despairing terror gripped him.

It was the second rocket! Standing in its cradle, silent in the night, a
shaft of metal that looked skyward.

And a realization of what the monster had in mind struck him. He knew
now where they were headed. He knew why the monster had torn the fence,
why a guard had been killed where he stood.

And as if the thought had been a prelude, he saw the rocket loom before
them as the Great Dane bounded around its base.

And he saw the metal stairway leading up to the middle of the giant
projectile.

And at the top of those stairs, going into the now open rocket chamber,
was the monster, holding the unconscious girl in its arms.

The Great Dane saw the creature in the same instant. And a terrible howl
of rage welled from its throat. It gave a lunge forward then that broke
Trent's grip from the leash he held. And the dog was free.

* * * * *

The monster turned in the same moment and saw them. A roar of feline
anger left its throat as the huge dog leaped up the steps toward the
platform above.

The monster dropped the girl's body on the narrow platform and backed
toward the opening of the rocket chamber.

Then the Great Dane reached the platform and poised itself for a leap.

Trent was dashing forward toward the stairs as the dog's body flew
through the air. He saw the flashing jaws of the animal snap at the
throat of the monster, as its heavy body smashed against it.

Then the arms of the creature were tearing at the dog as it was forced
back into the rocket chamber.

Trent's feet flew up the stairs, his breath a tortured gasp in his
throat. He saw the girl stir on the platform, as consciousness returned
to her.

"Joan!"

Her name sped from his lips as he reached the top step. Then his hands
closed around the girl's shoulders, lifting her to her feet.

The snarl of the Great Dane reached his ears from the rocket chamber,
and the answering roar of rage from the monster as they fought. His eyes
saw the vague, terrible shadows of them, heard the snapping jaws of the
dog, and the raking claws.

And then he was dragging the girl down the steps.

They reached the ground and Trent pulled her away from the rocket, felt
her come to life in his arms, heard the sob on her lips.

But his head turned away from her and he stared anxiously up at the open
rocket chamber.

He heard the bodies of the monster and the dog slam against the inner
side of the c