimensions of the +originals, was rapidly moulded of a stiff, plastic substance resembling +clay. This matrix soon hardened into a rock-like mass into which the +doors, machine-gun emplacements, and other openings were carefully cut. +All surfaces were then washed with a dilute solution of salt, which the +workmen handled as though it were radium. Two great plates of platinum +were clamped into place upon either side of the vessel, each plate +connected by means of silver cables as large as a man's leg to the +receiving terminal of an enormous wireless power station. The current +was applied and the great spherical mass apparently disappeared, being +transformed instantly into the transparent metal arenak. Then indeed had +the Earth-men a vehicle such as had never been seen before! A four-foot +shell of metal five hundred times as strong and hard as the strongest +and hardest steel, cast in one piece with the sustaining framework +designed by the world's foremost engineer--a structure that no +conceivable force could deform or injure, housing an inconceivable +propulsive force! + + * * * * * + +The falsework was rapidly removed and the sustaining framework was +painted with opaque varnish to render it plainly visible. At Seaton's +suggestion the walls of the cabins were also painted, leaving +transparent several small areas to serve as windows. + +The second work-period was drawing to a close, and as Seaton and Crane +were to be married before koprat, they stopped work. They marveled at +the amount that had been accomplished, and the Kofedix told them: + +"Both vessels will be finished tomorrow, except for the controlling +instruments, which we will have to make ourselves. Another crew will +work during the sleeping-period, installing the guns and other fittings. +Do you wish to have your own guns installed, or guns of our pattern? +You are familiar with them now." + +"Our own, please. They are slower and less efficient than yours, but we +are used to them and have a lot of X-plosive ammunition for them," +replied Seaton, after a short conference with Crane. + +After instructing the officers in charge of the work, the three returned +to the palace, the hearts of two of them beating high in anticipation. +Seaton went into Crane's room, accompanied by two attendants bearing his +suitcase and other luggage. + +"We should have brought along dress clothes, Mart. Why didn't you think +of that, too?" + +"Nothing like this ever entered my mind. It is a good thing we brought +along ducks and white soft shirts. I must say that this is extremely +informal garb for a state wedding, but since the natives are ignorant of +our customs, it will not make any difference." + +"That's right, too--we'll make 'em think it's the most formal kind of +dress. Dunark knows what's what, but he knows that full dress would be +unbearable here. We'd melt down in a minute. It's plenty hot enough as +it is, with only duck trousers and sport-shirts on. They'll look green +instead of white, but that's a small matter." + +Dunark, as best man, entered the room some time later. + +"Give us a look, Dunark," begged Seaton, "and see if we'll pass +inspection. I was never so rattled in my life." + +They were clad in spotless white, from their duck oxfords to the white +ties encircling the open collars of their tennis shirts. The two tall +figures--Crane's slender, wiry, at perfect ease; Seaton's +broad-shouldered, powerful, prowling about with unconscious, feline +suppleness and grace--and the two handsome, high-bred, intellectual +faces, each wearing a look of eager happiness, fully justified Dunark's +answer. + +"You sure will do!" he pronounced enthusiastically, and with Seaton's +own impulsive good will he shook hands and wished them an eternity of +happiness. + +"When you have spoken with your brides," he continued, "I shall be +waiting to escort you into the chapel. Sitar told me to say that the +ladies are ready." + +Dorothy and Margaret had been dressed in their bridal gowns by Sitar and +several other princesses, under the watchful eyes of the Karfedir +herself. Sitar placed the two girls side by side and drew off to survey +her work. + +"You are the loveliest creatures in the whole world!" she cried. + +They looked at each other's glittering gowns, then Margaret glanced at +Dorothy's face and a look of dismay overspread her own. + +"Oh, Dottie!" she gasped. "Your lovely complexion! Isn't it terrible for +the boys to see us in this light?" + +There was a peal of delighted laughter from Sitar and she spoke to one +of the servants, who drew dark curtains across the windows and pressed a +switch, flooding the room with brilliant white light. + +"Dunark installed lamps like those of your ship for you," she explained +with intense satisfaction. "I knew in advance just how you would feel +about your color." + +Before the girls had time to thank their thoughtful hostess she +disappeared and their bridegrooms stood before them. For a moment no +word was spoken. Seaton stared at Dorothy hungrily, almost doubting the +evidence of his senses. For white was white, pink was pink, and her hair +shone in all its natural splendor of burnished bronze. + +In their wondrous Osnomian bridal robes the beautiful Earth-maidens +stood before their lovers. Upon their feet were jeweled slippers. Their +lovely bodies were clothed in softly shimmering garments that left their +rounded arms and throats bare--garments infinitely more supple than the +finest silk, thick-woven of metallic threads of such fineness that the +individual wires were visible only under a lens; garments that floated +and clung about their perfect forms in lines of exquisite grace. For +black-haired Margaret, with her ivory skin, the Kondalian princess had +chosen a background of a rare white metal, upon which, in complicated +figures, glistened numberless jewels of pale colors, more brilliant than +diamonds. Dorothy's dress was of a peculiar, dark-green shade, +half-hidden by an intricate design of blazing green gems--the strange, +luminous jewels of this strange world. Both girls wore their long, heavy +hair unbound, after the Kondalian bridal fashion, brushed until it fell +like mist about them and confined at the temples by metallic bands +entirely covered with jewels. + +Seaton looked from Dorothy to Margaret and back again; looked down into +her violet eyes, deep with wonder and with love, more beautiful than any +jewel in all her gorgeous costume. Unheeding the presence of the others, +she put her dainty hands upon his mighty shoulders and stood on tiptoe. + +"I love you, Dick. Now and always, here or at home or anywhere in the +Universe. We'll never be parted again," she whispered, and her own +beloved violin had no sweeter tones than had her voice. + +A few minutes later, her eyes wet and shining, she drew herself away +from him and glanced at Margaret. + +"Isn't she the most beautiful thing you ever laid eyes on?" + +"No," Seaton answered promptly, "she is not--but poor old Mart thinks +she is!" + + * * * * * + +Accompanied by the Karfedix and his son, Seaton and Crane went into the +chapel, which, already brilliant, had been decorated anew with even +greater splendor. Glancing through the wide arches they saw, for the +first time, Osnomians clothed. The great room was filled with the +highest nobility of Kondal, wearing their heavily-jeweled, resplendent +robes of state. Every color of the rainbow and numberless fantastic +patterns were there, embodied in the soft, lustrous, metallic fabric. + +As the men entered one door Dorothy and Margaret, with the Karfedir and +Sitar, entered the other, and the entire assemblage rose to its feet and +snapped into the grand salute. Moving to the accompaniment of strange +martial music from concealed instruments, the two parties approached +each other, meeting at the raised platform or pulpit where Karbix +Tarnan, a handsome, stately, middle-aged man who carried easily his +hundred and fifty karkamo of age, awaited them. As he raised his arms, +the music ceased. + +It was a solemn and wonderfully impressive spectacle. The room, of +burnished metal, with its bizarre decorations wrought in scintillating +gems; the constantly changing harmony of colors as the invisible lamps +were shifted from one shade to another; the group of mighty nobles +standing rigidly at attention in a silence so profound that it was an +utter absence of everything audible as the Karbix lifted both arms in a +silent invocation of the great First Cause--all these things deepened +the solemnity of that solemn moment. + +When Tarnan spoke, his voice, deep with some great feeling, inexplicable +even to those who knew him best, carried clearly to every part of the +great chamber. + +"Friends, it is our privilege to assist today in a most notable event, +the marriage of four personages from another world. For the first time +in the history of Osnome, one karfedix has the privilege of entertaining +the bridal party of another. It is not for this fact alone, however, +that this occasion is to be memorable. A far deeper reason is that we +are witnessing, possibly for the first time in the history of the +Universe, the meeting upon terms of mutual fellowship and understanding +of the inhabitants of two worlds separated by unthinkable distances of +trackless space and by equally great differences in evolution, +conditions of life, and environment. Yet these strangers are actuated by +the spirit of good faith and honor which is instilled into every worthy +being by the great First Cause, in the working out of whose vast +projects all things are humble instruments. + +"In honor of the friendship of the two worlds, we will proceed with the +ceremony. + +"Richard Seaton and Martin Crane, exchange the plain rings with Dorothy +Vaneman and Margaret Spencer." + +They did so, and repeated, after the Karbix, simple vows of love and +loyalty. + +"May the First Cause smile upon this temporary marriage and render it +worthy of being made permanent. As a lowly servant of the all-powerful +First Cause I pronounce you two, and you two, husband and wife. But we +must remember that the dull vision of mortal man cannot pierce the veil +of futurity, which is as crystal to the all-beholding eye of the First +Cause. Though you love each other truly, unforeseen things may come +between you to mar the perfection of your happiness. Therefore a time is +granted you during which you may discover whether or not your unions are +perfect." + +A pause ensued, then Tarnan went on: + +"Martin Crane, Margaret Spencer, Richard Seaton, and Dorothy Vaneman, +you are before us to take the final vows which shall bind your bodies +together for life and your spirits together for eternity. Have you +considered the gravity of this step sufficiently to enter into this +marriage without reservation?" + +"I have," solemnly replied the four, in unison. + +"Exchange the jeweled rings. Do you, Richard Seaton and Dorothy Vaneman; +and you, Martin Crane and Margaret Spencer; individually swear, here in +the presence of the First Cause and that of the Supreme Justices of +Kondal, that you will be true and loyal, each helping his chosen one in +all things, great and small; that never throughout eternity, in thought +or in action, will either your body or your mind or your conscious +spirit stray from the path of fairness and truth and honor?" + +"I do." + +"I pronounce you married with the eternal marriage. Just as the faidon +which you each now wear--the eternal jewel which no force of man, +however applied, has yet been able to change or deform in any +particular; and which continues to give off its inward light without +change throughout eternity--shall endure through endless cycles of time +after the metal of the ring which holds it shall have crumbled in decay: +even so shall your spirits, formerly two, now one and indissoluble, +progress in ever-ascending evolution throughout eternity after the base +material which is your bodies shall have returned to the senseless dust +from whence it arose." + + * * * * * + +The Karbix lowered his arms and the bridal party walked to the door +through a double rank of uplifted weapons. From the chapel they were led +to another room, where the contracting parties signed their names in a +register. The Kofedix then brought forward two marriage +certificates--heavy square plates of a brilliant purple metal, +beautifully engraved in parallel columns of English and Kondalian +script, and heavily bordered with precious stones. The principals and +witnesses signed below each column, the signatures being deeply engraved +by the royal engraver. Leaving the registry, they were escorted to the +dining hall, where a truly royal repast was served. Between courses the +highest nobles of the nation welcomed the visitors and wished them +happiness in short but earnest addresses. After the last course had been +disposed of, the Karbix rose at a sign from the Karfedix and spoke, his +voice again agitated by the emotion which had puzzled his hearers during +the marriage service. + +"All Kondal is with us here in spirit, trying to aid us in our poor +attempts to convey our welcome to these our guests, of whose friendship +no greater warrant could be given than their willingness to grant us the +privilege of their marriage. Not only have they given us a boon that +will make their names revered throughout the nation as long as Kondal +shall exist, but they have also been the means of showing us plainly +that the First Cause is upon our side, that our age-old institution of +honor is in truth the only foundation upon which can be built a race +fitted to survive. At the same time they have been the means of showing +us that our hated foe, entirely without honor, building his race upon a +foundation of bloodthirsty savagery alone, is building wrongly and must +perish utterly from the face of Osnome." + +His hearers listened, impressed by his earnestness, but plainly not +understanding his meaning. + +"You do not understand?" he went on, with a deep light shining in his +eyes. "It is inevitable that two peoples inhabiting worlds so widely +separated as are our two should be possessed of widely-varying knowledge +and abilities, and these strangers have already made it possible for us +to construct engines of destruction which shall obliterate Mardonale +completely...." A fierce shout of joy interrupted the speaker and the +nobles sprang to their feet, saluting the visitors with upraised +weapons. As soon as they had reseated themselves, the Karbix continued: + +"That is the boon. The vindication of our system of evolution is easily +explained. The strangers landed first upon Mardonale. Had Nalboon met +them in honor, he would have gained the boon. But he, with the savagery +characteristic of his evolution, attempted to kill his guests and steal +their treasures, with what results you already know. We, on our part, in +exchange for the few and trifling services we have been able to render +them, have received even more than Nalboon would have obtained, had his +plans not been nullified by their vastly superior state of evolution." + +The orator seated himself and there was a deafening clamor of cheering +as the nobles formed themselves into an escort of honor and conducted +the two couples to their apartments. + +Alone in their room, Dorothy turned to her husband with tears shining in +her beautiful eyes. + +"Dick, sweetheart, wasn't that the most wonderful thing that anybody +ever heard of? Using the word in all its real meaning, it was +indescribably grand, and that old man is simply superb. It makes me +ashamed of myself to think that I was ever afraid or nervous here." + +"It sure was all of that, Dottie mine, little bride of an hour. The +whole thing gets right down to where a fellow lives--I've got a lump in +my throat right now so big that it hurts me to think. Earthly marriages +are piffling in comparison with that ceremony. It's no wonder they're +happy, after taking those vows--especially as they don't have to take +them until after they are sure of themselves. + +"But we're sure already, sweetheart," as he embraced her with all the +feeling of his nature. "Those vows are not a bit stronger than the ones +we have already exchanged--bodily and mentally and spiritually we are +one, now and forever." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Bird, Beast, or Fish? + + +"These jewels rather puzzle me, Dick. What are they?" asked Martin, as +the four assembled, waiting for the first meal. As he spoke he held up +his third finger, upon which gleamed the royal jewel of Osnome in its +splendid Belcher mounting of arenak as transparent as the jewel itself +and having the same intense blue color. "I know the name, 'faidon,' but +that's all I seem to know." + +"That's about all that anybody knows about them. It is a +naturally-occurring, hundred-faceted crystal, just as you see it +there--deep blue, perfectly transparent, intensely refractive, and +constantly emitting that strong, blue light. It is so hard that it +cannot be worked, cut, or ground. No amount of the hardest known +abrasive will even roughen its surface. No blow, however great, will +break it--it merely forces its way into the material of the hammer, +however hard the hammer may be. No extremity of either heat or cold +affects it in any degree, it is the same when in the most powerful +electric arc as it is when immersed in liquid helium." + +"How about acids?" + +"That is what I am asking myself. Osnomians aren't much force at +chemistry. I'm going to try to get hold of another one, and see if I +can't analyze it, just for fun. I can't seem to convince myself that a +real atomic structure could be that large." + +"No, it is rather large for an atom," and turning to the two girls, "How +do you like your solitaires?" + +"They're perfectly beautiful, and the Tiffany mounting is exquisite," +replied Dorothy, enthusiastically, "but they're so awfully big! They're +as big as ten-carat diamonds, I do believe." + +"Just about," replied Seaton, "but at that, they're the smallest Dunark +could find. They have been kicking around for years, he says--so small +that nobody wanted them. They wear big ones on their bracelets, you +know. You sure will make a hit in Washington, Dottie. People will think +you're wearing a bottle-stopper until they see it shining in the dark, +then they'll think it's an automobile headlight. But after a few +jewelers have seen these stones, one of them will be offering us five +million dollars apiece for them, trying to buy them for some dizzy old +dame who wants to put out the eyes of some of her social rivals. Yes? +No?" + +"That's about right, Dick," replied Crane, and his face wore a +thoughtful look. "We can't keep it secret that we have a new jewel, +since all four of us will be wearing them continuously, and anyone who +knows jewels at all will recognize these as infinitely superior to any +known Earthly jewel. In fact, they may get some of us into trouble, as +fabulously valuable jewels usually do." + +"That's true, too. So we'll let it out casually that they're as common +as mud up here--that we're just wearing them for sentiment, which is +true, and that we're thinking of bringing back a shipload to sell for +parking lights." + +"That would probably keep anyone from trying to murder our wives for +their rings, at least." + +"Have you read your marriage certificate, Dick?" asked Margaret. + +"Not yet. Let's look at it, Dottie." + +She produced the massive, heavily-jeweled document, and the auburn head +and the brown one were very close to each other as they read together +the English side of the certificate. Their vows were there, word for +word, with their own signatures beneath them, all deeply engraved into +the metal. Seaton smiled as he saw the legal form engraved below their +signatures, and read aloud: + + "I, the Head of the Church and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed + forces of Kondal, upon the planet Osnome, certify that I have this + day, in the city of Kondalek, of said nation and planet, joined in + indissoluble bonds of matrimony, Richard Ballinger Seaton, Doctor + of Philosophy, and Dorothy Lee Vaneman; Doctor of Music; both of + the city of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of + America, upon the planet Earth, in strict compliance with the + marriage laws, both of Kondal and of the United States of America. + + TARNAN." + + Witnesses: + ROBAN, Emperor of Kondal. + TURAL, Empress of Kondal. + DUNARK, Crown Prince of Kondal. + SITAR, Crown Princess of Kondal. + MARC C. DUQUESNE, Ph. D., Washington, D. C. + +"That is SOME document," remarked Seaton. "Probably a lawyer could find +fault with his phraseology, but I'll bet that this thing would hold in +any court in the world. Think you'll get married again when we get back, +Mart?" + +Both girls protested, and Crane answered: + +"No, I think not. Our ceremony would be rather an anticlimax after this +one, and this one will undoubtedly prove legal. I intend to register +this just as it is, and get a ruling from the courts. But it is time for +breakfast. Pardon me--I should have said 'darprat,' for it certainly is +not breakfast-time by Washington clocks. My watch says that it is +eleven-thirty P. M." + +"This system of time is funny," remarked Dorothy. "I just can't get used +to having no night, and...." + +"And it's such a long time between eats, as the famous governor said +about the drinks," broke in Seaton. + +"How did you know what I was going to say, Dick?" + +"Husbandly intuition," he grinned, "aided and abetted by a normal +appetite that rebels at seventeen hours between supper and breakfast, +and nine hours between the other meals. Well, it's time to eat--let's +go!" + + * * * * * + +After eating, the men hurried to the Skylark. During the sleeping-period +the vessel had been banded with the copper repellers: the machine guns +and instruments, including the wonderful Osnomian wireless system, had +been installed; and, except for the power-bars, she was ready for a +voyage. The Kondalian vessel was complete, even to the cushions, but was +without instruments. + +After a brief conversation with the officer in charge, Dunark turned to +Seaton. + +"Didn't you find that your springs couldn't stand up under the +acceleration?" + +"Yes, they flattened out dead." + +"The Kolanix Felan, in charge of the work, thought so, and substituted +our compound-compensated type, made of real spring metal, for them. +They'll hold you through any acceleration you can live through." + +"Thanks, that's fine. What's next, instruments?" + +"Yes. I have sent a crew of men to gather up what copper they can +find--you know that we use practically no metallic copper, as platinum, +gold, and silver are so much better for ordinary purposes--and another +to erect a copper-smelter near one of the mines which supply the city +with the copper sulphate used upon our tables. While they are at work I +think I will work on the instruments, if you two will be kind enough to +help me." + +Seaton and Crane offered to supply him with instruments from their +reserve stock, but the Kofedix refused to accept them, saying that he +would rather have their help in making them, so that he would thoroughly +understand their functions. The electric furnaces were rapidly made +ready and they set to work; Crane taking great delight in working that +hitherto rare and very refractory metal, iridium, of which all the +Kondalian instruments were to be made. + +"They have a lot of our rare metals here, Dick." + +"They sure have. I'd like to set up a laboratory and live here a few +years--I'd learn something about my specialty or burst. They use gold +and silver where we use copper, and platinum and its alloys where we use +iron and soft steel. All their weapons are made of iridium, and all +their most highly-tempered tools, such as their knives, razors, and so +on, are made of opaque arenak. I suppose you've noticed the edge on your +razor?" + +"How could I help it? It is hard to realize that a metal can be so hard +that it requires forty years on a diamond-dust abrasive machine to hone +a razor--or that once honed, it shaves generation after generation of +men without losing in any degree its keenness." + +"I can't understand it, either--I only know that it's so. They have all +our heavy metals in great abundance, and a lot more that we don't know +anything about on Earth, but they apparently haven't any light metals at +all. It must be that Osnome was thrown off the parent sun late, so that +the light metals were all gone?" + +"Something like that, possibly." + +The extraordinary skill of the Kofedix made the manufacture of the +instruments a short task, and after Crane had replaced the few broken +instruments of the Skylark from their reserve stock, they turned their +attention to the supply of copper that had been gathered. They found it +enough for only two bars. + +"Is this all we have?" asked Dunark, sharply. + +"It is, your Highness," replied the Kolanix. "That is every scrap of +metallic copper in the city." + +"Oh, well, that'll be enough to last until we can smelt the rest," said +Seaton. "With one bar apiece we're ready for anything Mardonale can +start. Let 'em come!" + +The bars were placed in the containers and both vessels were tried out, +each making a perfect performance. Upon the following kokam, immediately +after the first meal, the full party from the Earth boarded the Skylark +and accompanied the Kofedix to the copper smelter. Dunark himself +directed the work of preparing the charges and the molds, though he was +continually being interrupted by wireless messages in code and by +messengers bearing tidings too important to trust into the air. + +"I hope you will excuse all of these delays," said Dunark, after the +twentieth interruption, "but...." + +"That's all right, Dunark. We know that you're a busy man." + +"I can tell you about it, but I wouldn't want to tell many people. With +the salt you gave us, I am preparing a power-plant that will enable us +to blow Mardonale into...." + +He broke off as a wireless call for help sounded. All listened intently, +learning that a freight-plane was being pursued by a karlon a few +hundred miles away. + +"Now's the time for you to study one, Dunark!" Seaton exclaimed. "Get +your gang of scientists out here while we go get him and drag him in!" + + * * * * * + +As Dunark sent the message, the Skylark's people hurried aboard, and +Seaton drove the vessel toward the calls for help. With its great speed +it reached the monster before the plane was overtaken. Focusing the +attractor upon the enormous metallic beak of the karlon, Seaton threw on +the power and the beast halted in midair as it was jerked backward and +upward. As it saw the puny size of the attacking Skylark, it opened its +cavernous mouth in a horrible roar and rushed at full speed. Seaton, +unwilling to have the repellers stripped from the vessel, turned on the +current actuating them. The karlon was hurled backward to the point of +equilibrium of the two forces, where it struggled demoniacally. + +Seaton carried his captive back to the smelter, where finally, by +judicious pushing and pulling, he succeeded in turning the monster flat +upon its back and pinning it to the ground in spite of its struggles to +escape. + +Soon the scientists arrived and studied the animal thoroughly, at as +close a range as its flailing arms permitted. + +"I wish we could kill him without blowing him to bits," wirelessed +Dunark. "Do you know any way of doing it?" + +"We could if we had a few barrels of ether, or some of our own poison +gases, but they are all unknown here and it would take a long time to +build the apparatus to make them. I'll see if I can't tire him out and +get him that way as soon as you've studied him enough. We may be able to +find out where he lives, too." + +The scientists having finished their observations, Seaton jerked the +animal a few miles into the air and shut off the forces acting upon it. +There was a sudden crash, and the karlon, knowing that this apparently +insignificant vessel was its master, turned in headlong flight. + +"Have you any idea what caused the noise just then, Dick?" asked Crane; +who, with characteristic imperturbability, had taken out his notebook +and was making exact notes of all that transpired. + +"I imagine we cracked a few of his plates," replied Seaton with a laugh, +as he held the Skylark in place a few hundred feet above the fleeing +animal. + +Pitted for the first time in its life against an antagonist, who could +both outfly and outfight it, the karlon redoubled its efforts and fled +in a panic of fear. It flew back over the city of Kondalek, over the +outlying country, and out over the ocean, still followed easily by the +Skylark. As they neared the Mardonalian border, a fleet of warships rose +to contest the entry of the monster. Seaton, not wishing to let the foe +see the rejuvenated Skylark, jerked his captive high into the thin air. +As soon as it was released, it headed for the ocean in an almost +perpendicular dive, while Seaton focused an object-compass upon it. + +"Go to it, old top," he addressed the plunging monster. "We'll follow +you clear to the bottom of the ocean if you go that far!" + +There was a mighty double splash as the karlon struck the water, closely +followed by the Skylark. The girls gasped as the vessel plunged below +the surface at such terrific speed, and seemed surprised that it had +suffered no injury and that they had felt no jar. Seaton turned on the +powerful searchlights and kept close enough so that he could see the +monster through the transparent walls. Deeper and deeper the quarry +dove, until it was plainly evident to the pursuers that it was just as +much at home in the water as it was in the air. The beams of the lights +revealed strange forms of life, among which were huge, staring-eyed +fishes, which floundered about blindly in the unaccustomed glare. As the +karlon bored still deeper, the living things became scarcer, but still +occasional fleeting glimpses were obtained of the living nightmares +which inhabited the oppressive depths of these strange seas. Continuing +downward, the karlon plumbed the nethermost pit of the ocean and came to +rest upon the bottom, stirring up a murk of ooze. + +"How deep are we, Mart?" + +"About four miles. I have read the pressure, but will have to calculate +later exactly what depth it represents, from the gravity and density +readings." + +As the animal showed no sign of leaving its retreat, Seaton pulled it +out with the attractor and it broke for the surface. Rising through the +water at full speed, it burst into the air and soared upward to such an +incredible height that Seaton was amazed. + +"I wouldn't have believed that anything could fly in air this thin!" he +exclaimed. + +"It is thin up here," assented Crane. "Less than three pounds to the +square inch. I wonder how he does it?" + +"It doesn't look as though we are ever going to find out--he's sure a +bear-cat!" replied Seaton, as the karlon, unable to ascend further, +dropped in a slanting dive toward the lowlands of Kondal--the terrible, +swampy region covered with poisonous vegetation and inhabited by +frightful animals and even more frightful savages. The monster neared +the ground with ever-increasing speed. Seaton, keeping close behind it, +remarked to Crane: + +"He'll have to flatten out pretty quick, or he'll burst something, +sure." + + * * * * * + +But it did not flatten out. It struck the soft ground head foremost and +disappeared, its tentacles apparently boring a way ahead of it. + +Astonished at such an unlooked-for development, Seaton brought the +Skylark to a stop and stabbed into the ground with the attractor. The +first attempt brought up nothing but a pillar of muck, the second +brought to light a couple of wings and one writhing arm, the third +brought the whole animal, still struggling as strongly as it had in the +first contest. Seaton again lifted the animal high into the air. + +"If he does that again, we'll follow him." + +"Will the ship stand it?" asked DuQuesne, with interest. + +"Yes. The old bus wouldn't have, but this one can stand anything. We can +go anywhere that thing can, that's a cinch. If we have enough power on, +we probably won't even feel a jolt when we strike ground." + +Seaton reduced the force acting upon the animal until just enough was +left to keep the attractor upon it, and it again dived into the swamp. +The Skylark followed, feeling its way in the total darkness, until the +animal stopped, refusing to move in any direction, at a depth estimated +by Crane to be about three-quarters of a mile. After waiting some time +Seaton increased the power of the attractor and tore the karlon back to +the surface and into the air, where it turned on the Skylark with +redoubled fury. + +"We've dug him out of his last refuge and he's fighting like a cornered +rat," said Seaton as he repelled the monster to a safe distance. "He's +apparently as fresh as when he started, in spite of all this playing. +Talk about a game fish! He doesn't intend to run any more, though, so I +guess we'll have to put him away. It's a shame to bump him off, but it's +got to be done." + +Crane aimed one of the heavy X-plosive bullets at the +savagely-struggling monster, and the earth rocked with the concussion as +the shell struck its mark. They hurried back to the smelter, where +Dunark asked eagerly: + +"What did you find out about it?" + +"Nothing much," replied Seaton, and in a few words described the actions +of the karlon. "What did your savants think of it?" + +"Very little that any of us can understand in terms of any other known +organism. It seems to combine all the characteristics of bird, beast, +and fish, and to have within itself the possibilities of both bisexual +and asexual reproduction." + +"I wouldn't doubt it--it's a queer one, all right." + +The copper bars were cool enough to handle, and the Skylark was loaded +with five times its original supply of copper, the other vessel taking +on a much smaller amount. After the Kofedix had directed the officer in +charge to place the remaining bars in easily-accessible places +throughout the nation, the two vessels were piloted back to the palace, +arriving just in time for the last meal of the kokam. + +"Well, Dunark," said Seaton after the meal was over, "I'm afraid that we +must go back as soon as we can. Dorothy's parents and Martin's bankers +will think they are dead by this time. We should start right now, +but...." + +"Oh, no, you must not do that. That would rob our people of the chance +of bidding you goodbye." + +"There's another reason, too. I have a mighty big favor to ask of you." + +"It is granted. If man can do it, consider it done." + +"Well, you know platinum is a very scarce and highly useful metal with +us. I wonder if you could let us have a few tons of it? And I would like +to have another faidon, too--I want to see if I can't analyze it." + +"You have given us a thousand times the value of all the platinum and +all the jewels your vessel can carry. As soon as the foundries are open +tomorrow we will go and load up your store-rooms--or, if you wish, we +will do it now." + +"That isn't necessary. We may as well enjoy your hospitality for one +more sleeping-period, get the platinum during the first work-period, and +bid you goodbye just before the second meal. How would that be?" + +"Perfectly satisfactory." + +The following kokam, Dunark piloted the Skylark, with Seaton, Crane, and +DuQuesne as crew, to one of the great platinum foundries. The girls +remained behind to get ready for their departure, and for the great +ceremony which was to precede it. The trip to the foundry was a short +one, and the three scientists of Earth stared at what they +saw--thousands of tons of platinum, cast into bars and piled up like +pig-iron, waiting to be made into numerous articles of every-day use +throughout the nation. Dunark wrote out an order, which his chief +attendant handed to the officer in charge of the foundry, saying: + +"Please have it loaded at once." + +Seaton indicated the storage compartment into which the metal was to be +carried, and a procession of slaves, two men staggering under one ingot, +was soon formed between the pile and the storage room. + + * * * * * + +"How much are you loading on, Dunark?" asked Seaton, when the large +compartment was more than half full. + +"My order called for about twenty tons, in your weight, but I changed it +later--we may as well fill that room full, so that the metal will not +rattle around in flight. It doesn't make any difference to us, we have +so much of it. It is like your gift of the salt, only vastly smaller." + +"What are you going to do with it all, Dick?" asked Crane. "That is +enough to break the platinum market completely." + +"That's exactly what I'm going to do," returned Seaton, with a gleam in +his gray eyes. "I'm going to burst this unjustifiable fad for platinum +jewelry so wide open that it'll never recover, and make platinum again +available for its proper uses, in laboratories and in the industries. + +"You know yourself," he rushed on hotly, "that the only reason platinum +is used at all for jewelry is that it is expensive. It isn't nearly so +handsome as either gold or silver, and if it wasn't the most costly +common metal we have, the jewelry-wearing crowd wouldn't touch it with a +ten-foot pole. Useless as an ornament, it is the one absolutely +indispensable laboratory metal, and literally hundreds of laboratories +that need it can't have it because over half the world's supply is tied +up in jeweler's windows and in useless baubles. Then, too, it is the +best thing known for contact points in electrical machinery. When the +Government and all the scientific societies were abjectly begging the +jewelers to let loose a little of it they refused--they were selling it +to profiteering spendthrifts at a hundred and fifty dollars an ounce. +The condition isn't much better right now; it's a vicious circle. As +long as the price stays high it will be used for jewelry, and as long as +it is used for jewelry the price will stay high, and scientists will +have to fight the jewelers for what little they get." + +"While somewhat exaggerated, that is about the way matters stand. I will +admit that I, too, am rather bitter on the subject," said Crane. + +"Bitter? Of course you're bitter. Everybody is who knows anything about +science and who has a brain in his head. Anybody who claims to be a +scientist and yet stands for any of his folks buying platinum jewelry +ought to be shot. But they'll get theirs as soon as we get back. They +wouldn't let go of it before, they had too good a thing, but they'll let +go now, and get their fingers burned besides. I'm going to dump this +whole shipment at fifty cents a pound, and we'll take mighty good care +that jewelers don't corner the supply." + +"I'm with you, Dick, as usual." + +Soon the storage room was filled to the ceiling with closely-stacked +ingots of the precious metal, and the Skylark was driven back to the +landing dock. She alighted beside Dunark's vessel, the _Kondal_, whose +gorgeously-decorated crew of high officers sprang to attention as the +four men stepped out. All were dressed for the ceremonial leave-taking, +the three Americans wearing their spotless white, the Kondalians wearing +their most resplendent trappings. + +"This formal stuff sure does pull my cork!" exclaimed Seaton to Dunark. +"I want to get this straight. The arrangement was that we were to be +here at this time, all dressed up, and wait for the ladies, who are +coming under the escort of your people?" + +"Yes. Our family is to escort the ladies from the palace here. As they +leave the elevator the surrounding war-vessels will salute, and after a +brief ceremony you two will escort your wives into the Skylark, Doctor +DuQuesne standing a little apart and following you in. The war-vessels +will escort you as high as they can go, and the Kondal will accompany +you as far as our most distant sun before turning back." + +For a few moments Seaton nervously paced a short beat in front of the +door of the space-car. + +"I'm getting more fussed every second," he said abruptly, taking out his +wireless instrument. "I'm going to see if they aren't about ready." + +"What seems to be the trouble, Dick? Have you another hunch, or are you +just rattled?" asked Crane. + +"Rattled, I guess, but I sure do want to get going," he replied, as he +worked the lever rapidly. + +"Dottie," he sent out, and, the call being answered, "How long will you +be? We're all ready and waiting, chewing our finger-nails with +impatience." + +"We'll soon be ready. The Karfedix is coming for us now." + +Scarcely had the tiny sounder become silent when the air was shaken by +an urgently-vibrated message, and every wireless sounder gave warning. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Invasion + + +The pulsating air and the chattering sounders were giving the same dire +warning, the alarm extraordinary of invasion, of imminent and +catastrophic danger from the air. + +"Don't try to reach the palace. Everyone on the ground will have time +enough to hide in the deep, arenak-protected pits beneath the buildings, +and you would be killed by the invaders long before you could reach the +palace. If we can repel the enemy and keep them from landing, the women +will be perfectly safe, even though the whole city is destroyed. If they +effect a landing we are lost." + +"They'll not land, then," Seaton answered grimly, as he sprang into the +Skylark and took his place at the board. As Crane took out his wireless, +Seaton cautioned him. + +"Send in English, and tell the girls not to answer, as these devils can +locate the calls within a foot and will be able to attack the right +spot. Just tell them we're safe in the Skylark. Tell them to sit tight +while we wipe out this gang that is coming, and that we'll call them, +once in a while, when we have time, during the battle." + +Before Crane had finished sending the message the crescendo whine of +enormous propellers was heard. Simultaneously there was a deafening +concussion and one entire wing of the palace disappeared in a cloud of +dust, in the midst of which could be discerned a few flying fragments. +The air was filled with Mardonalian warships. They were huge vessels, +each mounting hundreds of guns, and the rain of high-explosive shells +was rapidly reducing the great city to a wide-spread heap of debris. + +Seaton's hand was upon the lever which would hurl the Skylark upward +into the fray. Crane and DuQuesne, each hard of eye and grim of jaw, +were stationed at their machine-guns. + +"Something's up!" exclaimed Seaton. "Look at the Kondal!" + +Something had happened indeed. Dunark sat at the board, his hand upon +the power lever, and each of his crew was in place, grasping his weapon, +but every man was writhing in agony, unable to control his movements. As +they stared, momentarily spellbound, the entire crew ceased their +agonized struggles and hung, apparently lifeless, from their supports. + +"They've got to 'em some way--let's go!" yelled Seaton. + +As his hand tightened upon the lever, a succession of shells burst upon +the dock, wrecking it completely, all three men fancied that the world +had come to an end as the stream of high explosive was directed against +their vessel. But the four-foot shell of arenak was impregnable, and +Seaton shot the Skylark upward into the midst of the enemy fleet. The +two gunners fired as fast as they could sight their weapons, and with +each shot one of the great warships was blown into fragments. The +Mardonalians then concentrated the fire of their entire fleet upon their +tiny opponent. + +From every point of the compass, from above and below, the enemy gunners +directed streams of shells against the dodging vessel. The noise was +more than deafening, it was one continuous, shattering explosion, and +the Earth-men were surrounded by such a blaze of fire from the exploding +shells that they could not see the enemy vessels. Seaton sought to dodge +the shells by a long dive toward one side, only to find that dozens of +new opponents had been launched against them--the deadly +airplane-torpedoes of Osnome. Steered by wireless and carrying no crews, +they were simply winged bombs carrying thousands of pounds of terrific +electrical explosive--enough to kill the men inside the vessel by the +concussion of the explosion, even should the arenak armor be strong +enough to withstand the blow. Though much faster than the Osnomian +vessels, they were slow beside the Skylark, and Seaton could have dodged +a few of them with ease. As he dodged, however, they followed +relentlessly, and in spite of those which were blown up by the gunners, +their number constantly increased until Seaton thought of the repellers. + +"'Nobody Holme' is right!" he exclaimed, as he threw on the power +actuating the copper bands which encircled the hull in all directions. +Instantly the torpedoes were hurled backward, exploding as the force +struck them, and even the shells were ineffective, exploding harmlessly, +as they encountered the zone of force. The noise of the awful +detonations lessened markedly. + +"Why the silence, I wonder?" asked Seaton, while the futile shells of +the enemy continued to waste their force some hundreds of feet distant +from their goal, and while Crane and DuQuesne were methodically +destroying the huge vessels as fast as they could aim and fire. At every +report one of the monster warships disappeared--its shattered fragments +and the bodies of its crew hurtling to the ground. His voice could not +be heard in even the lessened tumult, but he continued: + +"It must be that our repellers have set up a partial vacuum by repelling +even the air!" + + * * * * * + +Suddenly the shelling ceased and the Skylark was enveloped by a blinding +glare from hundreds of great reflectors; an intense, searching, +bluish-violet light that burned the flesh and seared through eyelids and +eyeballs into the very brain. + +"Ultra-violet!" yelled Seaton at the first glimpse of the light, as he +threw on the power. "Shut your eyes! Turn your heads down!" + +Out in space, far beyond reach of the deadly rays, the men held a short +conference, then donned heavy leather-and-canvas suits, which they +smeared liberally with thick red paint, and replaced the plain glasses +of their helmets with heavy lenses of deep ruby glass. + +"This'll stop any ultra-violet ray ever produced," exulted Seaton, as he +again threw the vessel into the Mardonalian fleet. A score of the great +vessels met their fate before the Skylark was located, and, although the +terrible rays were again focused upon the intruder in all their +intensity, the carnage continued. + +In a few minutes, however, the men heard, or rather felt, a low, intense +vibration, like a silent wave of sound--a vibration which smote upon the +eardrums as no possible sound could smite, a vibration which racked the +joints and tortured the nerves as though the whole body were +disintegrating. So sudden and terrible was the effect that Seaton +uttered an involuntary yelp of surprise and pain as he once more fled +into the safety of space. + +"What the devil was that?" demanded DuQuesne. "Was it infra-sound? I +didn't suppose such waves could be produced." + +"Infra-sound is right. They produce most anything here," replied Seaton, +and Crane added: + +"Well, about three fur suits apiece, with cotton in our ears, ought to +kill any wave propagated through air." + +The fur suits were donned forthwith, Seaton whispering in Crane's ear: + +"I've found out something else, too. The repellers repel even the air. +I'm going to shoot enough juice through them to set up a perfect vacuum +outside. That'll kill those air-waves." + +Scarcely were they back within range of the fleet when DuQuesne, +reaching for his gun to fire the first shot, leaped backward with a +yell. + +"Beat it!" + +Once more at a safe distance, DuQuesne explained. + +"It's lucky I'm so used to handling hot stuff that from force of habit I +never make close contact with anything at the first touch. That gun +carried thousands of volts, with lots of amperage behind them, and if I +had had a good hold on it I couldn't have let go. We'll block that game +quick enough, though. Thick, dry gloves covered with rubber are all that +is necessary. It's a good thing for all of us that you have those fancy +condensite handles on your levers, Seaton." + +"That was how they got Dunark, undoubtedly," said Crane, as he sent a +brief message to the girls, assuring them that all was well, as he had +been doing at every respite. "But why were we not overcome at the same +time?" + +"They must have had the current tuned to iridium, and had to experiment +until they found the right wave for steel," Seaton explained. + +"I should think our bar would have exploded, with all that current. They +must have hit the copper range, too?" + +Seaton frowned in thought before he answered. + +"Maybe because it's induced current, and not a steady battery impulse. +Anyway, it didn't. Let's go!" + +"Just a minute," put in Crane. "What are they going to do next, Dick?" + +"Search me. I'm not used to my new Osnomian mind yet. I recognize things +all right after they happen, but I can't seem to figure ahead--it's like +a dimly-remembered something that flashes up as soon as mentioned. I get +too many and too new ideas at once. I know, though, that the Osnomians +have defenses against all these things except this last stunt of the +charged guns. That must be the new one that Mardonale stole from Kondal. +The defenses are, however, purely Osnomian in character and material. As +we haven't got the stuff to set them up as the Osnomians do, we'll have +to do it our own way. We may be able to dope out the next one, though. +Let's see, what have they given us so far?" + +"We've got to hand it to them," responded DuQuesne, admiringly. "They're +giving us the whole range of wave-lengths, one at a time. They've given +us light, both ultra-violet and visible, sound, infra-sound, and +electricity--I don't know what's left unless they give us a new kind of +X-rays, or Hertzian, or infra-red heat waves, or...." + +"That's it, heat!" exclaimed Seaton. "They produce heat by means of +powerful wave-generators and by setting up heavy induced currents in the +armor. They can melt arenak that way." + +"Do you suppose we can handle the heat with our refrigerators?" asked +Crane. + +"Probably. We have a lot of power, and the new arenak cylinders of our +compressors will stand anything. The only trouble will be in cooling the +condensers. We'll run as long as we have any water in our tanks, then go +dive into the ocean to cool off. We'll try it a whirl, anyway." + + * * * * * + +Soon the Skylark was again dealing out death and destruction in the +thick of the enemy vessels, who again turned from the devastation of the +helpless city to destroy this troublesome antagonist. But in spite of +the utmost efforts of light-waves, sound-waves, and high-tension +electricity, the space-car continued to take its terrible toll. As +Seaton had foretold, the armor of the Skylark began to grow hot, and he +turned on the full power of the refrigerating system. In spite of the +cooling apparatus, however, the outer walls finally began to glow redly, +and, although the interior was comfortably cool, the ends of the +rifle-barrels, which were set flush with the surface of the revolving +arenak globes which held them, softened, rendering the guns useless. The +copper repellers melted and dripped off in flaming balls of molten +metal, so that shells once more began to crash against the armor. +DuQuesne, with no thought of quitting apparent in voice or manner, said +calmly: + +"Well, it looks as though they had us stopped for a few minutes. Let's +go back into space and dope out something else." + +Seaton, thinking intensely, saw a vast fleet of enemy reinforcements +approaching, and at the same time received a wireless call directed to +Dunark. It was from the grand fleet of Kondal, hastening from the +bordering ocean to the defense of the city. Using Dunark's private code, +Seaton told the Karbix, who was in charge of the fleet, that the enemy +had a new invention which would wipe them out utterly without a chance +to fight, and that he and his vessel were in control of the situation; +and ordered him to see that no Kondalian ship came within battle range +of a Mardonalian. He then turned to Crane and DuQuesne, his face grim +and his fighting jaw set. + +"I've got it doped right now. Give the Lark speed enough and she's some +bullet herself. We've got four feet of arenak, they've got only an inch, +and arenak doesn't even begin to soften until far above a blinding white +temperature. Strap yourselves in solid, for it's going to be a rough +party from now on." + +They buckled their belts firmly, and Seaton, holding the bar toward +their nearest antagonist, applied twenty notches of power. The Skylark +darted forward and crashed completely through the great airship. Torn +wide open by the forty-foot projectile, its engines wrecked and its +helicopter-screws and propellers completely disabled, the helpless hulk +plunged through two miles of empty air, a mass of wreckage. + +[Illustration: The Skylark darted forward and crashed completely through +the great airship.... She was an embodied thunderbolt; a huge, +irresistible, indestructible projectile, directed by a keen brain +inside....] + +Darting hither and thither, the space-car tore through vessel after +vessel of the Mardonalian fleet. She was an embodied thunderbolt; a +huge, irresistible, indestructible projectile, directed by a keen brain +inside it--the brain of Richard Seaton, roused to his highest fighting +pitch and fighting for everything that man holds dear. Tortured by the +terrible silent waves, which, now that the protecting vacuum had been +destroyed, were only partially stopped by the fur suits; shaken and +battered by the terrific impacts and the even greater shocks occurring +every second as the direction of the vessel was changed; made sick and +dizzy by the nauseating swings and lurches as the Skylark spun about the +central chamber; Seaton's wonderful physique and his nerves of steel +stood him in good stead in this, the supreme battle of his life, as with +teeth tight-locked and eyes gray and hard as the fracture of high-carbon +steel, he urged the Skylark on to greater and greater efforts. + +Though it was impossible for the eye to follow the flight of the +space-car, the mechanical sighting devices of the Mardonalian vessels +kept her in as perfect focus as though she were stationary, and the +great generators continued to hurl into her the full power of their +death-dealing waves. The enemy guns were still spitting forth their +streams of high-explosive shells, but unlike the waves, the shells moved +so slowly compared to their target that only a few found their mark, and +many of the vessels fell to the ground, riddled by the shells of their +sister-ships. + + * * * * * + +With anxious eyes Seaton watched the hull of his animated cannon-ball +change in color. From dull red it became cherry, and as the cherry red +gave place to bright red heat, Seaton threw even more power into the bar +as he muttered through his set teeth: + +"Well, Seaton, old top, you've got to cut out this loafing on the job +and get busy!" + +In spite of his utmost exertions and in spite of the powerful ammonia +plant, now exerting its full capacity, but sadly handicapped by the fact +that its cooling-water was now boiling, Seaton saw the arenak shell +continue to heat. The bright red was succeeded by orange, which slowly +changed, first to yellow, then to light yellow, and finally to a +dazzling white; through which, with the aid of his heavy red lenses, he +could still see the enemy ships. After a time he noted that the color +had gone down to yellow and he thrilled with exultation, knowing that he +had so reduced the numbers of the enemy fleet that their wave-generators +could no longer overcome his refrigerators. After a few minutes more of +the awful carnage there remained only a small fraction of the proud +fleet which, thousands strong, had invaded Kondal--a remnant that sought +safety in flight. But even in flight, they still fought with all their +weapons, and the streams of bombs dropped from their keel-batteries upon +the country beneath marked the path of their retreat with a wide swath +of destruction. Half inclined to let the few remaining vessels escape, +Seaton's mind changed instantly as he saw the bombs spreading +devastation upon the countryside, and not until the last of the +Mardonalian vessels had been destroyed did he drop the Skylark into the +area of ruins which had once been the palace grounds, beside the Kondal, +which was still lying as it had fallen. + +After several attempts to steady their whirling senses, the three men +finally were able to walk, and, opening a door, they leaped out through +the opening in the still glowing wall. Seaton's first act was to +wireless the news to Dorothy, who replied that they were coming as fast +as they could. The men then removed their helmets, revealing faces pale +and drawn, and turned to the helpless space-car. + +"There's no way of getting into this thing from the outside...." Seaton +began, when he saw that the Kofedix and his party were beginning to +revive. Soon Dunark opened the door and stumbled out. + +"I have to thank you for more than my life this time," he said, his +voice shaken by uncontrollable emotion as he grasped the hands of all +three men. "Though unable to move, I was conscious and saw all that +happened--you kept them so busy that they didn't have a chance to give +us enough to kill us outright. You have saved the lives of millions of +our nation and have saved Kondal itself from annihilation." + +"Oh, it's not that bad," answered Seaton, uncomfortably. "Both nations +have been invaded before." + +"Yes--once when we developed the ultra-violet ray, once when Mardonale +perfected the machine for producing the silent sound-wave, and again +when we harnessed the heat-wave. But this would have been the most +complete disaster in history. The other inventions were not so deadly as +was this one, and there were terrible battles, from which the victors +emerged so crippled that they could not completely exterminate the +vanquished, who were able to re-establish themselves in the course of +time. If it had not been for you, this would have been the end, as not a +Kondalian soldier could move--any person touching iridium was helpless +and would have been killed." + +He ceased speaking and saluted as the Karfedix and his party rounded a +heap of boulders. Dorothy and Margaret screamed in unison as they saw +the haggard faces of their husbands, and saw their suits, dripping with +a thick substance which they knew to be red, in spite of its +purplish-black color. Seaton dodged nimbly as Dorothy sought to take him +in her arms, and tore off his suit. + +"Nothing but red paint to stop their light-rays," he reassured her as he +lifted her clear from the ground in a soul-satisfying embrace. Out of +the corner of his eye he saw the Kondalians staring in open-mouthed +amazement at the Skylark. Wheeling swiftly, he laughed as he saw a +gigantic ball of frost and snow! Again donning his fur suit, he shut off +the refrigerators and returned to his party, where the Karfedix gave him +thanks in measured terms. As he fell silent, Dunark added: + +"Thanks to you, the Mardonalian forces, instead of wiping us out, are +themselves destroyed, while only a handful of our vessels have been +lost, since the grand fleet could not arrive until the battle was over, +and since the vessels that would have thrown themselves away were saved +by your orders, which I heard. Thanks to you, we are not even crippled, +though our capital is destroyed and the lives of some unfortunates, who +could not reach the pits in time, have probably been lost. + +"Thanks to you," he continued in a ringing voice, "and to the salt and +the new source of power you have given us, Mardonale shall now be +destroyed utterly!" + +After sending out ships to relieve the suffering of the few wounded and +the many homeless, Dunark summoned a corps of mechanics, who banded on +new repellers and repaired the fused barrels of the machine-guns, all +that was necessary to restore the Skylark to perfect condition. + + * * * * * + +Facing the party from Earth, the Karfedix stood in the ruins of his +magnificent palace. Back of him were the nobles of Kondal, and still +further back, in order of rank, stood a multitude of people. + +"Is it permitted, oh noble Karfedo, that I reward your captive for his +share in the victory?" he asked. + +"It is," acquiesced Seaton and Crane, and Roban stepped up to DuQuesne +and placed in his hand a weighty leather bag. He then fastened about his +left wrist the Order of Kondal, the highest order of the nation. + +He then clasped about Crane's wrist a heavily-jeweled, +peculiarly-ornamented disk wrought of a deep ruby-red metal, supported +by a heavy bracelet of the same material, the most precious metal of +Osnome. At sight of the disk the nobles saluted and Seaton barely +concealed a start of surprise, for it bore the royal emblem and +delegated to its bearer power second only to that of the Karfedix +himself. + +"I bestow upon you this symbol, Karfedix Crane, in recognition of what +you have this day done for Kondal. Wherever you may be upon Kondalian +Osnome, which from this day henceforth shall be all Osnome, you have +power as my personal representative, as my eldest son." + +He drew forth a second bracelet, similar to the first except that it +bore seven disks, each differently designed, which he snapped upon +Seaton's wrist as the nobles knelt and the people back of them threw +themselves upon their faces. + +"No language spoken by man possesses words sufficiently weighty to +express our indebtedness to you, Karfedix Seaton, our guest and our +savior. The First Cause has willed that you should be the instrument +through which Kondal is this day made supreme upon Osnome. + +In small and partial recognition of that instrumentality, I bestow upon +you these symbols, which proclaim you our overlord, the ultimate +authority of Osnome. + +While this is not the way in which I had thought to bid you farewell, +the obligations which you have heaped upon us render all smaller things +insignificant. When you return, as I hope and trust you soon will, the +city shall be built anew and we can welcome you as befits your station." + +Lifting both arms above his head he continued: + +"May the great First Cause smile upon you in all your endeavors until +you solve the Mystery: may your descendants soon reach the Ultimate +Goal. Goodbye." + +Seaton uttered a few heartfelt words in response and the party stepped +backward toward the Skylark. As they reached the vessel the standing +Karfedix and the ranks of kneeling nobles snapped into the double +salute--truly a rare demonstration in Kondal. + +"What'll we do now?" whispered Seaton. + +"Bow, of course," answered Dorothy. + +They bowed, deeply and slowly, and entered their vessel. As the Skylark +shot into the air with the greatest acceleration that would permit its +passengers to move about, the grand fleet of Kondalian warship fired a +deafening salute. + + * * * * * + +It had been planned before the start that each person was to work +sixteen hours out of the twenty-four. Seaton was to drive the vessel +during the first two eight-hour periods of each day. Crane was to +observe the stars during the second and to drive during the third. +DuQuesne was to act as observer during the first and third periods. +Margaret had volunteered to assist the observer in taking his notes +during her waking hours, and Dorothy appointed herself cook and +household manager. + +As soon as the Skylark had left Osnome, Crane told DuQuesne that he and +his wife would work in the observation room until four o'clock in the +afternoon, at which time the prearranged system of relief would begin, +and DuQuesne retired to his room. + +Crane and Margaret made their way to the darkened room which housed the +instruments and seated themselves, watching intently and making no +effort to conceal their emotion as first the persons beneath them, then +the giant war-vessels, and finally the ruined city itself, were lost to +view. Osnome slowly assumed the proportions of a large moon, grew +smaller, and as it disappeared Crane began to take notes. For a few +hours the seventeen suns of this strange solar system shone upon the +flying space-car, after which they assumed the aspect of a +widely-separated cluster of enormous stars, slowly growing smaller and +smaller and shrinking closer and closer together. + +At four o'clock in the afternoon, Washington time, DuQuesne relieved +Crane, who made his way to the engine room. + +"It is time to change shifts, Dick. You have not had your sixteen hours, +but everything will be regular from now on. You two had better get some +rest." + +"All right," replied Seaton, as he relinquished the controls to Crane, +and after bidding the new helmsman goodnight he and Dorothy went below +to their cabin. + +Standing at a window with their arms around each other they stared down +with misty eyes at the very faint green star, which was rapidly +decreasing in brilliance as the Skylark increased its already +inconceivable velocity. Finally, as it disappeared altogether, Seaton +turned to his wife and tenderly, lovingly, took her in his arms. + +"Littlest Girl.... Sweetheart...." he whispered, and paused, overcome by +the intensity of his feelings. + +"I know, husband mine," she answered, while tears dimmed her glorious +eyes. "It is too deep. With nothing but words, we can't say a single +thing." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Return to Earth + + +DuQuesne's first act upon gaining the privacy of his own cabin was to +open the leather bag presented to him by the Karfedix. He expected to +find it filled with rare metals, with perhaps some jewels, instead of +which the only metal present was a heavily-insulated tube containing a +full pound of metallic radium. The least valuable items in the bag were +scores of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds of enormous size and of +flawless perfection. Merely ornamental glass upon Osnome, Dunark knew +that they were priceless upon Earth, and had acted accordingly. To this +great wealth of known gems, he had added a rich and varied assortment of +the rare and strange jewels peculiar to his own world, the faidon alone +being omitted from the collection. DuQuesne's habitual calmness of mind +almost deserted him as he classified the contents of the bag. + +The radium alone was worth millions of dollars, and the scientist in him +exulted that at last his brother scientists should have ample supplies +of that priceless metal with which to work, even while he was rejoicing +in the price he would exact for it. He took out the familiar jewels, +estimating their value as he counted them--a staggering total. The bag +was still half full of the strange gems, some of them glowing like +miniature lamps in the dark depths, and he made no effort to appraise +them. He knew that once any competent jeweler had compared their cold, +hard, scintillating beauty with that of any Earthly gems, he could +demand his own price. + +"At last," he breathed to himself, "I will be what I have always longed +to be--a money power. Now I can cut loose from that gang of crooks and +go my own way." + +He replaced the gems and the tube of radium in the bag, which he stowed +away in one of his capacious pockets, and made his way to the galley. + + * * * * * + +The return voyage through space was uneventful, the Skylark constantly +maintaining the same velocity with which she had started out. Several +times, as the days wore on, she came within the zone of attraction of +various gigantic suns, but the pilot had learned his lesson. He kept a +vigilant eye upon the bar, and at the first sign of a deviation from the +perpendicular he steered away, far from the source of the attraction. +Not content with these precautions, the man at the board would, from +time to time, shut off the power, to make sure that the space-car was +not falling toward a body directly in its line of flight. + +When half the distance had been covered, the bar was reversed, the +travelers holding an impromptu ceremony as the great vessel spun around +its center through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees. A few +days later the observers began to recognize some of the fixed stars in +familiar constellations and knew that the yellowish-white star directly +in their line of flight was the sun of their own solar system. After a +time they saw that their course, instead of being directly toward that +rapidly-brightening star, was bearing upon a barely visible star a +little to one side of it. Pointing their most powerful telescope toward +that point of light, Crane made out a planet, half of its disk shining +brightly. The girls hastened to peer through the telescope, and they +grew excited as they made out the familiar outlines of the continents +and oceans upon the lighted portion of the disk. + +It was not long until these outlines were plainly visible to the unaided +vision. The Earth appeared as a great, softly shining, greenish +half-moon, with parts of its surface obscured by fleecy wisps of cloud, +and with its two gleaming ice-caps making of its poles two brilliant +areas of white. The returning wanderers stared at their own world with +their hearts in their throats as Crane, who was at the board, increased +the retarding force sufficiently to assure himself that they would not +be traveling too fast to land upon the Earth. + +After Dorothy and Margaret had gone to prepare a meal, DuQuesne turned +to Seaton. + +"Have you gentlemen decided what you intend to do with me?" + +"No. We haven't discussed it yet. I can't make up my own mind what I +want to do to you, except that I sure would like to get you inside a +square ring with four-ounce gloves on. You have been of too much real +assistance on this trip for us to see you hanged, as you deserve. On the +other hand, you are altogether too much of a thorough-going scoundrel +for us to let you go free. You see the fix we are in. What would you +suggest?" + +"Nothing," replied DuQuesne calmly. "As I am in no danger whatever of +hanging, nothing you can say on that score affects me in the least. As +for freeing me, you may do as you please--it makes no difference to me, +one way or the other, as no jail can hold me for a day. I can say, +however, that while I have made a fortune on this trip, so that I do not +have to associate further with Steel unless it is to my interest to do +so, I may nevertheless find it desirable at some future time to +establish a monopoly of X. That would, of course, necessitate the death +of yourself and Crane. In that event, or in case any other difference +should arise between us, this whole affair will be as though it had +never existed. It will have no weight either way, whether or not you try +to hang me." + +"Go as far as you like," Seaton answered cheerfully. "If we're not a +match for you and your gang, on foot or in the air, in body or in mind, +we'll deserve whatever we get. We can outrun you, outjump you, throw you +down, or lick you; we can run faster, hit harder, dive deeper, and come +up dryer, than you can. We'll play any game you want to deal, whenever +you want to deal it; for fun, money, chalk, or marbles." + +His brow darkened in anger as a thought struck him, and the steady gray +eyes bored into the unflinching black ones as he continued, with no +trace of his former levity in his voice: + +"But listen to this. Anything goes as far as Martin and I personally are +concerned. But I want you to know that I could be arrested for what I +think of you as a man; and if any of your little schemes touch Dottie or +Peggy in any way, shape or form, I'll kill you as I would a snake--or +rather, I'll take you apart as I would any other piece of scientific +apparatus. This isn't a threat, it's a promise. Get me?" + +"Perfectly. Good-night." + +For many hours the Earth had been obscured by clouds, so that the pilot +had only a general idea of what part of the world was beneath them, but +as they dropped rapidly downward into the twilight zone, the clouds +parted and they saw that they were directly over the Panama Canal. +Seaton allowed the Skylark to fall to within ten miles of the ground, +when he stopped so that Martin could get his bearings and calculate the +course to Washington, which would be in total darkness before their +arrival. + +DuQuesne had retired, cold and reticent as usual. Glancing quickly about +his cabin to make sure that he had overlooked nothing he could take with +him, he opened a locker, exposing to view four suits which he had made +in his spare time, each adapted to a particular method of escape from +the Skylark. The one he selected was of heavy canvas, braced with steel +netting, equipped with helmet and air-tanks, and attached to a strong, +heavy parachute. He put it on, tested all its parts, and made his way +unobserved to one of the doors in the lower part of the vessel. Thus, +when the chance for escape came, he was ready for it. As the Skylark +paused over the Isthmus, his lips parted in a sardonic smile. He opened +the door and stepped out into the air, closing the door behind him as he +fell. The neutral color of the parachute was lost in the gathering +twilight a few seconds after he left the vessel. + +The course laid, Seaton turned almost due north and the Skylark tore +through the air. After a short time, when half the ground had been +covered, Seaton spoke suddenly. + +"Forgot about DuQuesne, Mart. We'd better iron him, hadn't we? Then +we'll decide whether we want to keep him or turn him loose." + +"I will go fetch him," replied Crane, and turned to the stairs. + +He returned shortly, with the news of the flight of the captive. + +"Hm ... he must have made himself a parachute. I didn't think even he +would tackle a sixty-thousand-foot drop. I'll tell the world that he +sure has established a record. I can't say I'm sorry that he got away, +though. We can get him again any time we want him, anyway, as that +little object-compass in my drawer is still looking right at him," said +Seaton. + +"I think he earned his liberty," declared Dorothy, stoutly, and Margaret +added: + +"He deserves to be shot, but I'm glad he's gone. He gives me the +shivers." + +At the end of the calculated time they saw the lights of a large city +beneath them, and Crane's fingers clenched upon Seaton's arm as he +pointed downward. There were the landing-lights of Crane Field, seven +peculiarly-arranged searchlights throwing their mighty beams upward into +the night. + +"Nine weeks, Dick," he said, unsteadily, "and Shiro would have kept them +burning nine years if necessary." + +The Skylark dropped easily to the ground in front of the testing shed +and the wanderers leaped out, to be greeted by the half-hysterical Jap. +Shiro's ready vocabulary of peculiar but sonorous words failed him +completely, and he bent himself double in a bow, his yellow face +wreathed in the widest possible smile. Crane, one arm around his wife, +seized Shiro's hand and wrung it in silence. Seaton swept Dorothy off +her feet, pressing her slender form against his powerful body. Her arms +tightened about his neck as they kissed each other fervently and he +whispered in her ear: + +"Sweetheart wife, isn't it great to be back on our good old Earth +again?" + + +THE END + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's Notes & Errata | + | | + | The editorial notes associated with the three installments | + | of the story have been placed in ASCII text boxes and | + | incorporated at the appropriate places in the text. | + | | + | Illustrations have been moved to the appropriate place in | + | the text. | + | | + | The chemical symbol for water is represented as H2O. | + | | + | The following typographical errors have been corrected. | + | | + | |Error |Correction | | + | | | | | + | |plantinum |platinum | | + | |refused. |refused." | | + | |We |"We | | + | |abstruce |abstruse | | + | |I love |"I love | | + | |CHAPTE |CHAPTER | | + | |food |fool | | + | |unmistakeable |unmistakable | | + | |ever |even | | + | |Mat |Mart | | + | |gravity. |gravity." | | + | |completely. |completely." | | + | |ecstacy |ecstasy | | + | |embarassment |embarrassment | | + | |Naloon |Nalboon | | + | |inumerable |innumerable | | + | |but |"but | | + | |efficient |efficient." | | + | |Dare |"Dare | | + | |wit |wait | | + | |They produce |"They produce | | + | | + | | + | Variable hyphenation | + | | + | The number of times each form appears in the text is given | + | in parentheses. | + | | + | |blue-prints (2) |blueprints (4) | | + | |border-line (3) |borderline (1) | | + | |break-down (1) |breakdown (1) | | + | |devil-fish (1) |devilfish (1) | | + | |Good-bye (4) |Goodbye (1) | | + | |good-bye (4) |goodbye (3) | | + | |good-night (2) |goodnight (2) | | + | |half-way (4) |halfway (1) | | + | |hand-rail (1) |handrail (2) | | + | |hand-rails (1) |handrails (1) | | + | |home-coming (1) |homecoming (1) | | + | |major-domo (3) |majordomo (1) | | + | |near-by (1) |nearby (4) | | + | |nitro-glycerin (2) |nitroglycerin (2) | | + | |to-night (2) |tonight (7) | | + | | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SKYLARK OF SPACE*** + + +******* This file should be named 20869-8.txt or 20869-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/8/6/20869 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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