he ghost column outward had not returned.

News-gatherers had spread the stories, distorted and garbled, across the
western continents, and throughout the western confederacy men, women
and children lived in the throes of the greatest fear that had ever
gripped them. Fear held them most because they could not give the cause
of their fear a name--save one....

Moyen.... And the name was on the lips of everyone, and frenzied woman
stilled their squalling babes with its mention.

No word yet from the Secret Room, but Prester Kleig had scarcely
appeared from it than someone started the radio signal which informed
the frenzied, waiting world of the west that information, exact if
startling, would now be forthcoming.

In millions of homes, in thousands of high-flying planes, listeners
tuned in at the clear-all hum.

* * * * *

Prester Kleig wasted no time in preliminaries.

"Prester Kleig speaking. We are threatened by Moyen, with scores of
monster submarines, each a mother ship for scores of aero-subs,
combinations of airplanes and miniature submarines. They are moving up
on our eastern coast, from some secret base which we have not yet
located. They are equipped with death dealing instruments of which we
have but the most fragmentary knowledge, and for two hours I must call
upon all flyers to combat the menace; until the Secret Agents,
especially Professor Maniel, have had opportunity to counteract the
minions of Moyen.

"Flyers of the United Americas! In the name of our country I ask that
volunteers gather on the eastern coast, each flyer proceeding at once to
the nearest coast-landing, after dropping all passengers. Your
commanders have already been named by your various organizations, as
required by franchise, and orders for the movement of the entire winged
armada will come from this station. However, the orders will simply be
this: Hold Moyen's forces at bay for a period of two hours! And know
that many of you go to certain death, and make your own decisions as to
whether you shall volunteer!"

This ended, Prester Kleig, excitement mounting high, hurried back to the
Secret Room.

Now the public knew, and as the American public is given to doing, it
steadied down when it knew the worst. Fear of the unknown had changed
the public into a myriad-souled beast gone berserk. Now that knowledge
was exact men grew calm of face, determined, and women assumed the
supporting role which d