ever it leads." After a full minute's silence, he added: "And I'll do it!"
He then left the cabin. When he had gone Rudge heaved an immense sigh of relief.
Danger Still Imminent
"I think, Anderson," he said, "the world has you to thank for Captain Evered's present attitude. It is due to your having taken advantage of your opportunities that we have not now to convince him of the danger."
"I hope he’ll act on your suggestion," said Anderson. "It would be a great relief. I don't feel a bit safe."
"As to the Martian repairing the damage?"
"Yes."
"I should be the last," said Rudge, "to underrate his powers, but without vacuum tubes, and I have taken all, there can be no radio. This is no ordinary installation. Its efficacy consists in the balance of two elements in the vacuum tubes of mutually opposing force, mercury and arsenic. These and tantalum for the detector tube are absolutely indispensable for this instrument, which, by the way, is my own invention. Neither of the three elements exists on the island; so that unless he can create them by transmutation overnight, he is powerless."
"Yes," said Anderson again, but his tone did not indicate any great conviction.
So soon as the light of dawn was sufficient, the Sagitta took up a position off the island to enable her to shell the signal-house and installation generally. When her 6-inch guns had done speaking, nothing but the ruin could have remained of the installation of Station X.
While Captain Evened had been watching the working of the guns he was himself under the observation of Anderson, who was standing on the cruiser's deck in company with Professor Rudge.
The doctor could read his superior's face like a book, and note the signs, slight as they were, of the mental disturbance that the business in hand caused him.
Presently Anderson said to his companion:
"The way the chief has risen to the occasion is splendid. Only one who knows him as well as I do can realize the wrench it must be. He knows it must mean court-martial."
"In all probability," said Professor Rudge, "he will never be called to account for it at all."
"Why not?" asked Anderson.
"Because if the world escapes the fate that threatens, it will be because it accepts our reports and evidence and takes the necessary measures before it's too late. If it does not escape—and I am much afraid that is after all the most probable outcome—then there's an end to all of us."
"Do you really think that the chances are against us?"
"I am afraid they are," was the grave reply; "but we have certainly a fighting chance yet."
"I'm rather surprised at your view," said the doctor. "Last night it was I who was most afraid of him."
"Your fears," said the Professor, "were of what he might do on the material plane. You thought he might reinstate wireless overnight. I did not think so. There are impossibilities even to a Martian. We know the few material elements he has, and that nothing short of transmutation would give him what he requires. This reaction is beyond man's power with all the means we can command. I did not think that even he could do it overnight in the circumstances."
"You are right," said Anderson. "To succeed under such limitations is inconceivable."
"You have, however, left out the principal limitation," remarked the Professor.
"What? The principal limitation?" queried the doctor.
Discussing the Contest to Be Waged with Macrae, Now a Martian
"Time! If he does succeed, it will be through too much time being given him. All depends on our being able to convince our fellow men of the danger that threatens before it is too late. But it is on the psychic plane I fear him most. If he can attack again there, he wins. We are powerless to hit back. We have only escaped so far by a succession of miracles.”
"We have certainly had wonderful luck," said Anderson.
"Yet mark this," said the Professor, "although missing his aim every time through some narrow chance, he has on each occasion gained something. First when Macrae was in rapport and conversation with the Venerian, he reached out in that incomprehensible way and almost grasped his victim. Although thrown off, he implanted an order that served its purpose later. Secondly, when he actually seized Macrae, only to meet the Venerian, he, by doing the apparently impossible, came face to face with me. Here again, although he just missed success through physical collapse, he progressed. He has gained the island, and it is we who are turned out. He has at last a pied-à-terre where he will be difficult to deal with. One more such failure, and our ruin will be certain."
A few minutes after the noise of the guns had ceased, Captain Evered went below without giving the expected sailing orders. Almost immediately word was brought to Professor Rudge that he was wanted in the Captain's cabin.
As he entered, Captain Evered said, "I have done what I have done because I believe the circumstances required it. I do not profess that it has been easy. If I had had to do with an enemy more—what shall I call it?—more obvious, and got back shot for shot, I should be quite content. But this is different."
"I congratulate you on having done a finer thing," said Professor Rudge. "You have risked everything for what you felt to be your duty. If we succeed against our terrible enemy, humanity will owe its escape and thanks to you."
"At all events," said Captain Evered, "one step outside precedent appears to call for another. I want your approval of what I now propose. Having done what will be certain to end in a court-martial, I want to make for the nearest point where I can report. Is there any objection to this?"
"I thought of it last night," said the Professor, "while we were waiting for daylight. I knew what
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