an
locate the calls within a foot and will be able to attack the right
spot. Just tell them we're safe in the Skylark. Tell them to sit tight
while we wipe out this gang that is coming, and that we'll call them,
once in a while, when we have time, during the battle."

Before Crane had finished sending the message the crescendo whine of
enormous propellers was heard. Simultaneously there was a deafening
concussion and one entire wing of the palace disappeared in a cloud of
dust, in the midst of which could be discerned a few flying fragments.
The air was filled with Mardonalian warships. They were huge vessels,
each mounting hundreds of guns, and the rain of high-explosive shells
was rapidly reducing the great city to a wide-spread heap of debris.

Seaton's hand was upon the lever which would hurl the Skylark upward
into the fray. Crane and DuQuesne, each hard of eye and grim of jaw,
were stationed at their machine-guns.

"Something's up!" exclaimed Seaton. "Look at the Kondal!"

Something had happened indeed. Dunark sat at the board, his hand upon
the power lever, and each of his crew was in place, grasping his weapon,
but every man was writhing in agony, unable to control his movements. As
they stared, momentarily spellbound, the entire crew ceased their
agonized struggles and hung, apparently lifeless, from their supports.

"They've got to 'em some way--let's go!" yelled Seaton.

As his hand tightened upon the lever, a succession of shells burst upon
the dock, wrecking it completely, all three men fancied that the world
had come to an end as the stream of high explosive was directed against
their vessel. But the four-foot shell of arenak was impregnable, and
Seaton shot the Skylark upward into the midst of the enemy fleet. The
two gunners fired as fast as they could sight their weapons, and with
each shot one of the great warships was blown into fragments. The
Mardonalians then concentrated the fire of their entire fleet upon their
tiny opponent.

From every point of the compass, from above and below, the enemy gunners
directed streams of shells against the dodging vessel. The noise was
more than deafening, it was one continuous, shattering explosion, and
the Earth-men were surrounded by such a blaze of fire from the exploding
shells that they could not see the enemy vessels. Seaton sought to dodge
the shells by a long dive toward one side, only to find that dozens of
new opponents had been launched against the