e arena, the
_Sandra_, though a ship never designed for space duels, girded her
loins and made herself ready for what at its best could only be an
unequal struggle. She was outclassed in weapons, weight and speed--in
all save pilots. She had Hawk Carse at her helm.

The harsh alarm bell at once rang through the ship, an emergency call
to stations. Carse, at the controls, rapped out another order.

"Defensive web on, Ban, and build up power for the ray batteries."

As the echoes of the bell died, a piercing whine grew amidships, and
shreds of blue light swiftly scattered by the _Sandra's_ ports. They
were quickly gone, but they left behind an almost invisible envelope
of blue which enwrapped the ship completely. The defensive web against
attacking rays was on.

Friday tumbled into the control cabin, and on his heels two of
Leithgow's assistants, the third being on duty with the patients.
Carse briefly explained what had happened. "Friday," he ordered, "you
take the stern ray batteries. Ban--"

But Ban Wilson had returned to the electelscope, and it had given him
more news. Interrupting, he cried out:

"They must be attacking! A light just flashed in the dome!"

With his words they all saw the light. The visi-screen, though it did
not reveal the asteroid, showed the first weapon with which it
struck--a lustrous ray of purple which in a blink had leaped out to
the _Sandra_ and enfolded her. A shower of sparks crackled out from
the ship's defensive web, but the purple ray continued.

"I don't know that ray, Eliot." Carse said. "What's on our speed
indicator?"

The scientist's gasp was plainly audible as he read the dial. "Why,
it--it's dropping! Much faster than our deceleration accounts for!
That ray--why, it must have magnetic properties! Carse, the asteroid's
stopping us!"

CHAPTER XIV

_The Hawk Strikes_

No surprise showed on the Hawk's face, though the others were visibly
shaken. He, at the helm, merely nodded and continued with further
orders.

"Williams," he said to one of Leithgow's assistants, "get Thorpe and
go and dose Ku Sui with V-27. Give him plenty. Then both of you
station yourselves, ray guns in hand, outside his cabin. We'll take no
chances with him, gassed or not. Friday, open our radio receiver to
the general band. Just the receiver, not the mike.... Our speed,
Eliot?"

"Down to seven hundred, and falling steadily."

Carse went to the electelscope, after giving the controls