Liola's Discovery
: The Great White QueenWITH a sudden bound I left Liola's side and sprang upon the leader of our
enemies, clutching him fiercely by the throat and shouting for
assistance. No one was, however, near, and for a few moments we struggled
desperately. He was unarmed, and I, having unfortunately dropped my sword
in the encounter, our conflict resolved itself into a fierce wrestle for
the possession of the weapon which must give victory to the one into
notwithstanding his age, stooped swiftly in an endeavour to snatch up the
blade, but seeing his intention, my fingers tightened their grip upon his
throat, and he was compelled to spring up again without obtaining
possession of the weapon. For several minutes our struggle was desperate,
for he had managed to pinion my arms, and I knew that ere long I must be
powerless, his strength being far superior to my own.
Liola screamed for help, but no one seemed within call, when suddenly the
thought seemed to suggest itself to her to snatch up my weapon and hold
it.
I turned to take it from her, but by this action my grip upon my Arab foe
became released, and with a desperate spring he forced himself from my
grasp, bounding away, leaving a portion of his white jibbeh in my hand.
But, determined that he should not escape, I dashed after him headlong
across the chamber, and out by the opposite door. In the court beyond a
knot of our soldiers were standing discussing the events of the day, and
I shouted to them; but the sight of me chasing a single fugitive slave
did not appeal to them, and they disregarded my order to arrest his
progress. Nevertheless I kept on, feeling assured that sooner or later I
must run him to earth, but never thinking of the intricacies with which
all such palaces abound, intricacies which must be well-known to the
Mohammedan ruler.
Suddenly, after endeavouring to elude me by ingenious devices
innumerable, and always finding himself frustrated, he entered a chamber
leading from the Court of the Eunuchs, and had gained on me sufficiently
to disappear ere I reached the entrance. I rushed through after him,
believing that he had crossed the deserted court beyond, but was
surprised to find that I had utterly lost him. I halted to listen, but
could hear no footsteps, and after a careful examination of all the
outlets, presently returned in chagrin to the chamber into which he had
suddenly dashed, before escaping.
Standing in its centre I looked wonderingly around. Then, for the first
time, I discovered that our soldiers, obeying their instructions, had
been pouring inflammable liquids everywhere throughout the Kasbah, and a
great burst of blood-red flame in the outer court told me that the place
had been ignited. At that moment, Liola, with white scared face,
believing that she had lost me, entered the chamber, but I recognized our
imminent peril, surrounded as we were by a belt of fire.
"Fly!" I cried, frantically. "Fly! quick, back across yonder court to
save thy life! In a few moments I will join thee. I must examine this
chamber ere I depart."
"I will not go without thee," she answered with calm decision.
"Why riskest thou thy life?" I cried in excitement. "Fly, or in a moment
it may be too late, we may both be overwhelmed or suffocated."
But she stirred not. She stood by me in silence, gazing in fear at the
red roaring flames that, raging outside, now cut off our retreat by
either door. The cause of my hesitation to rush away at first sight of
the flames, was the suspicion that somewhere in that chamber was a secret
exit. The sudden manner in which the Arab chieftain had eluded me could
only have been accomplished by such means. The chamber, well furnished
and supported by three great twisted columns of milk-white marble, had
its floor covered with costly rugs and its walls hung with dark red
hangings, bearing strange devices and inscriptions in long thin Arabic
characters. Few rooms in the Kasbah were decorated in this manner, and it
had instantly occurred to me that, concealed somewhere, was one of those
secret ways which, whether in the Oriental palace, or the mediaeval
European castle, are so suggestive of treachery and intrigue.
Although one horse-shoe arch of the place led into the Court of the
Eunuchs, the other, I noticed, was in direct communication with Samory's
private apartments. With consummate skill he had led me here by such a
circuitous route that I had not at first noticed that it joined a kind of
ante-room to his pavilion.
But the roaring flames that every moment leaped nearer, crackling
furiously and fanning us with their scorching breath, allowed me no time
for further reflection. Escape was now entirely cut off; only by
discovering the secret exit could we save ourselves. In breathless haste
I rushed around the walls, tapping them with my sword; but such action
proved useless, as I could hear nothing above the roaring and crackling
on either side. With my hands I tried to discover where the door was
concealed, rushing from side to side in frantic despair, but the exit,
wherever it existed, was too cunningly hidden.
So dense had the smoke become that we could not see across the chamber;
tongues of fire had ignited the heavy silken hangings, and the whole
interior was alight from end to end.
"We are lost--lost!" shrieked Liola in despair "We have fallen victims
to our own terrible vengeance upon our enemies."
Within myself I was compelled to admit this, for it seemed as though
Samory had led us into a veritable death-trap that the soldiers of Mo had
themselves prepared. Suddenly, as a last chance, I remembered I had not
examined the three great marble columns, each of such circumference that
a man could not embrace them in his arms. I dashed forward, and in the
blinding smoke, that caused my eyes to water and held my chest
contracted, I tried to investigate whether they were what they appeared
to be, solid and substantial supports. The first was undoubtedly
fashioned out of a single block of stone, the lower portion polished by
the thousands of people who during many centuries had brushed past it.
The second was exactly similar, and the third also. But the latter seemed
more chipped and worn than the others, and just as I was about to abandon
all hope I made a sudden discovery that thrilled me with joy. As I
grasped it a portion of it fell back, disclosing that the column was
hollow.
The hole was just sufficient to admit the passage of one's body, and
without an instant's hesitation I drew Liola forward, and urged her to
get inside. The flames were now lapping about us, and another moment's
delay would mean certain death. Therefore she dashed in, and as she did
so sank quickly out of sight, while the portion of the marble column
closed again with a snap.
The rapidity with which she disappeared astounded me, the more so, when,
after the lapse of about a minute the platform whereon she had stepped
rose again, and with a click returned to its place. Only then was I
enabled to re-open the cavity. Apparently it worked automatically, and
being balanced in some way, as soon as Liola had stepped off it, had
risen again. Instantly I stepped upon it, and with hands close to my
sides, sank so swiftly into the darkness that the wind whistled through
my garments and roared in my ears. The descent was, I judged, about two
hundred feet, but in the pitch darkness I could not discern the character
of the shaft. Of a sudden with a jerk it stopped, and finding myself in a
strange dimly-lit chamber bricked like a vault, with Liola standing
awaiting me, I stepped off, and as I did so the platform shot up again
into its place.
"We have, at all events, escaped being burned alive," my fair companion
exclaimed when she recovered breath. "But this place is weird and dismal
enough."
"True," I answered. "There must, however, be some exit, or Samory would
not have entered it. We must explore and discover it."
Glancing around the mysterious vault I saw burning in a niche, with a
supply of oil sufficient to last several weeks, a single lamp that had
apparently always been kept alight. Taking it up I led the way through
the long narrow chamber. The walls, blackened by damp, were covered with
great grey fungi, while lizards and other reptiles scuttled from our path
into the darkness. At the further end, the vault narrowed into a passage
so low that we were compelled to stoop when entering it. In this burrow,
the ramifications of which were extraordinary, Liola's filmy garments
came to sad grief, for catching upon the projecting portions of rock,
they were rent from time to time, while the loss of one of her little
green slippers necessitated some delay in recovering it. Yet groping
along the narrow uneven way in search of some exit, we at length came
into a larger chamber, bricked like the others, and as we entered it were
startled by a sudden unearthly roar.
We both drew back, and Liola, in fear, clutched my arm.
"Listen!" she gasped. "What was that?"
Again the noise was repeated, causing the low-roofed chamber to echo, and
as I peered forward into the darkness, my gaze was transfixed by a pair
of gleaming fiery eyes straight before us.
Similar noises I had heard in the forest on many occasions, and the
startling truth at once flashed across my mind. Confronting us was a
lion!
I stood in hesitation, not knowing how to act, while Liola clung to me,
herself detecting the gleaming eyes and being fully aware of our peril.
Yet scarcely a moment passed ere there was a loud rushing sound in the
darkness, and the animal, with a low growl, flew through the air in our
direction. We had no time to elude him, but fortunately he seemed to have
misjudged his distance, for he alighted about half-a-dozen paces short of
us. So close was his head that the two gleaming orbs seemed to be
rivetted to us. We felt his breath, and unable to draw back, we feared
that each second must be our last.
Next moment I heard a clanking of chains, a sound that gave me instant
courage.
"Hark!" I cried joyously. "At present we are safe, for the brute is
chained!"
Such we ascertained a few minutes later was actually the case, and as I
stood there, lamp in hand, my foot struck something. Glancing down I saw
it was a human thigh-bone. The animal had already tasted the blood of
man, and, straining at his chain, was furious to spring upon us. I then
became puzzled to know the reason why this fierce king of the forest
should be kept in captivity at this depth if not to guard some entrance
or exit. For a few moments I reflected, and at length arrived at the
conclusion that during our progress we had slowly ascended towards the
earth's surface, and that through the lion's den was the exit of that
subterranean way. Again, we had neither seen nor heard sign of the
fugitive chieftain. By some means or other he must have succeeded in
passing the ferocious brute, and if he had accomplished it, we surely
could also.
With my words half drowned by the continuous roar of the fiery-eyed
guardian of the secret burrow, I explained briefly to Liola the result of
my reflections, and then set about to ascertain the length of the chain
holding the animal. After several experiments, allowing it to spring
forward at me half-a-dozen times and narrowly escaping its ponderous paws
more than once, I ascertained that the chain was just short enough to
allow a person to cross the chamber flattened against the opposite wall.
Holding the lamp still in my hand and urging Liola to brace her nerves
and watch me closely, I essayed the attempt, creeping cautiously with my
back against the roughly-hewn side of the underground lair, and drawing
my garments about me to prevent them being hooked by the cruel claws that
followed me within a yard during the whole distance. Before my eyes the
big shaggy head wagged continuously, the great jaws with their terrible
teeth opened, emitting terrific roars of rage and closed again with a
dull ominous click, while the chain was strained until I feared it might
be rent asunder.
Through several minutes mine was a most horrible experience, for I knew
not whether the wall was even; if not, I must have fallen beneath the
ferocious claws. However, I managed to successfully cross the brute's
den, and shouting to Liola that the passage was perfectly safe, providing
she kept her garments closely about her and did not remove her back from
the wall, held up the light to her.
With reassuring words she commenced to follow my example, and when the
brute saw me in safety and noticed her approach, he left me and sprang
towards her. But again he fell short, almost strangled by the pressure
upon the iron collar that held him. With an awful roar, his jaws snapping
in rage, and his paws constantly clutching at her, he followed her
closely just as he had followed me. I feared that she might suddenly
faint from the terrible strain upon her nerves, but having witnessed my
safe passage she preserved a calmness that was amazing. Twice as the
animal, after crouching, leapt suddenly forward I feared the chain must
give way, but beyond a low frightened scream escaping her, she preserved
a cool demeanour, and a few moments later I was gratified to find her
standing panting but unharmed at my side.
"There is an exit somewhere near," I exclaimed a moment later, while she
rearranged her torn, blood-stained garments and smoothed her hair with
her hands. "Come, let us search."
On proceeding we soon found ourselves in a small passage, drier than the
former, and descending rather steeply for some distance, suddenly entered
another spacious chamber hewn from the solid rock. Immediately we were
inside some peculiarity of its walls attracted my gaze, and I noticed, in
addition, that we were in a cul-de-sac.
There was, after all, no exit!
The rocky walls, however, rivetted the attention of both of us, for let
into them at frequent intervals were large square plates of iron. These I
examined carefully, quickly arriving at the conclusion that they had been
placed there to close up hewn cavities. With this opinion, Liola,
assisting me in my investigations, fully agreed. Each plate, looking
curiously like the door of an oven, had apparently been fitted deeply
into grooves sunk in the hard rock, for although I tried one after the
other, seeking to remove them, they would not budge. By tapping upon them
I ascertained that they were of great thickness, and I judged that each
must weigh several hundredweight. They were not doors, for they had no
hinges, yet beneath each one was a small semi-circular hole in the iron
into which I could just thrust my little finger. These were certainly not
key-holes, but rather, it seemed, intended to admit air.
In the course of our eager investigations we suddenly came upon a great
pile of strongly-bound loads, each wrapped in untanned cow-hide and bound
tightly with wire. From their battered appearance they had evidently
rested upon the heads of carriers throughout a long march.
"I wonder what they contain?" Liola exclaimed, as we both looked down
upon them.
"Let us see," I said. Handing her the lamp, I knelt upon one of the
packages, and after considerable trouble succeeded in unbinding the wire.
Then as I tore away its thick covering, we both uttered cries of
amazement. The sight that met our gaze was bewildering.
From the package there rolled out into the dust a profusion of
magnificent glittering jewels.
"Ah! What diamonds!" Liola cried, with admiration for the iridescent
stones that was particularly feminine. Then, picking up a splendid
bracelet and slipping it upon her wrist, she added, "Look! Isn't this
marvellous? The gems are larger than I have ever before seen."
"Beautiful!" I cried gleefully, for by sheer good fortune we had
discovered Samory's hidden treasure, and I reflected that our conquest
would be rendered absolutely complete by its removal in triumph to Mo.
After a cursory examination of the first pack we together undid them one
after another, eagerly investigating their glistening contents, and
finding them to consist of a collection of the most wonderful and
valuable precious stones it was possible to conceive. There were a few
heavy gold ornaments of antique pattern, but in most of them jewels were
set, and those only of the most antique and magnificent character. Every
known gem was there represented by specimens larger, and of far purer
water, than my eyes had ever before beheld. Upon her knees, Liola, with a
cry of pleasure, plunged both hands into the glittering heap of jewels,
drawing out one after another and holding them up to the glimmering
light, her bright eyes full of admiration. The examination of nearly
forty great packages took us a long time, but so fascinating proved our
task that we were heedless of how the hours sped in our determination to
ascertain the true extent of our discovery.
While still upon her knees I had opened almost the last package and
spread it before her, when, with a sudden ejaculation she withdrew a
magnificent necklet of emeralds of huge size in quaint ancient settings,
and with a gay laugh held it up to me for a moment, then clasped it about
her own white neck. In the centre hung a pendant consisting of a single
emerald of enormous size and brilliant lustre, and as I regarded it in
the half light, its shape struck me as distinctly curious. I snatched up
the lamp, and bending, examined the quaintly-cut gem more minutely. Then,
next instant, I cried excitedly:
"See! The shape of the pendant proves the origin of the necklet!"
With a quick movement she tore it off and looked. Then, in amazement, she
gasped:
"It is a representation of Zomara, our god!"
We both scrutinized it closely. Yes, there was no mistake, the emerald
had been fashioned into the form of a perfect crocodile, with open jaws,
even the teeth being finely chiselled, a veritable marvel of the
lapidary's art. While we were both looking at it puzzled, Liola's eyes
suddenly became attracted by sight of something in the package I had just
opened, and stooping swiftly, picked out of a mass of ornaments a
magnificent diadem of some strange milk-coloured, opaque crystals of a
character entirely strange to me. The stones were beautifully cut and
polished, and although they glittered, even in the sickly rays of our
lamp, they had no transparency.
"Behold!" she cried in a voice full of awe, her clear eyes wide open in
astonishment. "See what we have discovered!"
I gazed at it, failing at first to notice what I afterwards recognised.
"It is a crown," I said laughing. "A crown fit to grace thy brow!"
"It is the great Rock Diadem of the Sanoms of Mo!" she answered. "See! It
is surmounted by the vampire, our national emblem!"
Then, I saw that upon the crest of the diadem was a single great diamond
wonderfully chiselled to represent a bat with outspread wings, the device
upon the banners of the mystic realm.
"This," she continued, "is without doubt the historic crown of the first
Naya. Though it hath never been seen for ages by the eyes of man, it was
always popularly supposed to be preserved in the secret Treasure-house of
the Sanoms, among the royal jewels. Many are the beliefs and
superstitions regarding it. The stones are said to be the first pieces of
rock chipped during the foundation of our City in the Clouds, which, as
thou art aware, was her work a thousand years ago. Among the possessions
of our royal house no relic hath been more venerated than this Rock
Diadem of the Naya. How it came hither I know not. It is assuredly a
mystery."
"No," I answered, endeavouring to subdue my excitement. "We have now
elucidated the mystery. The Treasure-house of Mo hath been entered by
thieves, and the most valuable of the royal treasures stolen. The matter
hath been kept secret from the people, but by our discovery the identity
of the robbers is established beyond doubt, and we have thus recovered
the wealth of a nation that was believed to be irretrievably lost."
"But is all of this Omar's lost treasure?" she inquired, astounded at my
statement, glancing at the huge heap of gold and jewels nearly as high as
ourselves, and of such great value as to be utterly beyond computation.
"Without doubt," I answered, stooping and picking up several jewelled
trinkets, girdles and other ornaments, each bearing the sacred reptile or
the vampire crest of royalty. "The recovery of these will, at least repay
thy nation for the expedition sent against their enemy. Retain possession
of the Rock Diadem of Mo, for thou hast discovered it, and with thine own
hands shalt thou deliver it into the possession of the ruler who loveth
thee."
Then, carefully wrapping the ancient badge of regal dignity in a piece of
hide and binding it securely with wire as the carriers' loads had been, I
gave it back to her. In half an hour we had completed our examination of
the wondrous accumulation of treasure, finding among it many quaint and
extraordinary ornaments, some no doubt dating from the earlier days of
the foundation of the mysterious isolated kingdom, and others
manufactured during recent centuries. The gems were unique in size and
character. Truly the thieves in the employ of the Arab chief had taken
care to secure the most valuable portion of the royal jewels and leave
behind only those of least worth.
With the secret of their concealment in our possession we were both full
of eagerness to get back to the light of day and take steps for their
removal, yet I confess that the mystery of what was contained behind
those strange plates of iron puzzled me.
Leaving Liola to continue her inspection of our discovered treasures, I
crossed to the wall and examined one of the plates again, trying with
both hands to force it out, but being compelled to relinquish the attempt
as hopeless. I was about to give up all idea of discovering how they
might be opened, when Liola suddenly uttered an exclamation, and in
turning to glance at her, the flame of the lamp I held came into contact
with the wall close to the plate that had defied my exertions to remove
it.
In an instant a bright flash ran around the chamber, lighting it up as
bright as day; a puff of grey smoke was belched in our faces, and a
report like thunder deafened us.
An explosion had occurred, great pieces of rock and other debris being
flung in all directions.
Its terrific force hurled me heavily against the wall, while Liola was
flung face downward upon the pile of jewels. Fortunately, neither of us
sustained any injury beyond a few bruises, but when I had assisted her to
rise, and gazed around, I was amazed to discover that a strange thing had
occurred. The whole of the iron plates had been torn from their sockets,
and a dark cavity behind each disclosed.
The small sealed cells had been wrenched open simultaneously, as if by a
miracle.
But upon careful examination there was, I found, nothing miraculous in
the manner in which they had thus been forced. The suffocating smoke that
filled the place was of itself sufficient evidence of the agent to which
the explosion had been due, and when I looked at the first cavity I saw
that right around the chamber, from plate to plate, there had been laid a
train of gunpowder, communicating with a charge of powder placed behind
each of the semi-circular holes that had so puzzled me. Apparently it had
been deemed by Samory wiser to seal the cells entirely rather than secure
them by locks, and the train of powder had been placed in position in the
event of any reverse of fortune requiring him to secure his treasure
quickly before flight. A single spark, as I had accidentally proved, was
sufficient to open every cell simultaneously.
Fortunately our lamp was not blown out by the concussion, therefore as
soon as the smoke cleared, we together made another tour of inspection
around the cavities, finding each of them crammed to overflowing with
treasure of every description. Five of the cells, apparently freshly
sealed, contained a portion of the stolen jewels of Mo, but all the
remainder were evidently the spoils of war, much of it of enormous value.
It amused me, too, to discover in one of the cavities, among a great
collection of costly bejewelled ornaments, such European articles as a
pair of common scissors in a pasteboard case, several penknives of the
commonest quality, an India-rubber squeaking doll, a child's toy train in
tin, and a mechanical mouse. All were, no doubt, considered as treasures
by the Arab potentate, yet I reflected that nearly every article in the
whole of that miscellaneous collection had been acquired by the most
ruthless and merciless bloodshed.
When at last we became convinced of the necessity for finding some exit,
we left the chamber by the way we had entered. The discovery of the
wonderful treasure of the Sanoms made it plain to me that there must be
an exit somewhere, for the packs were far too ponderous to have been
lowered from the Kasbah by the way we had entered. On reflection I saw
that the lion was evidently kept there to guard the entrance to the store
of treasure, therefore it was not surprising that there was no outlet in
that direction.
No, we should be compelled to repass the brute. This fact I explained to
Liola, but it in no way disconcerted her, for she crept past the
snapping jaws of the furious beast calmly, holding the treasured Rock
Diadem close beside her. Presently, on making a diligent search, we
discovered a long dark tunnel running at right angles to the path we had
traversed, and following this ascended to where a faint but welcome
glimmer of light showed. Soon we were in a small natural cavern, and a
few moments later struggled upward to the light of day, amazed to find
ourselves on the bank of a beautiful river. At our feet the clear cool
water ran by, placid and peaceful, but away across the grass-plain about
half a mile distant was the once-powerful city of Koussan, enveloped in
black smoke that ascended to the clear blue heavens, mingled with great
flames, the fierce roar of which reached our ears where we stood.
The vengeance of Mo had indeed overtaken her Arab enemy, and completely
crushed him.
More
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It was near the end of January, 1913, that the changed attitude of the Oligarchy toward the favored unions was made public. The newspapers published information of an unprecedented rise in wages and shortening of hours for the railroad employees, ... Last Words To My Readers
As I have decided to stay here upon Mars, and have just taken leave of my two dear old friends, I will now address a few last words to those who may read this record of our trip to Mars, and then seal up the packet ready for John to take with... Launching The Raft
On the morning of the next day, to my great surprise, I awoke completely restored. I thought a bath would be delightful after my long illness and sufferings. So, soon after rising, I went and plunged into the waters of this new Mediterranean. The ... Lease To Doomsday
By LEE ARCHER The twins were a rare team indeed. They wanted to build a printing plant on a garbage dump. When Muldoon asked them why, their answer was entirely logical: "Because we live here." It was the lack of sense in th... Leehallfae
At midnight, when Teargeld was in the south, throwing his shadow straight toward the sea and making everything nearly as bright as day, he saw a great tree floating in the water, not far out. It was thirty feet out of the water, upright, and alive, ... Lennard's Ultimatum
Within five minutes they were seated in the big Napier, with ninety horse-power under them, and a possibility of eighty miles an hour before them. A white flag was fastened to a little flagstaff on the left-hand side. They put on their goggles and... Leonora
I found a note in the hall from Sarakoff asking me to come round to the Pyramid Restaurant at eight o'clock to meet a friend of his. It was a crisp clear evening, and I decided to walk. There were two problems on my mind. One was the outlook of Sa... Leonora's Voice
"My theory," said the policeman, "is that collectin'--and by that I mean all sorts of collection, including that of money--comes from a craving to 'ave something what other people 'aven't got. It comes from a kind o' pride which is foolish. Take a... Lesson
Odeon woke, a scream caught in his throat, pain knifing through his head. When it eased, he found himself gasping, staring around in the dark. "Who--" *Do you always ask foolish questions, priest? You belong to the one you call Cortin; y... Letter Of The Law
The place was dark and damp, and smelled like moldy leaves. Meyerhoff followed the huge, bear-like Altairian guard down the slippery flagstones of the corridor, sniffing the dead, musty air with distaste. He drew his carefully tailored Terran-st... Life In Lo-tan The Magnificent
San-Lan's attitude toward me underwent a change. He did not seek my company as he had done before, and so those long discussions and mental duels in which we pitted our philosophies against each other came to an end. I was, I suspected, an unpleas... Liola
AFTER brief consultation it was deemed insecure for us to return to Goliba's house, as search would undoubtedly be made for us there if any had detected his presence with us in the great chasm. Therefore, our guide, taking one of the lamps, led us... Liola's Discovery
WITH a sudden bound I left Liola's side and sprang upon the leader of our enemies, clutching him fiercely by the throat and shouting for assistance. No one was, however, near, and for a few moments we struggled desperately. He was unarmed, and I, ... Littlejohn 2065
The helicopter landed on the roof, and the attendants wheeled it over to one side. They propped the ladder up, and Littlejohn descended slowly, panting. They had a coasterchair waiting and he sank into it, grateful for the rest. Hardy fellows, ... Loch Lomond And Loch Katrine
HARRY bore Nell carefully down the steeps of Arthur's Seat, and, accompanied by James Starr and Jack Ryan, they reached Lambert's Hotel. There a good breakfast restored their strength, and they began to make further plans for an excursion to the H... Longevity
Legend had it, that many thousands of years ago, right after the Great Horror, the whole continent of the west had slowly sunk beneath the West Water, and that once every century it arose during a full moon. Still, Captain Hinrik clung to ... Lost In Space
For forty-eight hours the uncontrolled atomic motor dragged the masterless vessel with its four unconscious passengers through the illimitable reaches of empty space, with an awful and constantly increasing velocity. When only a few traces of copp... Lost In The Sky
Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the place would be guarded. Several men in civil... Lost Men In The Moon
His face caught something of my dismay. He stood up and stared about him at the scrub that fenced us in and rose about us, straining upward in a passion of growth. He put a dubious hand to his lips. He spoke with a sudden lack of assurance. "I think... Lost On Pellucidar
The Arabs, of whom I wrote you at the end of my last letter (Innes began), and whom I thought to be enemies intent only upon murdering me, proved to be exceedingly friendly--they were searching for the very band of marauders that had threatened my e... Lost!
No words in any human language can depict my utter despair. I was literally buried alive; with no other expectation before me but to die in all the slow horrible torture of hunger and thirst. Mechanically I crawled about, feeling the dry and ari... Love-making On Mars
Following the battle with the air ships, the community remained within the city for several days, abandoning the homeward march until they could feel reasonably assured that the ships would not return; for to be caught on the open plains with a ca... Lunar Landscapes
At half past two in the morning of December 6th, the travellers crossed the 30th northern parallel, at a distance from the lunar surface of 625 miles, reduced to about 6 by their spy-glasses. Barbican could not yet see the least probability of the... Lunar Landscapes
At half-past two in the morning, the projectile was over the thirteenth lunar parallel and at the effective distance of five hundred miles, reduced by the glasses to five. It still seemed impossible, however, that it could ever touch any part of ... Mainly About Myra
The train slowed down into Mallaig station. I thrilled with anticipation, for now I had only the journey on the boat, and Myra would be waiting for me at Glenelg. The train had hardly stopped when I seized my bag and jumped out on to the platform.... Make Mine Homogenized
Anyone looking for guaranteed sound science will have to look elsewhere. But if it's fun you want ... try the world's most potent eggnog! "Shoo," Hetty Thompson cried, waving her battered old felt hat at the clucking cluster of hens eddying... Man Made
A story that comes to grips with an age-old question--what is soul? and where?--and postulates an age-new answer. If I listed every trouble I've accumulated in a mere two hundred odd years you might be inclined to laugh. When a tale of ... Man Or Monster?
When Muda Saffir turned from the two Dyaks who had brought him news of the treasure he hastened to the long-house and arousing the chief of the tribe who domiciled there explained that necessity required that the rajah have at once two war prahus ... Man Triumphant I
21. The hearings of the Committee to Investigate Dangerous Vegetation went on for five days and Mr Le ffacase was increasingly delighted as the proceedings went down, properly edited and embellished to excite reader interest, in the columns of the... Man Triumphant Ii
36. Everything I had visualized in the broker's office turned out too pessimistically accurate. Consolidated Pemmican and Allied Concentrates was nothing but a mailing address in one of the most forlorn of Manhattan buildings, long before jettison... Many Things Seen Upon Mars-i Receive Some News
During the remainder of our stay upon Mars we visited almost every important place upon the planet, either by means of air-ships, motors, or by travelling along the main canals in splendidly equipped electric boats. We passed through the... Market Prices In Gallia
"All right!" said Servadac, convinced by the professor's ill humor that the danger was past; "no doubt we are in for a two years' excursion, but fifteen months more will take us back to the earth!" "And we shall see Montmartre again!" exclaimed ... Marriage
Cortin lay awake, listening to Odeon's soft breathing and thinking. The dream had been almost pure wish fulfillment, a wish she'd both had and known was impossible since the day she'd met him. She'd never had the slightest interest in any of he... Master Of None
The advantages of specialization are so obvious that, today, we don't even know how to recognize a competent syncretist! Freddy the Fish glanced at the folded newspaper beside him on the bench. A little one-column headline caught his e... Medal Of Honor
According to tradition, the man who held the Galactic Medal of Honor could do no wrong. In a strange way, Captain Don Mathers was to learn that this was true. Don Mathers snapped to attention, snapped a crisp salute to his superior, ... Melbourne's Story
Glimpses of last night came back to me and pieced themselves together slowly while I undressed and drew the water for my bath. Melbourne had been interested to know that I worked for Bausch, the motion picture producer. "Perhaps you could be ... Men Of The Woods
So far as this, all that I have stated has been clear, and there can be no doubt that what has been thus handed down from mouth to mouth is for the most part correct. When I pass from trees and animals to men, however, the thing is different, for ... Mercenary
Every status-quo-caste society in history has left open two roads to rise above your caste: The Priest and The Warrior. But in a society of TV and tranquilizers--the Warrior acquires a strange new meaning.... Joseph Mauser spotted the rec... Michael Cavendish 2027
Mike was just coming through the clump of trees when the boy began to wave at him. He shifted the clumsy old Jeffrey .475, cursing the weight as he quickened his pace. But there was no help for it, he had to carry the gun himself. None of the boys... Miela
The girl stood quiet beside the tree, watching Alan as he tied up his boat. She continued smiling. Alan stood up and faced her. He wondered what he should say--whether she could understand him any better than he could her. "You speak English?" ... Miela's Story
When I reached the little Florida town Alan was there to meet me. He would have none of my eager questions, but took me at once by launch to their bungalow. No one was on the porch when we landed, and we went immediately into the living room. Ther... Millennium
There are devices a high-level culture could produce that simply don't belong in the hands of incompetents of lower cultural evolution. The finest, and most civilized of tools can be made a menace ... Liewen Konar smiled wry... Ministry Of Disturbance
Sometimes getting a job is harder than the job after you get it--and sometimes getting out of a job is harder than either! The symphony was ending, the final triumphant pæan soaring up and up, beyond the limit of audibility. For... Minnie Schultz 2009
When Frank came home, Minnie met him at the door. She didn't say a word, just handed him the envelope containing the notice. "What's the matter?" Frank asked, trying to take her in his arms. "You been crying." "Never mind." Minnie freed herse... Miss Metford's Plan
We coaled at Port Said like any ordinary steamer. Although I had more than once made the Red Sea voyage, I had never before taken the slightest interest in the coaling of the vessel on which I was a passenger. This time everything was different. T... Mists Of Uncertainty
When we got back to the house we found Myra and her father--not unnaturally--wondering what had become of us. "What have you been doing, and where have you been, and what do you mean by it?" she asked, playfully. "I wish I could see you. I'm sur... Mobilis In Mobili
This forcible abduction, so roughly carried out, was accomplished with the rapidity of lightning. I shivered all over. Whom had we to deal with? No doubt some new sort of pirates, who explored the sea in their own way. Hardly had the narrow pane... Money At A Premium
"Who's there? I have nothing here for anyone. Go away!" Such was the inhospitable greeting with which Isaac Hakkabut received his visitors. "Hakkabut! do you take us for thieves?" asked Servadac, in tones of stern displeasure. "Oh, your Excel...