The
Nevians' destructive rays glanced harmlessly from their shields, and the
Nevians' elaborate screens, neutralized at impact by those of the
torpedoes, were impotent to impede their progress. Each projectile must
needs be caught and crushed individually by beams of the most prodigious
power; and while one was being annihilated dozens more were rushing to
the attack. Then, while the twisting, dodging invader was busiest with
the tiny but relentless destroyers, Rodebush launched his heaviest
weapon.

The macro-beams! Prodigious streamers of bluish-green flame which tore
savagely through course after course of Nevian screen! Malevolent fangs,
driven with such power and velocity that they were biting into the very
walls of the enemy vessel before the amphibians knew their defensive
shells of force had been punctured! And the emergency screens of the
invaders were equally futile. Course after course was sent out, only to
flare viciously through the spectrum and to go black!

Outfought at every turn, the now frantically dodging Nevian leaped away
in headlong flight, only to be brought to a staggering, crashing halt as
Cleveland nailed her with a tractor beam. But the Terrestrials were to
learn that the Nevians held in reserve a means of retreat. The tractor
snapped--sheared off squarely by a sizzling plane of force--and the
fish-shaped cruiser faded from Cleveland's sight, just as the _Boise_
had disappeared from the communicator plates of Radio Center, back in
the Hill, when she was launched. But though the plates in the control
room could not hold the Nevian, she did not vanish beyond the ken of
Randolph, now Communications Officer in the super-ship. For, warned and
humiliated by his losing one speeding vessel from his plates in Radio
Center, he was now ready for any emergency. Therefore as the Nevian
fled, Randolph's spy-ray held her, automatically behind it as there was
the full output of twelve special banks of iron-driven power tubes; and
thus it was that the vengeful Terrestrials flashed immediately along the
Nevians' line of flight. Inertialess now, pausing briefly from time to
time to enable the crew to accustom themselves to the new sensations,
the _Boise_ pursued the invader; hurtling through the void with a
velocity unthinkable.

"He was easier to take than I thought he would be," Cleveland grunted,
staring into the plate.

"I thought he had more stuff, too," Rodebush assented; "but I guess
Costigan got alm