re 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 Cr