Now the corridor twisted. The two men came to where a deep
well was sunk in the floor. To one side a star-wheel revolved smoothly.
Out of the depths came the steady throb of machinery. Cautiously
peering over the edge, Talbot saw a sight he would never forget.

He did not need the Professor's whispered words to tell him that here
was the source of the deadly attack being waged against earth.
Motionless birds perched in front of bizarre machines; lights waxed and
waned; a cannon-like device, or funnel, shot a column of light into a
screen, and through the column of light moved a steady procession of
round objects the size of plums.

"The drifting globes being shot through to earth," whispered the
Professor, "and our only hope. Listen, the birds are intent on their
machines, their backs to the star-wheel. We will descend, throw
ourselves into the column of light, seize hold of a globe, and...."

He did not need to finish. Talbot understood in a flash. They would be
dragged to their own world by the weapons hurled at it.

"Of course that column of light may kill us," went on the Professor
tensely. "Or we may be blown up on the other side. Your Mexican friend
hasn't touched off that explosive gas yet, because--But we've not a
moment to lose. Follow me."

The tip of the star-wheel went up, over, descended. The blood was
roaring in Talbot's ears. "Now!" hissed the Professor. "Now!" Together
they rushed forward. Talbot's foot slipped. The heart leaped into his
throat. He never remembered reaching the column of light; but suddenly
he was in it, blinded, dazed. His clutching hands closed on something
small and hard.

The laboratory was a pinwheel going round and round. Through a sea of
darkness he floated. A distant glow grew, expanded, became the crypt in
the old Wiley mine. A moment he glimpsed the gleaming pillars, the
pulsing machines, the startled birds, and then--Oh, it was incredible,
impossible, but the dark, crumbling walls of the old shaft were around
him; the globe in his hand no larger than a pea was lifting him towards
life and safety.

He wanted to shout, to sing, but even as the pale stars fell athwart
his upturned face, even as the cool mountain air smote his fevered
brow, the dark earth erupted beneath his feet, a whirlwind of smoke and
wind beat and buffeted him, and, in the midst of an overwhelming noise,
consciousness was blotted out!

It was bright daylight when Talbot regained his senses. Proppe