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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 Great Drought + +Author: Sterner St. Paul Meek + +Release Date: July 5, 2009 [EBook #29326] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT DROUGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Astounding Stories May 1932. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_001.jpg" width="500" height="590" alt="A man leaped in and made some adjustments." /> +<span class="caption">A man leaped in and made some adjustments.</span> +</div> + + +<h1>The Great Drought</h1> + +<h2>By Capt. S. P. Meek</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="sidenote">Another episode in Dr. Bird's extraordinary duel with the +scientific wizard Saranoff.</div> + + +<p><span class="f1">"I</span>s the maneuver progressing as you wish. Dr. Bird?" asked the Chief +of the Air Corps.</p> + +<p>The famous scientist lowered his binoculars and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Exactly, General," he replied. "They are keeping a splendid line."</p> + +<p>"It is the greatest concentration of air force that this country has +ever seen," said General Merton proudly.</p> + +<p>With a nod, Dr. Bird raised his glasses to his eyes and resumed his +steady gaze. Five thousand feet below and two miles ahead of the huge +transport plane which flew the flag of the Chief of the Air Corps, a +long line of airplanes stretched away to the north and to the south. +Six hundred and seventy-two planes, the entire First Air Division of +the United States Army, were deployed in line at hundred-yard +intervals, covering a front of nearly forty miles. Fifteen hundred +feet above the ground, the line roared steadily westward over Maryland +at ninety miles an hour. At ten-second intervals, a puff of black dust +came from a discharge tube mounted on the rear of each plane. The dust +was whirled about for a moment by the exhaust, and then spread out in +a thin layer, marking the path of the fleet.</p> + +<p>"I hope the observers on the planes are keeping careful notes of the +behavior of those dust clouds," said Dr. Bird after an interval of +silence. "We are crossing the Chesapeake now, and things may start to +happen at any moment."</p> + +<p>"They're all on their toes, Doctor," replied General Merton. "I +understood in a general way from the President that we are gathering +some important meteorological data for you, but I am ignorant of just +what this data is. Is it a secret?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said slowly, "it is. However, I can see no reason why this +secret should not be entrusted to you. We are seeking a means of +ending the great drought which has ravaged the United States for the +past two years."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">B</span>efore General Merton had time to make a reply, his executive officer +hastened forward from the radio set which was in constant +communication with the units of the fleet.</p> + +<p>"Two of the planes on the north end of the line are reporting engine +trouble, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird dropped his glasses and sat bolt upright.</p> + +<p>"What kind of engine trouble?" he demanded sharply.</p> + +<p>"Their motors are slowing down for no explainable reason. I can't +understand it."</p> + +<p>"Are their motors made with sheet steel cylinders or with duralumin +engine blocks?"</p> + +<p>"Sheet steel."</p> + +<p>"The devil! I hadn't foreseen this, although it was bound to happen if +my theory was right. Tell them to climb! Climb all they know! Don't +let them shut off their motors for any reason, unless they are about +to crash. Turn this ship to the north and have the pilot climb—fast!"</p> + +<p>A nod from General Merton confirmed the doctor's orders. The line of +planes kept on to the west, but the flagplane turned to the north and +climbed at a sharp angle, her three motors roaring at full speed. With +the aid of binoculars, the two ships in trouble could be picked out, +falling gradually behind the line. They were flying so slowly that it +seemed inevitable that they would lose flying speed and crash to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"More speed!" cried the doctor. "We've elevation enough!"</p> + +<p>The altimeter stood at eight thousand feet when the pilot leveled out +the flagplane and tore at full speed toward the laboring ships. The +main fleet was twenty miles to the west.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>hey were almost above the point where the two planes had first began +to slow down. As they winged along, the three motors of the flagplane +took on a different note. It was a laboring note, pitched on a lower +scale. Gradually the air-speed meter of the ship began to show a lower +reading.</p> + +<p>"Locate us on the map, Carnes!" snapped Dr. Bird.</p> + +<p>Operative Carnes of the United States Secret Service bent over a +large-scale map of Maryland, spread open on a table. With the aid of +the navigating officer, he spotted on the map the point over which the +plane was flying.</p> + +<p>"There goes Burleigh's ship!" cried the executive officer.</p> + +<p>There was a gasp from the occupants of the flagplane's cabin. Far +below them, one of the crippled planes had slowed down until it had +lost flying speed. Whirling like a leaf, it plunged toward the ground. +Two small specks detached themselves from the falling mass. They +hovered over the falling plane for an instant. Suddenly a patch of +white appeared in the air, and then another. The two specks fell more +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Good work!" exclaimed General Merton. "They took to their 'chutes +just in time."</p> + +<p>"We'll be taking them in a few minutes if our motors don't pick up!" +replied the executive officer.</p> + +<p>Far below them, the doomed plane crashed to the ground. As it struck +there was a blinding flash followed by vivid flames as the gasoline +from the bursted tank ignited. The two members of the crew were +drifting to the east as they fell. It was evident that they were in no +danger.</p> + +<p>"Where is Lightwood's plane?" asked General Merton anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It's still aloft and making its way slowly north. He intends to try +for an emergency landing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground field," +replied the executive officer.</p> + +<p>"That's where we had better head for," said Dr. Bird. "I hope that the +charge on Captain Lightwood's plane discharges through the tail skid +when he lands. If it doesn't, he'll be in serious danger. Follow him +and we'll watch."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">F</span>ive thousand feet below them, the crippled plane limped slowly along +toward Aberdeen. It was gradually losing elevation. Two specks +suddenly appeared in the air, followed by white patches as the +parachutes opened. Captain Lightwood and his gunner had given up the +unequal fight and taken to the air. As the ship struck the ground, +again there was a blinding flash, followed by an inferno of roaring +flames.</p> + +<p>"We're not in much better shape than they were, General," said the +executive officer as he came back from the control room where the +pilots were heroically striving to keep their motors turning over fast +enough to keep up flying speed. "We'd better get into our 'chutes."</p> + +<p>"The Proving Ground is just ahead," said the doctor. "Can't we make it +by sacrificing our elevation?"</p> + +<p>"We're trying to do that, Doctor, but we're down to four thousand now +and falling fast. Get ready to jump."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird buckled on the harness of the pack parachute which the +executive officer offered him. The rest of the crew had hurriedly +donned their packs and stood ready.</p> + +<p>For another five minutes the plane struggled on. Suddenly a large flat +expanse of open ground which had been in sight for some time, seemed +to approach with uncanny rapidity.</p> + +<p>"There's the landing field!" cried the General. "We'll make it yet!"</p> + +<p>Lower and lower the plane sank with the landing field still too far +away for comfort. The pilot leveled off as much as he dared and drove +on. The motors were laboring and barely turning over at idling speed. +They passed the nearer edge of the field with the flagplane barely +thirty feet off the ground. In another moment the wheels touched and +the plane rolled to a halt.</p> + +<p>"Don't get out!" cried Dr. Bird.</p> + +<p>He looked around the cabin and picked up a coil of bare antenna wire +which hung near the radio set. He wrapped one end of the wire around +the frame of the plane. To the other end, he attached his pack 'chute.</p> + +<p>"Open the door!" he cried.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">A</span>s the door swung open, he threw the 'chute out toward the ground. As +it touched, there was a blinding flash, followed by a report which +shook the plane. A strong odor of garlic permeated the air.</p> + +<p>"All right!" cried the doctor cheerfully. "All out for Aberdeen. The +danger is past."</p> + +<p>He set the example by jumping lightly from the plane. General Merton +followed more slowly, his face white and his hands shaking.</p> + +<p>"What was it, Doctor," he asked. "I have been flying since 1912, yet I +have never seen or heard of anything like that."</p> + +<p>"Just a heavy charge of static electricity," replied the doctor. "That +was what magnetized your cylinder walls and your piston rings and +slowed your motors down. It was the same thing that wrecked those two +ships. Unless it leaks off, the men of some of your other ships are +due to get a nasty shock when they land to-night. I discharged the +charge we had collected through a ground wire. Here comes a car, we'll +go up to Colonel Wesley's office. Carnes, you have these maps?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"All right, let's go."</p> + +<p>"But what about this ship, Doctor?" objected the General. "Can't +something be done about it?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I hadn't forgotten it. Have your crew stand by. I'll +telephone Washington and have some men with apparatus sent right down +from the Bureau of Standards. They'll have it ready for flying in the +morning. We'll also have search parties sent out in cars to locate the +crews of those abandoned ships and bring them in. Now let's go."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">C</span>olonel Wesley, the commanding officer of the Aberdeen Proving Ground, +welcomed Carnes and Dr. Bird warmly.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, General Merton," he said to the Chief of the Air +Corps, "if you ever get up against something that is beyond all +explanation, you want to get these two men working on it. They are the +ones who settled that poisoning case here, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I read of that," replied the general. "I am inclined to think +that they are up against something even queerer right now."</p> + +<p>Colonel Wesley's eyes sparkled.</p> + +<p>"Give your orders, Dr. Bird!" he cried. "Since our last experience +with you, you can't give an order on this post that won't be obeyed!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Colonel," said Dr. Bird warmly. "One reason why I came +here was that I knew that I could count on your hearty cooperation. +The first thing I want is two cars. I want them sent out to bring in +the crews of two ships which were abandoned some eight miles south of +here. Carnes will locate them on the map for your drivers."</p> + +<p>"They'll be ready to start in five minutes, Doctor. What next?"</p> + +<p>"Turn out every man and every piece of transportation you have +to-morrow morning. I want the men armed. They will have to search a +stretch of swamp south of here, inch by inch, until they find what I'm +looking for."</p> + +<p>"They'll be ready, Doctor. Would it be indiscreet for me to ask what +it's all about?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all, Colonel. I was about to explain to General Merton when +trouble started. I am searching for the cause of the great drought +which has been afflicting this country for the past two years. If I +can find the cause, I hope to end it."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I had a sneaking hope that we were in for another skirmish with +that Russian chap, Saranoff, whose men started that poison here."</p> + +<p>"I rather think we are, Colonel Wesley."</p> + +<p>General Merton laughed.</p> + +<p>"I'll swallow a good deal, Dr. Bird," he said, "but when you talk of +an individual being responsible for the great drought, it's a little +too much. A man can't control the weather, you know!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"Y</span>et a man, or an incarnate devil—I don't know which he is—did +control the weather once, as well as the sun. But for the humble +efforts of two Americans, aided by a Russian girl whose brother +Saranoff had murdered, he might be still controlling it."</p> + +<p>General Merton was silent now.</p> + +<p>"Carnes, let me have that map," went on the doctor. When the detective +had unrolled a map of the United States on Colonel Wesley's table, Dr. +Bird continued, pointing to the map as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"On this map," he said, "is plotted the deficiency in rainfall for the +past year, from every reporting station in the United States. These +red lines divide the country into areas of equal deficiency. The area +most affected, as you can see, is longer east and west, than it is +north and south. It is worst in the east, in fact in this very +neighborhood. Even a casual glance at the map will show you that the +center of the drought area, from an intensity standpoint, lies in +Maryland, a few miles south of here."</p> + +<p>"In fact, just about where those two planes went down," added Carnes.</p> + +<p>"Precisely, old dear. That was why we went over that section with the +fleet. Now, gentlemen, note a few other things about this drought. The +areas of drought follow roughly the great waterways, the Ohio and the +Potomac valleys being especially affected. In other words, the drought +follows the normal air currents from this point. If something were to +be added to the air which would tend to prevent rain, it would in time +drift, just as the drought areas have drifted."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">G</span>eneral Merton and Colonel Wesley bent over the map.</p> + +<p>"I believe you're right, Doctor," admitted the general.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. The President was convinced that I was before he placed +the First Air Division under my orders. Frankly, that search was the +real object of assembling the fleet. The maneuvers are a mere blind."</p> + +<p>General Merton colored slightly.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll try to give you some idea of what I think is the method +being used," went on the doctor, ignoring General Merton's rising +color. "In the past, rain has been produced in several cases where +conditions were right—that is, when the air held plenty of moisture +which refused to fall—by the discharge from a plane of a cloud of +positively charged dust particles. Ergo, a heavy negative charge in +the air, which will absorb rather than discharge a positive charge, +should tend to prevent rain from falling. I believe that a stream of +negative particles is being liberated into the air near here, and +allowed to drift where it will. That was my theory when I had the +First Air Division equipped with those dust ejector tubes.</p> + +<p>"I knew that if such a condition existed, the positively charged dust +would be pulled down toward the source of the negative particle +stream, which must, in many ways, resemble a cathode ray. That was why +I wanted the behavior of the dust clouds watched and reported. What I +did not foresee was that the iron and steel parts of the plane, +accumulating a heavy negative charge, would be magnetized enough to +slow down the motors and eventually wreck the ships."</p> + +<p>"We have had eight ships wrecked unexplainably within twenty miles of +here, all of them to the south, during the past year," said Colonel +Wesley.</p> + +<p>"It had slipped my notice. At any rate, the behavior of the ships this +afternoon showed me that my theory is correct, and that some such +device exists and is in active operation. Our next task is to locate +it and destroy it."</p> + +<p>"You shall have every man on the Proving Ground!" cried Colonel +Wesley.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. General Merton, will you detach three ships from the First +Air Division by radio and have them report here? I want two pursuit +ships and one bomber, with a rack of hundred-pound demolition bombs. +All three must have duralumin cylinder blocks."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it at once, Doctor," the general agreed.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Carnes, telephone Washington for me. Tell Dr. Burgess that +I want Tracy, Fellows and Von Amburgh, with three more men down here +by the next train. Also tell him to have Davis rig up a demagnetizer +large enough to demagnetize the motors of a transport plane and bring +it down here to fix up General Merton's ship. When you have finished +that, get hold of Bolton and ask for a dozen secret service men. I +want selected men with Haggerty in charge."</p> + +<p>"All right, Doctor. Shall I tell Miss Andrews to come down as well?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">D</span>r. Bird frowned.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. Why would she come down here?"</p> + +<p>"I thought she might be useful, Doctor."</p> + +<p>"Carnes, as you know, I dislike using women because they can't control +their emotions or their expressions. She would just be in the way."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that she saved both our lives in Russia, Doctor, and +but for her, you wouldn't have come out so well in your last adventure +on the Aberdeen marshes."</p> + +<p>"She did the first through uncontrolled emotions, and the second +through a flagrant disobedience of my orders. No, don't tell her to +come. Tell her not to come if she asks."</p> + +<p>Carnes turned away, but hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Doctor, I wish you'd let me have her come down here. I didn't trust +her at first when you did, but she has proved her loyalty and worth. +Besides, I don't like the idea of leaving her unguarded in Washington +with you and me down here, and with Haggerty coming down."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird looked thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"There's something in that, Carnes," he reflected. "All right, tell +her to come along, but remember, she is not in on this case. She is +being brought here merely for safety, not to mix up in our work."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Doctor."</p> + +<p>The detective returned in ten minutes with a worried expression.</p> + +<p>"She wasn't in your office, Doctor," he reported.</p> + +<p>"Who? Oh, Thelma. Where was she?"</p> + +<p>"No one seems to know. She left yesterday afternoon and hasn't +returned."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, since I am out of the city, I expect she decided to take a +vacation. Women are always undependable. Did you get hold of the +rest?"</p> + +<p>"They'll be down at midnight, all but Davis. He'll come down in the +morning."</p> + +<p>"Good enough! Now, Colonel, if you'll have the officers who are going +out to-morrow assembled, we'll divide the territory and make our plans +for the search."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">A</span> week later, the situation was unchanged. Secret service operatives +and soldiers from the Proving Ground had covered, foot by foot, square +miles of territory south of the Proving Ground, but without result. +Not a single unexplainable thing had been found. Sensitive instruments +sent down from the Bureau of Standards, instruments so sensitive that +they would detect an electric light burning a mile away, had yielded +no results. As a final measure, General Merton had ordered a dozen +planes with steel-cylindered motors to the Proving Ground and they had +repeatedly crisscrossed the suspected territory, but had acquired no +static charge large enough to affect them. It was evident that +Saranoff's device, if it existed, had been moved, or else was not in +operation.</p> + +<p>Also, to Carnes' openly expressed and Dr. Bird's secret worry, Thelma +Andrews had not returned to the Bureau of Standards. The Russian girl, +formerly known as Feodrovna Androvitch, a tool and follower of Ivan +Saranoff, had acted with Carnes and the doctor in their long drawn-out +fight with the arch-communist often enough to be a marked woman.</p> + +<p>Urged by Carnes, Bolton, the head of the Secret Service, put a dozen +of his best men on her trail, but they found nothing. She had +disappeared as thoroughly as if the earth had opened and swallowed her +up. At last, as the combing of the Aberdeen marshes yielded no +results, Dr. Bird acceded to Carnes' request, and the detective left +for Washington to take personal charge of the search. Dr. Bird sat +alone in his quarters at the Officers' Club, futilely wracking his +brains for a clue to his further procedure.</p> + +<p>The telephone rang loudly. With a grunt, he took down the receiver.</p> + +<p>A feminine voice spoke with a strong foreign accent.</p> + +<p>"I vant der Herr Doktor Vogel, plees!"</p> + +<p>"You want who? Oh, yes. Vogel—bird! This is Dr. Bird speaking."</p> + +<p>The voice instantly lost both its foreign accent and its guttural +quality.</p> + +<p>"I thought so when you spoke, Doctor, but I wanted to make sure. This +is Thelma Andrews."</p> + +<p>"Where the devil have you been? Half the Secret Service is looking for +you, including Carnes, who deserted me and is in Washington."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"H</span>e is? I'm sorry. Listen, Doctor, it's a long story and I can't go +into details now. I got a clue on the day you left. As I couldn't get +in touch with you, I followed it myself. I've located Saranoff's main +base in the Bush River marshes."</p> + +<p>"You have! Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"It's underground and you've passed over it a dozen times during the +past week. It's unoccupied now and the machines are idle until your +search is over. I know the way to it. If you'll join me now, we can +get in and hopelessly wreck the device in a short time. To-morrow you +can bring your men down here and take charge of it."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird's eyes glistened.</p> + +<p>"I'll come at once, Thelma!" he cried. "Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm down on Romney Creek. Come down to the Water Impact Range below +Michaelville, and I'll meet you at the wharf. You'd better come alone, +because we'll have to sneak."</p> + +<p>"Good for you!" cried the doctor. "I'll be down in an hour."</p> + +<p>"All right, Doctor. I'll be waiting for you."</p> + +<p>At Michaelville, Dr. Bird left his car and stepped on the scooter +which ran on the narrow gauge track connecting the range house with +the wharf on Romney Creek. He started it with no difficulty and it +coughed away into the night. For three and a half miles, nothing broke +the monotony of the trip. Dr. Bird, his hand on the throttle, kept his +eyes on the twin ribbons of steel which slid along under the +headlight. The road made a sharp turn and emerged from the thick wood +through which it had been traveling. Hardly had the lights shot along +the track in the new direction than Dr. Bird closed the throttle and +applied the brakes rapidly. A heavy barricade of logs was piled across +the track.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>he doctor pressed home on the brake lever until the steel shoes +screamed in protest, but no brakes could bring the heavy scooter to a +stop as swiftly as was needful to avoid a crash. It was still +traveling at a good rate of speed when it rammed into the barricade +and overturned.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird was thrown clear of the wrecked scooter. He landed on soft +mud beside the track. As he strove to rise, the beam of a flashlight +struck him in the eyes and a guttural, sneering voice spoke through +the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Don't move, Dr. Bird. It will be useless and will only lead to your +early death, a thing I should regret."</p> + +<p>"Saranoff!" cried Dr. Bird.</p> + +<p>"I am flattered, Doctor, that you know my voice. Yes, it is I, Ivan +Saranoff, the man whom you have so often foiled. You drove me from +America and tried to bar the road against my return, but I only +laughed at your efforts. I returned here only for one purpose, to +capture you and to compass your death."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird rose to his feet and laughed lightly.</p> + +<p>"You've got me, Saranoff," he said, "but the game isn't played out +yet. I represent an organization which won't end with my death, you +know."</p> + +<p>A series of expletives in guttural Russian answered him. In response +to a command from their leader, two men came forward and searched the +doctor quickly and expertly, removing the automatic pistol which he +carried under his left armpit.</p> + +<p>"As for your organization, as you call it—<i>pouf!</i>" said the Russian +scornfully. "Carnes, a brainless fool who does only as you tell him, a +few half-wits in the Bureau of Standards, some of them already in my +pay, and one renegade girl. She shall learn what it means to betray +the Soviets and their leader."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to catch her first," replied Dr. Bird, a sardonic grin on +his face.</p> + +<p>"I have but to snap my fingers and she will come whining back, licking +my hand and imploring mercy," boasted the Russian. "Bring him along!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>wo men approached and seized the doctor by his arms. Dr. Bird shook +them off contemptuously.</p> + +<p>"Keep your filthy paws off me!" he cried. "I know when I'm bested, and +I'll come quietly, but I won't be dragged."</p> + +<p>The men looked at their leader for orders. From behind his light, the +Russian studied his opponent. He gave vent to a stream of guttural +Russian. The men fell back.</p> + +<p>"For your information, Doctor," he said in a sneering tone. "I have +told my men to follow you closely, gun in hand. At the slightest sign +of hesitation, or at the first attempt to escape, they will fire. They +are excellent shots."</p> + +<p>"Lead on, Saranoff," was Dr. Bird's cheery comment.</p> + +<p>With a shrug of his shoulders, the leader of the Young Labor party +turned and made his way along the track toward the wharf. Dr. Bird +looked anxiously ahead as they approached, fearing that Feodrovna +Androvitch would be discerned in her hiding place. Saranoff correctly +interpreted his gaze.</p> + +<p>"Does der Herr Doktor Vogel eggspect somevun?" he asked in the voice +which had first come over Dr. Bird's telephone. The doctor started and +the Russian went on in the voice of the doctor's secretary. "I'm so +glad you came, Dr. Bird. I am going to take you directly to the main +base of our dearly beloved friend, Ivan Saranoff."</p> + +<p>An expression that was a mixture of chagrin and relief spread over Dr. +Bird's face.</p> + +<p>"Sold, by thunder!" he cried.</p> + +<p>The Russian laughed sardonically and tramped on in silence. Tied to +the Romney Creek wharf was a boat with powerful electric motors, +driven by storage batteries. At a nudge from his captors, Dr. Bird +took his place in the craft. It glided silently away down the creek +toward the Chesapeake's mouth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">I</span>n the bay, the boat veered to the south and ran along the shore until +the mouth of Bush River opened before them. It turned west up the +river, coming to a halt at one of the occasional bits of high ground +which bordered the river.</p> + +<p>"We get off here, Doctor," said Saranoff. "My base, which you have +wasted so much time seeking, lies within a hundred yards of this +point. Before I take you there, you may be interested in watching us +conceal our boat."</p> + +<p>Before the doctor's surprised gaze, the edges of a huge box rose above +the surface of the water, around the electric boat. The boat was +raised and water could be heard running out of the box which held it. +When the box was drained, a man leaped in and made some adjustments. A +cover, hinged on one side, swung over and closed the box tightly with +the boat inside. Men closed clamps which held it in position. As they +sprang to shore, the box sunk silently out of sight below the surface +of the water.</p> + +<p>"It is now beneath a foot of mud, Doctor," laughed the Russian, "and +there is nothing to lead a searching party to suspect its existence. +Now I will take you to my base."</p> + +<p>He led the way for a hundred yards over the ground. Before them loomed +an old abandoned fisherman's shack. They entered to find merely a +barren room. The Russian stepped to the far side and manipulated a +hidden lever. Half of the floor slid to one side, disclosing a flight +of steps leading down into Stygian darkness.</p> + +<p>Flashlight in hand, Saranoff descended, Dr. Bird following closely on +his heels. They went down twenty-one steps before the stairs came to +an end. Above them, the floor could be heard closing. There was a +sharp click and the cavern was flooded with light.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">D</span>r. Bird looked around him with keen interest. Before him stood a +static generator of gigantic proportions and of a totally unfamiliar +design. Attached to it was an elliptic reflector of silvery metal, +from which rose a short, stubby projector tube.</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Dr. Saranoff—" began Dr. Bird.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ivan</i> Saranoff, if you please, Doctor," interrupted the Russian. "I +have renounced the trumpery distinctions of your bourgeois +civilization as far as I am concerned."</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Ivan Saranoff," said Dr. Bird obligingly, "that this is +the apparatus with which you send out a stream of negative particles."</p> + +<p>"It is, Doctor. I had no idea that the nature of it would ever be +discovered; at least not until I had changed the United States to a +second Sahara desert. I reckoned without you. In point of fact, at the +time that I built this device and started it in operation, I had not +clashed with you. Now, I know that my plan is a failure. You have left +data on which other men can work, have you not?"</p> + +<p>"Surely."</p> + +<p>"I would not have believed you had you said otherwise," replied the +Russian with a sigh. "Yet this device has done much good. Now it shall +be destroyed. It has not been a failure, for its destruction will +accomplish both yours and that of your friend, Carnes."</p> + +<p>"You haven't caught Carnes yet."</p> + +<p>"That is easy. The same bait which caught you has caught him even more +easily. I have a real sense of humor, Doctor, and before I went out of +my way to bring you here, my plans were carefully laid. Mr. Carnes is +now on his way here from Washington, lured by my voice. He is rushing, +he thinks, to your rescue."</p> + +<p>"What—"</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird was suddenly silent.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"I</span> am glad you comprehend my plan so readily, Doctor. Yes, indeed, Mr. +Carnes knows that I have captured you. He knows the exact location of +this cavern and, more important, he knows the location of the power +line which feeds my device when it is in operation. He also knows that +there is stored in this cavern, fifty pounds of radite, your +ultra-explosive. He knows that you are chained close to the explosive +and that it is rigged with a detonator, connected with the power line. +In only one thing is he in error.</p> + +<p>"He thinks, that if he can sever the power line before he attempts to +penetrate the cavern, that the charge will be rendered harmless, and +that you will be safe. In point of fact, the charge is set with an +interrupter detonator which will explode as soon at the power line is +severed. It pleases my sense of humor that it will be the hand of your +faithful friend, Carnes, that will send you in fragments to eternity."</p> + +<p>Beads of sweat shone on Dr. Bird's head as the Russian finished his +speech, but his expression of amused interest did not change. Neither +did his voice, when he spoke, betray any nervousness.</p> + +<p>"And I presume that Carnes is also to be blown into bits by the +explosion?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, Doctor, that would frustrate one of the most humorous +angles of the whole affair. He will cut the line at the base of a +large rock, some two hundred yards from here, far enough away that he +will not be seriously injured by the force of the explosion. Thus he +will witness the explosion and realize what he has done. In order to +be sure that he knows, as soon as he cuts the wire, my men will +capture him. I, personally, will tell him of it. I wish to see his +face when he realizes what he has unwittingly done."</p> + +<p>"Then, I presume, you'll kill him?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it. I rather think I'll let him live. He should be useful to +me."</p> + +<p>"Carnes will never work for you!"</p> + +<p>"With Feodrovna in my power, I rather think that Mr. Carnes will be an +efficient and loyal servant. If not, he shall have the pleasure of +watching me wreak my vengeance on her before he, himself, takes his +last long trip."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"S</span>aranoff," said Dr. Bird in a level voice, his piercing eyes boring +straight into the Russian's, "I will remember this. Later, when you +grovel at my feet and beg for mercy, it will be my friend, Operative +Carnes, who will read your doom to you and choose the manner of it. I +can promise you that your death will not be an easy one."</p> + +<p>The Russian laughed, albeit the laugh had more of uneasiness than +humor in it.</p> + +<p>"When you have me in your power, Doctor, you may do as you like," he +said, "but I do not fear dead men. In another two hours, you will be +among the dead."</p> + +<p>He turned to the three Russians who stood behind him.</p> + +<p>"Seize him!" he cried.</p> + +<p>The Russians leaped forward, but Dr. Bird was not caught napping. The +first one went down like a felled tree before the doctor's fist. The +other two came in cautiously. Dr. Bird sprang forward, feinting. As he +leaped back, his foot struck a rod which Ivan Saranoff had thrust +behind him. He staggered and fell. Before he could recover his +balance, the two burly Russians were on him.</p> + +<p>Even then, they had no easy task. Dr. Bird weighed over two hundred +and there was not an ounce of fat or surplus flesh on him. First one, +and then the other, of the Russians was thrown off him, but they +returned to the attack, unsubdued by the crashing blows which the +doctor landed on their faces and heads.</p> + +<p>Gradually their ardor began to evaporate. With a sudden effort, Dr. +Bird strove to regain his feet. A crash as of all the thunders of the +universe sounded in his ears, and flashes of vivid light played +before his eyes. He felt himself falling down ... down....</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">H</span>e recovered consciousness to find his feet shackled and fastened to +rings set in the concrete of the cavern wall. His head throbbed +horribly. He raised his hands and found a huge bump on his head, from +which thickened blood trickled sluggishly down his cheek. The cavern +was flooded with light. On the wall before him, a clock told off the +seconds with a metallic tick. He bent down and examined his shackles.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you can't unfasten them, Doctor," said a sardonic voice.</p> + +<p>He looked up to see Saranoff.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I had to hit you so hard," went on the Russian. "Your half +hour of unconsciousness has lessened by that much the time which is +yours to indulge in an agony of apprehension. Look."</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird's gaze followed the Russian's finger. On the floor, twenty +feet from where he was shackled, stood a yellow can with the mark of +the Bureau of Standards on its side. He recognized it at once as a +radite container, a can of the terrible ultra-explosive which he +himself had perfected. He shuddered at the thought of the havoc which +its detonation would cause.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Doctor, that is a can of radite," said the Russian. "Allow me +also to call your attention to the interrupter fuse which is attached +to it. When Mr. Carnes cuts the wire outside, you know well enough +what will happen. Now, let me invite your attention to the clock on +the wall before you. Mr. Carnes arrived at the Bush River station of +the P. B. and W. at 2:15 A.M. He had a little trouble getting a boat, +but he is now on his way here. It is 2:25. I think he will arrive +between 3:30 and 4:00. Perhaps five minutes later, he will find the +wire.</p> + +<p>"You have a little over an hour in which to contemplate your total +extinction, an extinction which will remove from my path the one great +obstacle to my domination of the world. I hope you will enjoy your +remaining moments. In order to help you to enjoy them, and to realize +the futility of human endeavor, I have placed the key of your shackles +on the floor here in plain sight, but, alas, out of your reach. I +would like to stay and watch your struggle, to see the self-control on +which you pride yourself vanish, and to watch you whimper and pray for +the mercy you would not find; but I am deprived of that pleasure. I +must take personal charge of my men to be sure that there is no slip. +Good-by, Doctor, we will never meet again, I fear."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">"W</span>e will meet again, Saranoff," said Dr. Bird in even tones of cold +ferocity which made even Saranoff shiver. "We will meet again, and +when you whimper and beg for mercy, remember this moment!"</p> + +<p>The Russian started forward with an oath, his hand raised to strike. +He recovered himself and essayed a sickly smile.</p> + +<p>"I will remember, Doctor," he said in a voice which, despite himself, +had a tremor of fear in it. "I will remember—<i>when</i> we meet again."</p> + +<p>He ran lightly up the stairs and Dr. Bird heard the floor close above +him. With a grunt, he bent down and examined his shackles closely. +They were tight fitting and made of hardened steel. A cursory +examination showed the doctor that he could neither force them nor +slip them. He turned his attention to the key which Saranoff had +pointed out. It lay on the floor, about ten feet, as nearly as he +could judge, from where he stood.</p> + +<p>He knelt and then stretched himself out at full length on the floor. +By straining to the uttermost, his groping fingers were still six +inches from the key. Saranoff had calculated the distance well.</p> + +<p>Convinced that he could not reach the key by any effort of stretching, +Dr. Bird wasted none of his precious time in vain regrets or in +useless efforts to accomplish the impossible. He rose to his feet and +calmly took stock of the room, searching for other means of freeing +himself. The shackles themselves offered no hope. He searched his +pockets. The search yielded a pocket knife, a bunch of keys, a +flashlight, a handkerchief, a handful of loose change, and a wallet. +He examined the miscellany thoughtfully.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">A</span> light broke over his face. He tied one end of the handkerchief to +the knife and again took a prone position on the floor. Cautiously he +tossed the knife out before him. It fell to one side of the key. He +drew it back and tried again. The knife fell beyond the key. Slowly he +drew it back toward him by the handkerchief. When it reached his hand, +he saw to his joy, that the key was a good inch nearer. With a lighter +heart, he tried again.</p> + +<p>His toss was good. The knife fell over the key, and again he drew it +to him. To his disgust, the key had not moved. Again and again he +tried it, but the knife slid over the key without moving it. He looked +more carefully and saw that the key was caught on an obstruction in +the flooring.</p> + +<p>With careful aim, he threw his knife so as to drive the key further +away. He threw the knife again and tried to draw the key to him from +its new position. It came readily until it reached the inequality in +the floor which had stopped it the first time. All of his efforts to +draw it nearer were fruitless. He give vent to a muttered oath as he +looked at the clock. Thirty minutes of his time had gone.</p> + +<p>A second time he knocked the key away and strove to draw it to him +with no success. The clock bore witness to the fact that another ten +minutes had been wasted. He rose to his feet and carefully surveyed +his surroundings.</p> + +<p>A cry of joy burst from his lips. On the floor was a tiny metallic +thread which he knew for a wire. He bent down and picked it up. It was +fine and very flexible. He doubled it three times and strove to bend a +hook in it. The wire was too short to offer much hope, but he threw +himself prone and began to fish for the key.</p> + +<p>The wire reached it readily enough, but it did not have rigidity +enough to pull the key over the little bump which held it. A glance at +the clock threw him into an agony of despair. A full hour had passed +since Saranoff had left him. Carnes might even now be walking into the +trap which had been laid for him.</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet and thought rapidly, twisting the wire idly around +the knife as he did so. He glanced at the work of his hands, and an +oath broke from his lip.</p> + +<p>"Fool!" he exclaimed. "I deserve to die! The means for liberation were +in my hands all the time."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">W</span>ith feverish activity, he ripped open the flashlight. He held the two +ends of the wire against the terminals of the light battery and +touched the knife to his steel key ring. To his joy, the ring adhered +to the knife. Under the influence of the battery, the wire-wrapped +knife had become a small electromagnet.</p> + +<p>In a moment the doctor was prone on the floor. He tossed the knife +out to the key. His aim was good and it fell directly beyond. With +trembling hands he drew the knife toward him. It reached the key. +Scarcely daring to breathe, he pulled it closer. The key had risen +over the ridge which had held it, and was adhering to the knife. In +another moment, he stood erect, freed from the shackles which had +bound him.</p> + +<p>He made for the door at a run, but a sudden thought stopped him. The +clock showed him that an hour and twenty minutes had passed.</p> + +<p>"Carnes must be nearly here!" he cried. "If I go blundering out, I'm +liable to run right into the trap they have laid for him, and then +we're both gone. If I yell to warn him, the fool will come ahead at +full tilt. What the dickens can I do?"</p> + +<p>His gaze fell on the can of radite. The wires leading to the +interrupter fuse gleamed a dull gold with a malign significance.</p> + +<p>"If Carnes and I are both washed out, there will be only Thelma left. +She can't fight Saranoff alone. Carnes knows the man and his methods. +There is only one way that I can see to warn him out of the trap."</p> + +<p>He shuddered a moment. With a steady step he walked across the cave to +the can of deadly explosive. A pair of pliers lay on a nearby bench. +He picked them up. He dashed his hand across his face for a moment, +but looked up with steady eyes. With hands that did not tremble, he +bent down over the can. With a quick snip, he severed the wires +leading to the can of radite.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">O</span>perative Carnes jumped ashore as the boat reached the bank of Bush +River. Before him stretched a dismal swamp, interspersed with +occasional bits of higher ground. He looked back over the river for a +moment, taking his bearings with great care. A luminous lensatic +compass gave him the orientation of the points he had chosen for +markers.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure we are at the right place?" he asked in an undertone.</p> + +<p>"Sure as shootin', Mister," replied the boatman. "It's the only place +of its kind in five miles. The rock you're hunting for is about a +hundred rods due east."</p> + +<p>"It looks right," said Carnes. "Come on, men."</p> + +<p>Operatives Haggerty and Dillon scrambled out of the boat and stood by +his side.</p> + +<p>"Follow me," said Carnes in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Both detectives nodded silently. They drew their pistols and fell in +behind their leader. Keeping his direction with the aid of his +compass, Carnes led the way forward, counting his steps. At five +hundred he paused.</p> + +<p>"It should be right here," he whispered.</p> + +<p>Haggerty pointed in silence. In the starlight, a large rock loomed up +a few yards away. With an exclamation of satisfaction, Carnes led the +way to it.</p> + +<p>"Dig on the south side," he whispered, "and hurry! The damned thing is +due to go off in less than twenty minutes. Unless we can find and cut +the wire before then, the doctor is a gone gosling."</p> + +<p>The two detectives drew intrenching shovels from their pockets and dug +feverishly. For five minutes they labored. Dillon gave an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Here it is, Chief!" he said.</p> + +<p>Carnes bent down and ventured a short flash from a carefully guarded +light. The detective's shovel had unearthed a powerful cable running +through the earth.</p> + +<p>"Get something to cut on!" cried Carnes.</p> + +<p>Haggerty lifted a rock which they had unearthed and thrown to one +side. Carnes raised the cable and laid it on the rock.</p> + +<p>"Now for your ax, Dillon!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>He turned on his flashlight. Dillon raised a hand-ax and took careful +aim. Sparks flew as the ax fell on the rock, severing the cable +cleanly. Carnes rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"The doctor's safe!" he cried.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">H</span>e started at a run toward the north. He had gone only a few feet when +a beam of light flashed across the marsh, picking him out of the +darkness. He paused in amazement.</p> + +<p>A flash of orange light stabbed the darkness and a heavy pistol bullet +sang past his head. The detective raised his weapon to reply, but +three more flashes from the darkness were followed by the vicious +cracks of large caliber automatics.</p> + +<p>"Down, Chief!" cried Haggerty.</p> + +<p>Carnes dropped to the ground, the beam of light following his +movements. Four more flashes came from the darkness. Mud was thrown up +into his face. Dillon's gun joined Haggerty's in barking defiance into +the night.</p> + +<p>A groan came from Haggerty.</p> + +<p>"Hit, Tom?" asked Carnes anxiously.</p> + +<p>"A little, but don't let that bother you. Get that damned light!"</p> + +<p>He fired again, groaning at he did so. There was a crash from over the +marsh and the light went out.</p> + +<p>"Good work, Tom!" cried Carnes.</p> + +<p>He raised his pistol and fired again and again into the darkness, from +which still came the flashes of orange light. A cry of pain rewarded +him.</p> + +<p>"Come on, men, rush them!" he cried.</p> + +<p>He jumped to his feet and dashed forward. A fresh beam of light +stabbed a path through the darkness. A volley of fire came from behind +it. Haggerty stumbled and fell.</p> + +<p>"They've got me, Chief!" he cried faintly.</p> + +<p>Disregarding the storm of bullets, Carnes charged ahead, Dillon at his +heels. A sudden shout came from his left. A fresh beam of light made a +path through the darkness and Carnes could see his opponents lying +prone on the marsh. A cry of dismay came from them. Carnes fired again +as he rushed forward. The men leaped to their feet and fled away into +the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Your light, Dillon!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Dillon's light shone out and picked up one of the fleeing figures. The +beam from the left was centered on another.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" came a stern voice from behind the light. "You are surrounded! +If I give the word to fire, you are dead men!"</p> + +<p>"Dr. Bird!" cried Carnes in amazement.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>he fleeing man in the beam of Dillon's light paused.</p> + +<p>"Drop your gun!" cried Carnes sharply.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of hesitation before the man's gun fell and his +hands went up.</p> + +<p>"Get him, Carnes!" came Dr. Bird's voice. "I've got another one held +out here. I hope one of them is the man we want."</p> + +<p>As Dillon slipped handcuffs on his prisoner, Dr. Bird came forward, +driving another Russian before him. In his hand was a piece of iron +pipe.</p> + +<p>"Cuff him, Carnes!" he said.</p> + +<p>The detective slipped handcuffs on the man while Dr. Bird bent down +and examined the face of each of the prisoners with his light. He +straightened up with an exclamation of anger.</p> + +<p>"These are nothing but tools," he said bitterly. "We had the +arch-conspirator himself in our hands and let him escape."</p> + +<p>"The arch-conspirator!" gasped Carnes. "You don't mean Saranoff?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ivan Saranoff. He was here on this marsh to-night. There were +four of his men and we got two, letting the most important one get +away."</p> + +<p>"You've got four, Dr. Bird," said a guttural voice from the dark.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bird whirled around and shot out the beam of his light. A third +Russian was revealed in its gleam.</p> + +<p>"Hands up!" cried the doctor.</p> + +<p>"I'm willing to be captured, Doctor," said the Russian. "Your search +for Saranoff is useless. He has been gone for an hour. He is not one +to risk his own skin when others will risk theirs for him. He fled +after he left the cave."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where he has gone?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I did, Doctor. If I knew, we'd soon have him, I hope."</p> + +<p>The Russian's voice had changed entirely. Gone were the heavy guttural +tones. In their place was a rich, rather throaty contralto. Carnes +gave a cry of astonishment and turned his light on the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Thelma!" he gasped.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="f1">T</span>he Russian smiled.</p> + +<p>"Surely, Mr. Carnes," she said. "Congratulations on your acumen. Dr. +Bird saw me for half an hour this evening, but he didn't recognize me. +He even knocked me out with his fist back in the cavern."</p> + +<p>"The devil I did!" gasped the doctor. "What were you doing there?"</p> + +<p>"Helping Saranoff capture you, Doctor," she replied. "The day you +left, I saw one of his men on the street. I dared not summon help lest +he should escape, so I followed him. I captured him and learned from +him the location of the gang headquarters.</p> + +<p>"I disguised myself and took his place for a week, fooling them all, +even Saranoff himself. I was one of those chosen to carry out your +capture and your murder. This afternoon, unknown to Saranoff, I +tampered with that radite can and removed the fuse. That was why there +was no explosion when Mr. Carnes cut the wire. I had no chance to warn +him. I managed to shoot one of Saranoff's men when they broke and +ran."</p> + +<p>Her voice trembled in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"I hated to kill him—" she said with a half sob.</p> + +<p>A faint hail came from the night.</p> + +<p>"Haggerty!" cried Carnes.</p> + +<p>"All right, Chief," came Dillon's voice. "He's got a bullet in his +shoulder and one through his leg, but no bones broken. He'll be all +right."</p> + +<p>Carnes turned again to the girl.</p> + +<p>"What about that Russian whose place you took?" he asked. "Maybe we +can pump something out of him."</p> + +<p>Thelma swayed for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Don't, Mr. Carnes," she cried, her voice rising almost to a shriek. +"Don't make me think of it! I—I had to—to stab him!"</p> + +<p>She swayed again. Carnes started toward her, his arms outstretched. +Dr. Bird's voice stopped him.</p> + +<p>"Miss Andrews," said the doctor sternly, "you know that I demand +control of the emotions from all my subordinates. You are crying like +a hysterical schoolgirl. Unless you can learn to control your feelings +instead of giving way to them on every occasion, I will have to +dispense with your further services."</p> + +<p>The girl swayed toward him for a moment, a look of pain in her eyes. +She shuddered and then recovered herself. She straightened up and +faced Dr. Bird boldly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Doctor," came in level expressionless tones from her lips.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Great Drought, by Sterner St. Paul Meek + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREAT DROUGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 29326-h.htm or 29326-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/2/29326/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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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