fted like the lid of a
teapot under the enormous gas pressure remaining--then dropped under its
own weight.

The artificial matter was again a huge disc. It settled over the exact
center of the dome--and went down. The dome caved in. It was crushed
under a load utterly inestimable. Then the great disc, like some
monstrous tamper, tamped the entire works of the Thessians into the
bed-rock of the island. Every ship, every miniature fort, every man was
caught under it--and annihilated.

The disc dissolved. A terrific barrage of heat beams played over the
island, and the rock melted, flowed over the ruins, and left only the
spumes of steam from the Arctic ice rising from a red-hot: mass of rock,
contained a boiling pool.

The Battle of the Arctic was done.

Chapter XI

"WRITE OFF THE MAGNET"

"Squadron commander Tharnton speaking: Squadron 73-B of Planetary Guard
will follow orders from Dr. Arcot directly. Heading south to Antarctica
at maximum speed," droned the communicator. Under the official tone of
command was a note of suppressed rage and determination. "And the
squadron commander wishes Dr. Arcot every success in wiping out
Antarctica as thoroughly and completely as he destroyed the Arctic
base."

The flight of ships headed south at a speed that heated them white in
the air, thin as it was at the hundred mile altitude, yet going higher
would have taken unnecessary time, and the white heat meant no
discomfort. They reached Antarctica in about ten minutes. The Thessian
ships were just entering through great locks in the walls of the dome.
At first sight of the terrestrial ships they turned, and shot toward the
guard-ships. Their screens were down, for, armored as they were with
very heavy relux they expected to be able to overcome the terrestrial
thin relux before theirs was seriously impaired.

"Ships will put up screens." Arcot spoke sharply--a new plan had
occurred to him. The moleculars of the Thessians Struck glowing screens,
and no damage was done. "Ships, in order of number, will lower screen
for thirty seconds, and concentrate all moleculars on one ship--the
leader. Solar investigator will not join in action."

The flagship of the squadron lowered its screen, and a tremendous
bombardment of rays struck the leading ship practically in one point.
The relux glowed, and the opalescence shifted with bewildering,
confusing colors. Then the terrestrial ship's screen was up, before the
Thessians co