Scoops v01n14 (1934 05 12)

Read SIR A.CONAN DOYLEs POISON BELT'

5o. 1 t. Yol. 1.

May 12, 1931.

PRICE TWOPENCE

A New Building Material For To-morrow

radio!

; STATION

MOTEL AND I
RESTAURANT]

HANGARS]

Jb^CK PATHS 1 :
SNOW LANDING
RUN WATS! <

HARBOUR]
BEACONS I

■ HARBOUR
FORSMI PP1N]

■ ice isle l

[CONTROL HOUSE!

ICE ISLANDS to SPAN
the OCEANS

Islands of Artificial Ice as Landing Fields for Trans-Ocean Aircraft

410

May 12. 1931 — SCOOPS

Great Scientifiction Story by the World’s Master of Science Fiction

An Amazing Story of the
Most Famous Scientist
of Fiction — Professor
Challenger

The World Swims into
a Poison Belt of Ether.
Nor Walls, Nor Steel,
Nor Sealed Chambers
the Tide of

THE TIDE OF DEATH

T HK rad of If* world " Our eves turned
to the great how window and we looked
at the summer beauty ni the
r- • y :-:de. the long slopes of heather, the
great country houses, the rosy fin ms. the
[..ea-itf seekers upon the links. 'I he end of
•h» world* tine had often heard the words,
but tec ilea that they could ever have :.r
immediate uravtmd .s.gnificancv. t.iat
should not he at some Vague distant, date,
but now. to-day. that was a tremendous, a
staggering thought. We vfjre all struck
solemn and waited in silence ii'or Challenger
to continue, liis Overpowering presence and
appearance lent shell force to the solemnity
of his words that for 8 moment nil the ab-
surdities of the man vanished, aud he loomed
before us as something majestic ami heyond
the range of ordinary humanity. Then to
me. at least, there came hack the cheering
if collection of how twice, since we had en-
tered the room he had roared with laughter.
Si; rely, l thought-, there are limits to mental
detachment. Tile crisis cannot he so great
or so pressing, after ali.

“ You will conceive a bunch of grapes."
ss;d he. "which are covered by some infini-
tesimal bacillus. The gardener passes it
through a disinfectant- medium. It may bo
that tie desires his grapes lo be cleaner. It
nay he that lie needs space to breed home '
: ■ -i: bacillus. Hf dips into the poison ;tntl
t -y arc gone. Our Gardener is, in my
-• ui.in. about to dip the solar system, and
: - hiiinun bacillus will he sterilised out of

^ a there was silence. It was broken by
ihi high tiill of the telephone-bell.

' The e^is on« of (ini' baci lli squeaking fOp

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

He iro gone from the room for a minute
or two. 1 lemember that none of us spoke
in his absence. The situation seemed beyond
all words or comments.

“ The medical ..officer of health for
Brighton." said he.' when he returned. " The
symptoms are for some reason developing

FOR NEW READERS

In n letter to the *77 mi e*. Professor
Challenger announces that it is iiis
opinion that the mysterious blurring of
Krauenhot'er's lines of the spec, nun point
to a widespread cosmic change, and that
the world is swimming into a poison belt
of ether He attributes the sudden illness
of the natives of the island of Sumatra to
the effects of the poison. - ,

At the same time, the Professor has
invited to his home the little group of the
" Lost World " — Professor Sunimei'lee.
Lord John Horton, and Mr. Malone, the
newspaper reporter.

He asks them all to bring a cylinder of
oxygen . and when they arrive at his home
he announces that, in Ins opinion, they
are about to witness the pnd of the world.

moTa rapidly upon the spa-level. Our seven
hundred feet of elevation give ns an advan-
tage. Folk seem to linve learned JJmt 1 am
the first authority upon the question. No
doubt it comes from my letter in the Time*,
That was the mayor of a provincial towu
with whom I talked when we- first arrived.
He seemed to put an entirely inflated valne
upon Ilia own life. I helped him lo re-
adjust his ideas."

Summerlec had risen and was standing by

the window. His thin, bony hands weio

t: cm filing with emotion.

“ Challenger," said he. earnestly, “ this
thing is too serious for mere futile argument.
Do not suppose Hint I desire to irritate you
hv any question 1 may ask. But I put it.
to you whether there may not be some fal-
lacy in your information or in your reason-
ing. There is the sun shining us brightly as
ever in a blue sky. There are the heather
and the flowers aud the birds. There are
the folk enjoying themselves upon the golf-
links, and the labourers vender cutting the
corn. You tell us that they and we may be
upon the very brink of "destruction- "thill
this sunlit day may he that day of doom
which the human race has so lung awaited.
So far as we know, you foiihd this tremen-
dous judgment n poll what? 1'pon some ah-
ncrinni lines in a spectrum — -upon rumours
from Sumatra — upon some eurioua personal
excitement which we have discerned in each
other. Tilts killer symptom is not so marked
but that you ami we could, by a deliberate
effort, control it. Yon, need not stand on
ceremony with us. Challenger. We have all
faced death together before now. Speak out,
and let us know exactly where we stand and
wluit. in your Opinion, are our prospects for

It was a brave, good speech, a speech from
that Staunch and strong spirit which,, lay
behind all the acidities and angularities of
the old zoologist. Lord John rose and shook
liim by the hand.

“ My sentiment to a lick,” said he. " Now.
Challenger, it’s np to yon to tell ns where
wo arc. We ain’t nervous folk, ns you know
well : hut when it comes to milkin' a week-end
visit and finding you’ve. run full butt into
t'm> Day of Judgment, it wants a hit of ex-
plainin’. What’s the danger, and how much ,

41 1

The Dead Outnumber the Living

of it h tllH

tq m

t. it? ”

mil what a

lie stood, tall and strong, in the sunshine
at the window, with Iiis brown hand upon
the shoulder of Summerlee. 1 was lying
back in an armchair, an extinguished
cigarette between my lips, in that sort of
half-dazed statu in which impressions become
exceedingly distinct. It may have been a
new phase of the poisoning, but the delirious
promptings had all passed away, and were
succeeded by an exceedingly lai — : -•

of n

But

i great

bout his heavy brews and stroked Ins board
before he answered. One could ace that he
was very carefully weighing his words.

“ What was the lust news when yon left
London?" he asked.

•• I was at the Gazette, office about ten,"
said I. “ There was a Renter just come in
from Singapore to the effect that the sick-
ness seemed to be universal iu Sumatra, and
that the lighthouses hud not been lit in con-
sequence.”

"Events have bean 'moving somewhat
rapidly since then," said Challenger, picking
lip hiis pile of telegrams. "I am in close
touch both with the authorities and with the
Press, so that nows is converging upon me
from all parts. There is, in fact, a general
and very insistent domand that 1 should
come to London ; but X see no good e:
served. From the accounts the p
effect begins with mental excitement ; t
rioting in Paris this morning is said to have
been very violent, and the Welsh collierii
are in a state of uproar. So far as tli
evidence lo hand can lie trusted, this slum
lntive stage, which varies much in races an
in individuals, is succeeded by a certai
exaltation and mental lucidity — I seem t
discern some signs of it in our young friend
here — which, after art appreciable interval,
turns to coma, which deepens rapidly into
death. I fancy, so far as my toxicology

ie, that there

i vegetable

“ Datura,” suggested fiummerlee.

“ Excellent ! " cried Challenger,
■would make for scu

e ageu

l be date

To you, my dear Sonnnerlee, belongs the
honour — posthumous, alas! but none the less
unique — r..f having given a name to the
universal destroyer, the great Oardener's dis-
infectant. The symptoms of daturon, then,
may be takeu to be such as I indicate. That
it will involve the whole world and that no
life can possibly remain liehind seems to mo
to be certain, since ctber is a universal
medium. Up to now it has been capricious
in the places which it has attacked, but the
difference is only a matter of a few hours,
and it is like an advancing tide which covers
quo strip of sand and then another, run-
ning hither and thither in irregular streams,
until at last it has submerged it nil. There
are laws at work in Connection with the
action ami distribution of daturon which
would have been of deep interest had the
time at our disposal permitted its to study
them. So far as I can trace (hem ’’ — hero
he glanced over his telegrams — " the less de-
veloped races have been the first to respond
to its influence. There are deplorable
accounts fi'om Africa, and the Australian
aborigines appear to have been already ex-
terminated. Tine Northern races have as yet
shown greater resisting power than the
Southern. This, yon see, is dated from
Marseilles at nine-forty-five this morning. I
give it to you verbatim : —

" • Afl night delirious excitement through-
out. Provence. Tumult of vino growers at
Nimos. Socialistic upheaval at Toulon.
Sudden illness attended by coma attacked
population this morning. Peste toudroyaM..
Great numbers of dead in the streets.
I’liralysis of business and universal chaos.’

412

painless, but swift and
rom Paiis,

■* There is a similar telegram
where the development is not vet, as acme.
India and Persia appear lo lie utterly wiped
out. The Slavonic" population of Austria is

down, wlvile the Teutonic has hardly been
affected. Speaking generally, the dwellers
upon the plains and upon the seashore scorn,
so fur us my limited information goes, to
have felt the effects more rapidly than those
inland or on the
heights. Even a
little elevation makes
arable differ-
id, perhaps,
if there be a sinwivor
of the human race,
lie will again bo
found upon tbi

hours will submerge
ns all."

Lord John Roxton wiped his brow.

" What beats me," said he, "is how you
could sit there laughin’ with that stack of
telegrams under your hand. I’ve seen death
as often ns most folk ; but universal death—
it’s awful ! "

" As to the laughter." said Challenger,
“ yon will bear' iu mind that, like yourselves,
I have not been exempt fvom the stimulating
cerebral effects of the etheric poison. Bill as
to the horror with which universal death

derful ! Never have I so realised the ele-
mental greatness of the man, the Bweep and
power of his nncleralBuding. Huuuuevleo
drew him on with his chorus of subaeid
criticism, while Lord John and T laughed at
the contest; and the lady, her hand upon
liis sleeve, controlled the bellowings of the
philosopher. Life, death, fate, tho destiny
of man — these were tho stupendous subjects
of that memorable hour, made vital by tho
fact that, as the meal progressed, strange,

A N invisible man Is now, within limits,
a definite scientific fact.

Bv means of apparatus evolved after years
of research a British inventor has been able
to take a inau and make him become invisible
before your eyes. You ran touch the. " in-
visible ” person while lie is m the apparatus
— I nit you raunot see him.

The camera has also been as unsuccessful
os the human eve in probing the mystery of
lluis wonder — which is a close-kept secret.

When a man is to disappear he puts on
an " electro-helmet ” and also a "spectral
mantle.” Thus equipped he somewhat re-
sembles a deep-sea diver. On entering a
cabinet lie raises his bauds above his head to
make a contact with special gloves, and then
an electric current is switched on.

As the power of this current increases the
man first becomes Uauspnveut, then the feet
vanish, followed by the body, and later the
head.

The apparatus is being shown as a sfage
" item," the cabinet lieing open to the audi-
ence. members of which testify that the in-
visible man is actually present by feeling
him.

appears lo inspire you, I would put it to you
that it is somewhat exaggerated. If you
wero sent to sea alone in an open boat to
some unknown destination, your heart might
v .• 1 1 sink within you. The isolation, the un-
certainty, would oppress you. But if your
voyage were innde in a goodly ship, which
bore within it all your relations aud your
friends, you would feel that, however un-
certain your destination might still remain*
yon would at least have one common aud
simnltaneous experience which would hold
yon to the end in the same close communion.
A lonely death may lie terrible, but ,. uui-
versal one. as painless as this would appear
to be, is not, in my judgment, ft matter for
apprehension. Indeed. I could sympathise
with the person who took the view that the
horror lay in the idea of surviving when alt
that, is learned, famous, and exalted had
passed away."

" What, then, do you propose lo do?”
asked Summerlee, who hod for once nodded
his assent to the reasoning of his brother
scientist.

" To take our lunch,” said Challenger, ns
the boom of a gong sounded through tho
house. "We have u cook whose omelettes
are only excelled by her cutlets. We can hut
trust that no cosmic disturbance lias dulled
her excellent abilities. My Scharzberger of
'96 must also be rescued, so far as our united
efforts can do it, from what would be a de-
plorable waste of a great, vintage." He
levered his great bulk off the desk, upon
which he had sat while lie announced the
doom of the planet. " Come,” said hr. " If
there is little time left, there is llic more
need that we should spend it in solier and
reasonable enjoyment.”

^-PREPARATIONS FOR THE END

The

Invisible
Man is
Here !

The Dream of
Ages may now
be a Scientific
Fact

May 12, 1931 — SCOOPS

The End Draws Near

i ' i- • exaltations ia my mind and tinglings
■ try limbs proclaimed tKiil the invisible
* -i wt IVath va slowly .and gently rising
• I a*, (tries I a* Lord John put bis

.i’-ap^Sd la k f.i m' infill: iiT his

' A-.-:,u!” said hi» piaster.

A •mite stole over the servant's gnarled

I ve done my dirty, nil "

" I ’in expecting tlm end of the world to-

; Ye>, "sir! What lime, si, ? ’

' ( isn't say. Austin. Before evening-'

' Very good.’ sir. "

Challenger lit a cigarette. and draw

sa.d Loul John “I'm

atne-lors of ours, who were Imricrl with
their axes and hows ami arrows uiul the like,

looking r,,und the table in a shamefaced wav.
’ that 1 wouldn't feel more homely myself
i ! 1 waa put away with my old .450 Express

should not o priori have expected it. b it il-
ls undoubtedly a fact. Hence 1 am strongly
of opinion l hat » gas like oxygen, which
lucre, 'isos Hie vitality and the resisting power
of l lie I,, iily . would be extremely likely in de-
lay the n. i n hi of what you have so happily
named the dalnron. It may be that 1 uni
mistaken, l ot I have every confidence in the

The rioting in
Paris was vio-
lent. Great num-
bers lay deuJ in
the streets.

do?" "*

“ To save us — nothing." said Challenger.
" To prolong our lives n few hours, and urns
to see (he evolution of this mighty tragedy
before wo are actually involved in it — that,
may prove to he within

taken certain steps ”

it her boudoir shall lie made
» t» practicable. With malt i
bed paper "

. ' '"“11.'. my worthy fiiend, you nre a
trifle perverse tu missing the poiut. It is
tint to keep out the cthei that we have gone
lo siicli trouble. It is to keep in the oxygen.
I trust tlmt if we can ensure an atmosphere
hyper-oxygenated to a certain point, we may

11 "“ y

may k>uh out upoo a Masted world. Our own
fate u delayed to that extent, and we will
have the very singular experience, we five,
of being, in all probability, the absolute rear-
guard of the human race upon its march into
the unknown. Perhaps yon will In- kind
enough now to give me a hand with the
cylinders It seems to me lliul tie atmo-

(Slr Arthur Conan Doyle's amusing Mnry will
be continued next week.)

Hi] h» “ I have explained it .dao to our
1 It won't be painfoi. George’ "

deu' ‘ t s. Every time you have had it you
has, I'lrwlicallj died.”

Ilut t l.iat is a pleasant sensation. '

Si may death he. The worn-out bodiiy
ms' hine can't record its impression, hut wc
kimw the mental pleasure which lies in a
rtti'iii'i "r a trance. Nntnro may huild a
beautiful door and hang it with many a
gm.-y Hid hhiinmerimr curtain to make on
entrance to the new lifci for our wondering
Muis. In all my probings of the actual, I
have always found wisdom mid kindness at
the . .if. ; and if ever the frightened mortal
n»e, I- [■ uiierness, it is surely us he makes

SCOOPS— May 12, 1934

413

A Planet Sends out a Call to the Universe

from

Men may still scoff at the idea of
Inter-Planetary travel, but it does
not deter the Science Fiction Writer.
In this vivid narrative our author
takes three young space explorers
to answer a distress cry from the
planet Saturn.

S.O.S.

visible. beam nl sound. Across the polished
top of a metal table a crystal beaker travelled
slowly, shuddering gradually towards the
edge under the repetition of those mighty
tones. It was the shivering of this vessel as
it fell that startled some dim sense in Mac-
Hufos. and he shut down on the stunning

The notes rushed away into space, hut. Mac-
I! ulus and his companions were speechless.
Their heads still rang like hollow gongs.

MacRufus spoke. " No doubt about that.
What do you make of it ? "

“ S.O.S. A bit doubtful which planet,
though.” Sid was always •' a bit doubtful''
about things that weren't mathematics.

" The dials are set to your own calcula-
tions, " snapped MacRufus, " and it was
Saturn sending out that veil.”

Tliere came a chuckle from Wildy.

“ Slowed if that ain’t the limit. What
are you fellows getting at ? A I rip to a
gieat world like Saturn to settle a couple of
planet-quakes? What do yon think Saturn
is— a ship in distress? ”

" I'll tell you one thing." declared Vac-
Ttiifns. " Saturn knows we’ve heard their

science,” agreed Sid, " but I don't see how

■ In some things we may be a notch or two
in front of them," remarked MacRufus
thoughtfully.

" Scrappm’ 1 If it’s sernppin’, lets -get
going!" grinned Wildy.

MacRufus had been staring at the yellow
glow df the Earth disc. He out in now.

" Saturn's outside our range. We haven't
been away from our own world yet, so to
speak. , . . No distance, anyhow, and I don't
see how we're, going to help, unless we land
right on Hie spot. . . . Muybe other tilings
will answer Saturn's call."

Even as lie spoke, MacRufus had decided

Deliberately, lie clamped the levers against
Saturn's frequency, and tho planet’s red
began to smoke over in the disc, as the
Earth’s yellow grew steadily brighter. Still
the signal from Saturn could be faintly

'■ We may be no more than maggots to the
beings on Saturn — and we haven't even got a.
gun in the sphere," Mae went oil.

“ Suppose it's a trap,” interjected Sid.
’’ They could bait it with that S.O.S."

” But what if we could help some poor
creatures. . . . They can't get to us but, by
Heavens, we can get to them. You can turn
your frequency on. step off yourselves, clamp
me up in this sphere and i’ll chance the
journey— and trapN ! "

” We could build another silver sphere.”
ventured Sill doubtfully. " and get you out of
trouble. . . . That’s if we got to Saturn.
. . . All the same. Wildy, you’re such a
mad fool, I think I'll be with you."

May 12, 1934 — SCOOPS

The Silver Sphere
flashed over the
grim scenes of
destruction that
had once been a
mighty city of
Saturn .

* MacRUFUS ANSWERS A CALL

■ empty sea of black space, while tho
sphere of stainless steel sped, a tiny silver
shot, through the immeusity of the void.

MacRufus, standing iu the sullen red glow
of the. sphere's great opal discs, looked like n
figure of flame as his powerful bauds ad-
justed microuonietor controls, delicately tun-
ing in to that terrific pulsing signal from one
of the remote planets.

Suddenly, us his hands adjusted a new
combination on the dials, muffled throbs
cleared and the steady pulsations became a
regnlar boom. Then, as microscopic, scales
aligned oil the verniers, this boom took oil
a metallic clang.

" Saturn. Coming in now,” MacRufus
shouted suddenly, an.l the three Eartiimen
poised rigid for the shock they knew was
coming.

MacRufus glanced at the faint yellow glow
of (he Earth just lighting one ol' the opales
cent frequency discs, moved a lever a couple
of notches, and the sullen red fire of Saturn
in the upper disc stirred slightly.

Then, moving
ing metal pillars
of ihe sphere.

he began lo
gigantic coil tlmt

*' Saturn knows the planet code. . .
Telepathic. ... A mind signal.

2 the last words they heard through

Then, full power, striding in from space,
came the four giant notes. The silver sphere
rang like a lielfry.

Soon the terrific notes stunned the senses.
The shocks were no more sound, but urgent,
intelligent signals pulsing directly in the

Drawing away through an eternity of space,

Transparent Demons of Saturn

The stern look faded from MacRufns’
features. He turned quickly to his network
of engines.

" That's tvliat I was waiting for," he
grunted, turning levers again.

t'.'J a screen like ground glass a section of
• ? E.nth was visible. There was a shim-
mer as if of rain over the scene — passing
' and clouds. Even as they stared at
Earth it shrank, dwindled to a silveiy
point of stardust . then went out.

ing like an eager dog through the ports,
" Look below ! 1

Curving to the horizon swung n vast red
plain, the lints of its vegetation shading from
deep purple to glistening pink.

“ Looks like the Red Sea," vias Sid’s etyift-

Tlie sphere now floated a few hundred feet
above encaniadined verdure in an atmosphere
that was pink.

“ Look out ! We’re going down into that

Tall weeds stirred where something
pressed through them.

“ Animals of some sort," ventured Sid.

At that- moment there sounded a weird
menacing hiss. With a shock the three com-
panions glimpsed a- transparent greenish
creature, like an enormous glass stag beetle.
The thing reared up, its great inandihles
clashing like some cruel machine.

Then the. first translucent heasl came on
deliberately. With a clatter, a puck of them
began to close in. Enrtlimen were threat-
ened by giant insects, almost invisible in the
pinkish light.

It was Wildy who saved them. As the
first great creature hurtled at them, the man
snatched a torch from his pocket. In his
endeavour to see something at which lie could
hit, lie flashed it nt the shimmering Thing.

A white beam stabbed through the rosy
mist and struck on the horny plates of tho
enormous insect. Tim result wus astounding.

The creature plunged violently as the beam
of light, struck it, squirmed mid died. As
life left it. the thing whitened and revealed
n huge btig-like horror, opaque as ivory.

Eor a fust experience on Saturn this wasn’t
encouraging. But they had no intention of
waiting to make a novel meal for a horde
of fearsome gelatine monsters. In a turmoil
of sinister sounds they hast illy retreated to
the sphere.

Mm- slammed the hatch. Wildy was the
first to speak.

" If .Saturn’s hugs are that big. what price
their elephants '! ”

" Those beetles may be the biggest crea-
tures on Saturn," observed Sid. "Any-
way. if we stop here we’ll starve. This
pink ozone makes one hungry. I wonder if
Saturn’s red cabbage tastes all right? ’’

" We have rations aboard for a few days,"
MacRufns interposed, “ hut 1 vote we get
out of this. We’ll try the wirelCsS; we’ve
got to discover what that S-O.S. meant,"

Turning to the radio and eathode-ruy
television set, Mac Rufus began to tune in.

"Listen! Something's coming in." Speak-
ing quietly, he reached up and switched off
the lights.

Breathlessly, they watched a faint glow ill

SATURN

With ibis terrific adventure- fairly

launched, they felt like Earthrneu knocking
on the gates of Doom.

Time ceased. The sphere was falling
through Inter-Planetary space, a little lonely
speck of dust in absolute cold.

jf ROYAL CITY OF SATURN

T HE Silver Sphere was rapidly approach-
ing tiie planet Saturn. Through its ports
loomed a great ball, dull red, vast as the
complete circle of the rainbow.

A host of small moons were whirling
around it like a myriad of black flies, sud-
denly turning to sliver stars as the sphere
»hul hevnnd them.

A few moments more, and the filmy red
veils uf Saturn engulfed the sphere.

N.-w the lives of the three men depended
on Sid's calculations. While the sphere
[dunged through the atmosphere of Saturn,
terrific friction would bo generated. The
sphere might become an incandescent
thunderbolt, unless rising mercury com-
p.cied a circuit and automatically switched
o;i • - ftedneiKy of Saturn The fingers
c-f mcrrnrv crept slowly ap the glass lubes.
Ikes ac i lec^y the Silver Sphere checked.

red stuff— vegetation, or whatever it is!"
warned MacRufns.

“ Bed cabbage, perhaps," grinned Wildy,
as they sank. " There doesn't seem to fas
anything moving down there."

Tiie sphere settled gently on to the red
wilderness.

Thus, quietly, a great wonder happened—
Earthmen came to Saturn.

MacRi-fts took an air test and was
amazed to find an oxygenated atmosphere.

" So need for space suits," be called, and
Wildy sprang to the hatch. H.- drew levers,
flung the doorway wide; then started to
squirm through.

He dropped heavily through the opening,
landing on sofl. red-coloured herbage. The
others followed. They searched warily about,
intently regarding the Weird pink landscape.

Then, MaoRufus leading, they thrust
through I he swishing seaweed growth and
gained the lip of a hollow.

" I’ve an idea we’re being watched," whis-
pered Sid. " Danger somewhere."

While a queer scented breeze played about
them, they peered around, alert. 'Suddenly
MaeRofus pointed.

" Look," he cried. *’ There’s something
bidden in t h is led stuff."

SCOOPS— May 12, 1931

MacRufns and his companions found
themselves tumbled over into sudden awaken-
ing as the sphere began to spin.

Then, ns it steadied again, they gazed
anxiously through the ports It seemed hs
if they floated in a water-full of ruby bubbles.
They were in a ring of Ralurn, jostled by a
multitude of starry spheres, some small as ft
glistening orange, others shining crimson
g? ->»•< as big as St. Paul’s Cathedral.

By heavens!" exclaimed Wildy, quest-

41 S

the televisor. The loudspeaker began to
throb softly, and at the same moment
shadows flitted across the screen.

A moment later, dim outlines sprang into
focus and Uiev saw the stupendous architec-
ture of a mighty palace, piling upward to a
central lofty tower, while from the speaking
unit issued au unmistakable appeal for help,
repeated continuously. A strange crying
cadence like the wail of ft lost child.

" It's someone in bad trouble, sure
enough," muttered Wildy. “ No insect-
beast could cry that way.’

" A final desperate resonrep, sending an
appeal to the Universe for help. Fat lot we
can do," grumbled MacRufus impatiently.
" But well he on our way."

As soon ns he had ascertained tlie direction
of the radio signals, the apparatus was
switched off.

Then tho sphere rose gently from its little
dell and sped over tho red plains of Saturn.

A landscape of curious beauty spread
beneath them. They passed over scarlet
forests. Mighty trees rose stupendous and
massive above the crimson sward. A great
range of black uiouutaius was left behind
them ; and yet there was neither habitat iou
nor city on the vast plains of Saturn.

Beyond the far-reaching mountain ranges,
they sailed over a heaving plain of ebony,
stretching vast and deserted to the remote
horizon.

" That’s a great sea,” guessed Sid.

MaoRufus was absorbed in the delicate
balance-angle adjustments of the radiant
frequency discs, controlling the headlong
rush ol the sphere. A troubled look came
into his oyes.

" 1 can't understand it,” he said. *' That
sea's empty. Radio and no seacraft doesn't

" We’ll discover why wheu we find that
tower . . . and lire city,” prophesied Wiidy
grimly.

MacRufus increased the speed of their
flight. They flushed faster over the tossing
ocean until tlie rising temperature warned
them that they hud reached the safety limit

Tltcu rushing towards them, a line of jado
and blue-green cliffs rose out of the pink
twilight.

They rose a little, still flashing onwards.
\ highly developed land now spread below

then

liighw

tall «

vitb

broad,
them.

All the roads and parks were empty, tba
gardens deserted. In the distance great con-
flagrations reached to the red sky. Each
new city ol palaces presented a picture of
rain and destruction Walls were broken,
palaces of the green- bine stone fallen, red
vegetation spreading over shattered stones
like the tide of doom.

" Looks ns if we’re too late,” mused Mac-
Rufus, aud summoned Sid to the controls.
The sphere balanced at a standstill, poised
above the ruins of a once mighLy city while
Mac tnned m tho cathode-ray apparatus.
Immediately, and very clear now. the vision
of a spiring tower appeured on the televisor,
while the signals sounded urgently and near-.

" We’ll rise a bit," suid MarKutus.
" Take the glasses ami stand waLch on
either side. (Jive a shout when we raise that
tower. I’m going to travel slowly. If
we're the rescue party, I hope we'll he iu

time,” he concluded.

'• There me fires everywhere,” Sid re-
ported. " I believe weird tilings are moving

\ rhe ri

" he w

" book," cried Wildy. " There’s a cloud
of those jellyfish squattering on the roads,
scuttling about like groat shiny bottles.”
Sid was serious. " It's ft monstrous pesti-
lent e.' lie said slowly
" Race her, Mac,” came from the other
port. " Let’s get in front of them.’’

Over the tragic mills the sphere hummed
like a high-pressure boiler, as it passed

of the sphere, and we can take the reflector

The Plague of the Planet

crowded with spires. Pinnacled palaces of
shining, coloured stone climbed into the rosy
mists of Saturn's sky.

Sid pointed out the lofty signal lower
rising from a multitude of rainbow spires.
MacRufus beckoned bim and he silently look
over the controls.

MacRufus stared through the ports at. the
impressive beauty of the city below. " The
Royal City of Saturn,” he muttered.

'They hovered above an open space among
the iridescent buildings, and from every
quarter over the distant countryside ad-
vanced a sinister, transparent army of death
ami destruction.

“ People wbo build cities like this most
be decent fellows," reckoned MacRufus. " 1
don't think we need fear a hostile recep-

" If they'd got a ha'portb of backbone
they'd have noted those swarming beasts,”
fnmed the militant Wildy.

"Strange thing,” interjected Sid; "I
haven't seen anything white on this planet —
only the dead bug and a few whitish patches
near those towns they smashed up."

" While, here must be the colony of death;
and J believe those people below are as help-
less as children,” decided MacRufus.

The Silver Sphere floated gently down be-
tween the steep buildings, and like a bubble
sealing to earth, it came to rest on the
purple lawn.

Then at last they saw living beings on this
unfriendly planet. No weird animals these,
but remarkably like Earth folk. Fine and
delicate they were, draped in satiny robes
that glistened like poppy petals. They came
eagerly, crowding ami running from all
directions, shading their eyes from the sheen
of the sphere.

They looked like children, bewildered,
frightened, running for protection from
horrors closing in about them.

" Just look ol that — not even a cop, and
they're dressed up for a garden-party, I
should think.” said Wildy, as they lowered
the silken ladder and descended.

Bordering this pnrple city square rose per-
pendicular architecture of polished, granite-
like, square pillars. Magnificent buttresses
cleaved the red clouds like towering crags.

The three strangers in Saturn had hardly
set their feet, upon the dark grass when, to
their astonishment, they were each taken
gently bv the hand and led across the square
towards one of the imposing |*alaces.

They uoticed that the ethereal faces of
their fragile, confiding little friends were
marked with sorrow. Their voices sounded
like mournful music as they mnrmurod iu
their strange tongue.

"It’s a darn shame!” cried MacRufus,
but what he meant by that forcible speech ho
himself could not have told.

* THE LIGHT OF DEATH

I N this fashion they were conducted through
a mighty vestibule and along corridors lit
by tho universal luminous rose of Saturn.
Thus they came to a sort of cathedral with
stalely pillars, rising to a misty roof, and
lofty windows framed in a tracery of lanced

Immediately, three tall personages, draped
in rich cloaks, advanced. These solemnly
ushered the three companions into a cage,
which bore them swiftly upwards anti dis-
charged them in a room at the summit of tho
central lower.

Tliis room, set high above the. city, allowed
a. vista of red min and destruction. Tracks
of tho strange demons were converging to-
wards this last island of beauty. Anil, be-
hind them, fire and smoking ruins stretched
to the far horizon

MacRufus stood silent, appalled at the task
which confronted them, while lie marvelled
at the (Hind faith of these, spineless but lovelv
folk.

To these fragile people perhaps MacRnfus
seemed godlike, with his intellectual face

stem aud grim, tho red locks flaming about
his brow.

The Chief Senator of Saturn stepped lor-
ward and raised his hand above his head in

" Tliis old bird takes us for Hercules and
Co.,” remarked Wildy.

The dignified Senator spoke softly, hut
MacRufus shook his head regretfully.

The ruler of Saturn was undismayed. At
a sign a pearly globe was set upon a stone
table, and by' sign the Senator bade them
look. With eyes iutout aud eager they saw,
magically arising among swirling vapours,
scenes re-enacted, scenes of grim, unspeakable
horror, the Senator indicating meanwhile on
a large map.

Thus they learned thnt this slender people,
having for’ many ages no enemies, had de-
voted existence to culture ; and to building
lip a great beauty, in the rosy day thnt reigns
for ever on this side of Saturn's globe. The
people evolved into defenceless, fragile
beauty. Living for ages in security, they
forgot war.

A liorde of savage creatures bail always
been separated from their laud by the Ebony
Sea. Developed on borders of everlasting
darkness, these swamp creatures had dwelt
forgotten, until a planet upheaval had
occurred and several islands liecamo a bridge.
A swarm of semi transparent demons gut
over before the bridge broke away. There
was no other city left on Saturn — tho last of
the people were hero. Soon Saturn would
be for ever »u abode of insects.

The Earthmcn shrank from the scenes they
forced themselves to witness. 'They saw these
helpless people hurt, dying, ilia led country-
side scared and scarlet with blood. The Chief
Senator faced them appealingly.

“We're the last hope." MacRufus’s jaw
set in grim lines os he spoke.

" Guns and an army couldn’t stop them,
but iw might swipe a few with crowbars,”
said Wildy, not very hopefully.

The Senator was watching them closely.
He sensed the hopelessness in their expres-
sions and a look of tragic despair overspread
'' . Turning swiftly away.

tiie

. Do

pec

go

e eyes

to you ! ” Thus Wildy.

There was silence in the little glass-walled
room. The Chief Senator sat at the table,
his head hawed in bis bands. At last Mac-
Rufns brightened.

" You remember how that bug died. White
is death on Saturn. A white light killed it.”

'• Mac, 1 belle vo you've struck it. There's
a chance anyway," supplemented Sid.

MacRufus made the Senator understand
they wanted a small useless animal brought
to them.

The Chief nnderstood. By signs he per-
suaded them to descend to another floor.
There they were shown, prisoned behind
stone bars, a hideous semi-transparent crea-
ture. The brute was slavering and roaring
with rage

” G'orae ou, Wildy, your job, I think,”
said MacRufus tersely.

They stood grimly by, while the people of
Saturn cowered at the cur end of the corridor.

" It's almost a pleasure,” gritted Wildy.
" I'd rather hush him with a chib or sword
if they'd let bim We."

This was no time for dangerous sport, how-
ever At a nod from MacRufus the flash-
light was levelled at the shiny bulk.

The white beam shot out. There was a
terrific screech, then, crashing down upon
the stones, the beast turned china white, re-
vealing a demoniac hairless tiling.

They turned away and approached the
frightened group.

" With perpetual daylight, these permits
won't possess artificial light,” observed Sid,
thoughtfully.

" No. We'll get no assistance, ” agreed
MacRufus. ” There’s tho motor generator
of tile Sphere, and we can take the reflector

May 12, 1934— SCOOPS

416

Death Comes from the Light

our frequency apparatus. Willi those
highways, these folk must use fast- running
engines. Go hock to the sphere while I ex-
plain t" His N it,* that we want ll speed

While Sid and Charles worked like fury.
ui,.._r.hng the electric generator and the
c:«! reflector of the sphere. MacRnfus ex-
phs'.ned t.v signs and pencil and paper what
he wasted.

Then io r the next hour the Earlhmen were
th» : r own game, fixing up a powerful
sear. Might installation. They were nearly
trumped when it tanre to carbons for the
are, till Mai-Rufus had an inspiration. -As
a consequence, electric torch batteries were
broken up and the pencils of carbon ex-
tracted. Wires were led np to the glass-
walled room iu the tower, and there before
the powerful reflector they planted the arcs.

While they worked, in feverish haste,
against the approach of the army of demons,
tliey were conscious of a background of noise
about the pinnacles of the city.

-A rising note of angry murmuring, a wail-
ing likr a host of creatures whistling among
the high stone Spires. One of the great winds
of Saturn Imd sprung up, and already it
hud risen In n tempest howling among the
lofty turrets.

Below the city gates, the swamp-demons
were gathering, crouching in gloating, surg-
ing masses. MacRuina and his company,
concentrated on their tusk, had almost for-
gotten ihe approaching danger. Now that
their machines of defence were ready, they
paused. and realised the immincut-

Sh. mting above the iempesl. MacRnfus
i 1 the jieople of Saturn away, thrnst-
i-'-g them forth, signing them to keep under
■ :-w: and out of sight of the powerful light

T he horde of demons were on the move.
-A - v. the gale, they heard fierce grunting
* “ rly. MacRnfus issue , 1 ' ’

We

forms. These mobile jelly-fish were the " in-
telligences " of the fighting swamp-demons.
As the beam struck them, they became
opaque, too, and hung suspended by gripping
tentacles, draped over pinnacles.

“Like conking eggs, ’ was Wildy's grim

strain, while Witdy whipped Ids cable ends
beneath, then over, the carves table.

-All this time there was the breathless fear
tliiil the metal cables might tear away from
the sphere cud. Itusdiandiug his strength
against prolonged strain. Sid swung limply
while the globe swayed above him. He kept
his eyes turned upwards for fear of the
giddy chasm below him, and within the
sphere he could glimpse the shimmer of I lie
creature, where it had fastened itself
Swiftly now, Wildy and MacRnfus short-
ened the distance, until, hitching the wires
into a lock around the table. Mac Rufus
dragged the exhausted Sid in. over the balus-
trade. on to the narrow terrace.

There was no hope of getting the sphere
down to Saturn’s soil again: no anchorage
ised the vafuV situation of Sid. dinging available; and any moment no* they might
as the great bubble sailed find themselves maiooned, as the sphere, re-
lieved of Sid's weight, plunged free.

MacRnfus made his decision swiftly. He
knew that death or exile on this unreal, 1111-
horaely planet waited but on the turn of u
second.

T.ithely, he clambered lip to the balus-
trade, stood there poised, balanced for a
breathless second above the sickening depths,
then springing outwards he caught the edge
of the hatch.

ITe hauled himself up, the sphere rolling
and pitching beneath him, then, wedged a

The next instant Ids satisfaction turned to
horror and lie yelled a warning to MacRnfus.
Wildy saw Ins searchlight beam suddenly
gliltering on a segment of a huge metal
globe that was sluggishly rebounding about
s stone cornice Even as lie realised that
this was the Silver Sphere the power of the
gale thrust it hounding, over the tremendous
Chasm between Saturn's lofty buildings.

Then MacRufus came swarming down
through the blustering wind, and Wildy

•• They've beaten ns ! " he shouted as Mac
swung down on to the terrace.

One oi the intelligences of Saturn's
demons, eluding the fatal searchlight, had
taken refuge in the sphere. Once through
the hatch, open to allow the searchlight
cables to pies, its vicious brain got to work ;
and gristly tentacles questing among the
levers had put the anti-Saturn frequency into
action. It must have been that disc minus
reflector, or instead of merely floating, the

The POISON Belt

From a keper -iygeoated fulness
Professor Chellenjer and his com-
panions watch the
doom ol creation, the

|The MARCH of
By Sir Arthur j t h e BERSERKS

CONAN ; ^ Scientist rambles in human lives. He

DOYLE : experiments in glandular treatment to

: create a fact of super-men. Instead he

• produces Berserks — men like gorillas,

These ond many • ghastly caricatures ol humanity. Read

Other Big Features j what happens when they revolt

Next Week

Another bag Science Fiction

a car her ne it week. Powerful

stories, informative articles.
On no account miss nest

week's SCOOPS.

FIGHTING

GAS

! A humorous

in a few namsU. isiagVins with kite dsn
c: the beauts, the howl and tempest about
then-, they heard the roar of an engine.

V, iy drew Hie tombi n g carbons apart, and
immediately a hissing incandescence arced
acno. Through the filmy atmosphere struck
a > of light, intensely white, like a naked

Swinging :. glass panel aside. MacRnfus
stepped oil into the swirling wind. With
field glasses siting about him, he mounted,
•dinging for life against the outrageous tein-
j.-:st, is wild hnir threshing. He hauled
himself upward by the shallow riba of the
*i sue to :i liny colonnade, the very summit
•>f this lofty tower.

Clinging grimly, anchored by arms and
legs to a slender stone column, MucRut'us,
with glasses focused, saw, fur below, an un-
canny frothy shimmer, boiling onwards. The
insensate horde of hungry’ demons were
making their final advance. 'They qum'e mi
like foul poison-bugs seething out from the
taverns Ol Hell.

Ma- P.ufus yelled down to Wildv, l'is am
outstretched, pointing. In swift answer,
the vivid searchlight ray descended, sought
and found the fust stone highway, then,
elevating a little, the- radiance shot away and
struck the glassy mob far below. Immedi-
ately a shuddering scream mingled with the
!;awl of the winds.

The light stabbed through pink darkness,
to mine about, and highways were magically
• v.-f-.-f J with white bodies, glimmering like
fragments of white china. Thus, swiftly,
the demons perished !

B..s. •losei in. on pinnacles, wore anchored
l v iUr- gelatinous tentacles several watching
jelly fi- b like creatures-. Like ant colonics,
these swamp animals had evolved specialised

SCOOPS — May 12, 1931

SCOOPS

On Sale Next Thursday - - 1

The Black Vultures

Another powerful story of the sky
pirates of to-morrow. Thrillta?
adventures in the mysterious hills

sphere would have shot upwards, to be lost
in the recesses of the Universe.

As Wildy gated horror-stricken at Sul,
clinging giddily to the rim of the hatch,
there sounded a crash beside him. Turning
swiftlv, he saw that the searchlight cables
"still formed a doubtful connection between
tiie tower and a terrible death for Sid.

Wildy sprang at the disappearing appara-
tus, and with a violent effort he caught the
carbon holders ns they went i lenging
through the lofty window.

But (lie power of Saturn’s wind was too
great. Slowly, his hands gripping like steel
thongs, lie was drawn remorselessly through
the opening, the enormous globe whipping at
the other end i>{ the humming earner, like
some mighty fish.

The smooth, curved surface of the globe
offered little bold for the roaring gale, but
even so. in another moment the upward lurch
would hoist Wildy clear.

It was then that MacRtrfns dashed to his
assistance. Bracing himself against a stone
balustrade, and reaching up. Madtufus
caught a grip on the cables. Then began a
slow, desperate straggle. Fighting, strain-
ing, the two powerful Earthmen tugged back,
gaining foot bv foot against the taut wires
at every slight lull in the tearing gale.

Thus Wildy retreated back, until he
pressed against the massive stone table. For
one terrible moment MacRnfus took the full

of Saturn, draped limply over the controls.

MacRofus leant downwards through the
"If "oig. -aught Sol s outstretched hand in .,
grip of steel, nod Imuled him up beside him

They reached down for the reflector that
Wildy brought from the searchlight room.
t>:ie more anxious moment as Wildy swayed,
balanced on lire narrow balustrade, and ull
three were safe within the sphere.

MacRufus fitted the reflector into its place,
while they cast the cables adrift and dumped
fast the hatch that was the last link with the
Earthmen and mighty Saturn.

A few seconds later the sphere was rising.
****»'
We could have left our last torch for
protection." remarked Sid. as the frequency
discs, glowing like sunshine, started a ere*,
ccndo that was the Earth note.

Bat the musing that ran in Mat’s mind
went deeper. He said :

" The Master Spirit that sent ns to Sat n rn
willed that such beauty should not lie de-
stroyed. That Bridge of Islands is broken
again. There’ll always he someone ...
to liear an S O. 8 . from Satnrn."

His voice was Milled as the golden Earth-
note roared them into the trance of Inter-
planetary space.

417

A Weekly Review mainly
about Ourselves and the
Wonders of the World
of To-day and
To-morrow

Our Ideas Feature

I T was to bp expected that among the many
thousands of our readers there would bo
some with the inventive turn of mind, hut
we did not anticipate anything like the re-
sponse our offer for ideas has received.

Hundreds of ideas are coining in by every
post. On another page you will find a. selec-
tion from those we have already examined,
and further selections will he published week
by week.

The Science Circle

W E have previously mentioned that sug-
gestions have been received from many
readers that we. should form a “ Scoops
Science Circle.”

By Idle correspondence received on the sub-
ject it would appear that this is the wish of
u very large majority of readers, hut- before
definitely deckling on any scheme we want
mure opinions.

If you arc interested and have not already
written to give us your views, please do so

Flying Freaks Seek Safety
in the Air

N EW ideas in aeroplane design are going
all safety."

The two latest “ freak ” machines have
been designed for quick take-offs and ex-
ceedingly steep landings.

Two Canadian designers are now in
Britain seeking Ihp help of the British
Government for iheir design. Then idea is
for a machine carrying an envelope on the
lines of a Zeppelin hull which will 1» liked
witii helium. This " bag " partly supports
a passenger ‘plane and the machine will be
equipped with four power units. There will
s driving aotogiro blades.

Tie ‘pi

blc la

both land or water. Tt is hoped to build
the first machine 100 ft. long. It would
carry 25 passengers at a cruising speed of
100 m.p.h.

Not so startling is the second new idea in
’planes. This has what seems to he a per-
fectly normal fuselage as we know it. hub
iuslcad of ordinary wings there is a giant-
circular disc mounted where the top wing of
a biplane would come.

This disc takes the place of normal wings
and is claimed to give extreme handiness in
landing and taking-off. Certainly the land-
ings in early tests were made at a steep
angle, hut take-offs did not seem to com-
pare favourably with those of a modern
autogiro.

Super Express to Capture
Tourist Trade

I N Scours recently mention was made
of a train in which passengers can go into
a special Dance Conch and enjoy dancing at
60 n.p.h. as they are whirled towards Iheir
destination But that seems only to have
been the first round in a great Continental
Bail way battle for tourist traffic.

Paris appears to be less of nn attraction
for the British visitor, and now figures bIiqw
ir.ii the number of Britons visiting Berlin

ntoet

With alT this equipment the 'plane would
be able to make comfortable landings

was halved last year. . . . Aud knowing this
the Hungarian authorities have been busy.

They arc behind the operation of a
wonderful de luxe express, the "Blue
Danube.’’ which brings Budapest, within 2B
hours jf London, in the hope of catching a
good share of the tourist trade.

As the ” Blue Danube," with its coaches
of bright blue, races across the Continent
passengers will be invited to take part m a
bridge tournament. There is radio tor all.
and when the express reaches tile Hungarian
frontier a gypsy orchestra comes on board
and entertains the travellers.

If tired with all these novelties passengers
can quit the train at Vienna and complete,
the journey by sailing along the Danube
or travel by aeroplane — without extra cost.

New Bid. for Sunken
T reasure

C AN the Italian Salvage ship Artiqlio It.

recover the treasure which went down in
the Lusitania when the liner was torpedoed
off the Irish coast in 1.9X6 ?

The Italian salvage vessel is to survey the
area in which tho Lmtitrmia is lying, and the
divers believe they will he successful. The
wreck of the liner lies in 240 feet of water
off Kins.de Head, in County Cork ; and while
working in 450 feet of water off t. shunt the
divers were able to recover £1,000,000 in gold
from the sunkeu Eijijut.

Among the treasures which await success-
ful salvagers of the Lufitoma there is a pearl
necklace which alone is worth £25,000.

The Scourge of the Trees

B LISTER rust is a disease of European
trees, but since about 1910 it has been
steadily gaining a hold on the forests of white
pine in the United States.

In Montana and Idaho over three million
acres of ibis fairly valuable tree iiave been
destroyed by the dreaded fungus.

At ‘the present time the U.S. Forestry
Commission is fighting to exterminate the
menace.

It appears that the rust must have I wo
hosts before reaching maturity ; that, is to
say, it must start its life on one sort, of tree
before it. attacks another kind.

In tills case the first host is the l-ibcs
family, which consists of black currants,
gooseberries, etc. The U.S'. Government has
large armies of men and boys employed pull-
ing up the offending ribes, of which there are
over sixty different wild varieties.

Tho rust appears first about March as a

SCOOPS

18, Henrietta Street, London, W.C.2.

Phone: Temple Bar 3521. £y.: 42.

(12 lines.)

sort of blister on the trunks of the white
pines. These hurst and disperse seeds or
spores into the ever -willing wind.

Arriving on the leaves of bushes of the
ribes family, the spores make themselves
thoroughly at- home. Boon they germinate
aud infect other leaves, which become
covered ou the underside with tawny-
coloured, fleshy patches.

Summer sees these dreaded patches spread-
ing from one bush to another.

As autumn approaches further spores of a
hair-like appearance are developed on the
rusted leaves. These also are borne away by
the wind.

The infection takes Ihe pines through the
needles and rapidly spreads back into I bo
very heart of the tree, eventually killing by
destroying the foliage or girdling the trunk.

Ribes being the only plants capable of
playing the first part in the development of
the deadly spores, it is obvious that to eradi-
cate the disease it will first, he necessary to
destroy all black currants and similar vibes
that arc growing anywhere near tho pines.

Typos of ribes which grow on the banks
of streams with llieir roots deep in the water
are killed hy applying sodium chlorate or
rnlcinm chlorate to the water.

Other kinds are stifled by spraying Willi
heavy engine oil. Tho "dead bodies " are
then lipped up aud dragged away by biaded
motor-tractors.

Electric Eye Helps
Courtesy on the Road

E VERYONE is familiar with the largo
notices on the backs of long-distance
motor vans which invite following drivers to
sound their horn so that the lorry driver cau
(lull over to allow them to pass.

Now a scientific counterpart of this road
courtesy has made its appearance in France.
It is an electric eye fitted to motor vans.
When an overtaking motorist comes up
behind tho van he flashes on his lights, and
the rays from the lamps strike Hie electric
eye, which causes a hell to ring beside the

Thus warned, he knows to pull over.

Voting by Radio

“VTOU have just heard the last of the
X Election speakers and we are going
straight ahead with the Election proper.
Will all those wishing to vote for the Left-
Party kindly press iheir Voting Button
for three seconds. . . . Thank you. And
now will those wishing to vote for the
Right Parly kindly press tho button for
a similar time. . . .

“ Hallo, everybody. The results of
the General Election arc as follows. . . ."

This is the very definite possibility which
lias been opened up by a New York con-
sulting engineer. He foresees the time when
votes can be cast over tile electrical power
mains which drive a nation’s radio sets.

Pressing a button attached to the set in-
creases the mains output ever so slightly, and
where a large number of listeners pressed a,
button it would be possible to rend off on
recording instruments at tho power station
how many people were pressing the buttons

At first the scheme is likely to be applied
in order to obtain listeners’ opinions of defi-
nite broadcast programmes, but there is no
reason why it should not- he extended to
larger issues.

May 12, 1931— SCOOPS

Science Pirates From the Clouds

Like hideous birds oj prey, but
using all the wonder* of modern
Science and Mechanics , they came
swooping out of the sky to the cities
of death below. Black Vultures
preying on the corpses after the
nature of their lesser brethren.

Piracy of To-morrow.

DEVIL’S TRUCE

T HAT Zoroster was in u laid way was
evident. His face was bruised and
blood-streaked, liis left arm bung limp
and useless, and lie was swaying on his feet
like a drunken man.

•' You? " he croaked at sight of Derek,

" Yes," replied Derek, pocketing t lie gun
which he had drawn. “ How do you come lo

Zorns ter seated himself Iieavilv on a
boulder.

“ I might ask that same question of you,"
ho gasped. " You— you've escaped? ” ‘
"Obviously,” said Derek.

Zoroster laughed tliroatily.

A few hours previously Derek Oldham had
heeu his prisoner aboard the dirigihlc strong-
hold of the modern pirates, the Black
Vultures. For Zoroster was the chief of
the Vultures, and Derek had been too in-

member of the British Aeronautical Re-
earcli Society. Derek had been assisting Pro-
essor Pilger, of Baskar, in experiments with
engines in rarefied atmospheres, when

The

Vultures

the Biack Vulsores had swooped down on the

Deadly gas bombs bad been dropped on to
the sleeping town, anil then fust black
Vines, operating from the giant dirigible,
had brought the pirates down to the looting.

F: lessor Pilger had been gassed, and lay
dead in his bed, but Derek Oldham, who hail
been working late in the laboratory, had
managed to get a mask in time.

On a sudden impulse, Derek had gone, after
the pirates, and viheu the black ships rose
irom the dead town he luad been hanging
from the undercarriage of one of them.

But the rare atmosphere in which the
dirigible floated had overcome Derek, and he
regained consciousness to find himself in the
hands of Zoroster, Muster of the Black
Vultures.

Ho had been given the choice of joining
the Vultures— or death; bnt haul been given
time to tliink it over.

And during that time the Black Vultures
had gone down to the looting of a monastery
in Tibet. Awaiting his chance, Derek had
escaped from the dirigible by means of a
parachute — only to drop into the very hands

" I'm sorry I cannot congratulate you,"
said Zoroster, speaking with an effort. " It — -
il's a rase of out of the frying-pan into the
fire as far as you’re concerned! "

What do you mean? "

" I mean that I crashed," replied the
pirate loader. " My machine overturned and
look fire. The flames must have been seen
for miles around.”

" Well? ”

"Well, you fool" — Zoroster’s voice was
jerky and disjointed — "we’ve raided the

monastery of Kio Bin. By now the news
will have travelled the length and breadth
of Tibet. We'll never live to reach the
frontier. Every cursed priest and peasant
will be on the look-out for us 1 ”

" Us? " said Derek qnestioningly.

Aipvin Zoroster laughed, shortly and

“ Yes, us," he replied. “ In that black
flying kit — which I recognise as mine, by the
way — you will be tukeii for one of my men.”
" I can discard the flying kit.”

“ And will you be able to satisfactorily
explain how yon come to be wandering alone
with neither guides nor camp party? " jeered
Zoroster. “ I tell you, every white man
found in these hills will bo suspected and
detained and those black rolled vultures will
never believe your story."

" No,” said Derek slowly, “ I don’t sup-
pose they will."

“ You can take it from me. they won’t,"
answered Zoroster. "If you fall into their
hands you will dip horribly. You have but
one chance of life ! "

“ And that is? " asked Derek.

” By staying with me," replied Zoroster.
‘‘I know' the country well. The buck
trails and the hill trails. If there is one man
who can reach tile frontier it is me. But I
cannot reach it alone, for my arm is broken
and I am hurt, in here! ”
lie touched his side anti in the grey light
of morning his fnco was ashen.

" As it is,” ho went on, “ I tell you
frankly, I do not think we will ever reach
the frontier. These lulls will be searched
before the day has passed. Tliank goodness,
they cannot search every crevice, cave and
bojilder. If we can manage to hide until

nightfall we will have a chance of winning
through, for we can then travel on until

" You seem very certain that I am remain-
ing here with yon." observed Derek.

Zoroster's livid lips twisted in a mirthless
smile, and with trembling hand ho gestured
along the valley bottom.

"There lies the way. my friend," lie said.
" You are at liberty to take it "if you will.
But, I warn you, it is the road to death. If
Vou go I shall remain seated here until the
first black-robed priest appears, when I shall
afford him the satisfaction of seeing me blow
my brains ont."

“ And the world will he rid of an inhuman
scoundrel," commented Derek.

"That may bo," returned Zoroster, with-
out any trace of anger in his halting tones.
" I do not intend lo discuss the ethics of it
at the moment. All I have lo say to you.
my friend, is that if we part here we both
dio. If we kepp together wij have, at least,
some cliancd of life."

nmg ’

3 do r

aid Derek.

" You will do your best to hand me over
to the authorities to be tried on charges of
piracy and murder, ” replied Zoroster! “ T
shall do my best to prevent myself being
handed over. The whole thing is on the
knees of the gods. It is useless to discuss
it here. Are you prepared to call a trnce
until then, or do you want to dio horribly
in this cursed priest-ridden land ? ”

Derek waa silent. Ho know the truth of
what Zoroster had said. Alone, without
map or compass, he would never reach the
frontier. Again, oven if he could win
through, it was impossible to leave Zoroster

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

419

Captured by the Priests of Tibet

found amongst the burned-oat Gui

here either to kill himself or be tortured to they had
death by the outraged priests of Buddha. wreckage.

Zoroster must he handed over to a proper Nearer they came, and as those on the left
tribunal where he would he given a fair and flank drew closer ami elnser to where he and
unbiased trial. Monstrous villain though he the unconscious Zoroster lav, Derek’s finger

i hand. Derek was seated propped
Jne of the boulders, staring with
eyes down into the shadow-filled

s entitled to that, and could 1 .
lie left to die at the hands of the priests.

But what a devil's jest this truce must be.
A murderer and his intended victim travel-
ling a lonely, perilous trail together, cadi de-
pendent on the other for his safety.

And when the frontier was reached ?

There would rorne the show-down. And
that, as Zoroster had said, was on the knees
of the gods.

"Well?" Zoroster' s voice cut in on
Derek's thoughts, “ what are you going to

Derek shrngged Iris shoulders.

“ Remain with you,'' he replied. " I have
no other option, for I intend to see you
hanged ! "

" 1 trust,” croaked Zoroster, grim humour
in his pain-filled eyes, “ that you will find
it a diverting spectacle."

Jf THE HUNT ACROSS THE
MOORS

T HEV took cover well up the hillside
amongst hundreds of scattered boulders.
“ And here we must remain until night-
fall," said Zoroster, when Derek hud
strapped his broken arm in an improvised
splint made from the thick leather of a gun
holster. “ So if you become, hungry, my
friend, just tighten your belt or chew one of

He proffered a ease of cheroots. Derek
waved them aside.

"If vour niai lime took fire when yon
crashed," he said, " your pilots must have
seen^ it. Won't they return and look for

"■Not they," replied Zoroster. "It wotdd
be madness, Zworge will say, and he is my
second in command. Baize might hovo come,
but I doubt it. One does not look for
chivalry in such ns I command.”

He broke off, pointing away down tile valley
towards where a score or more of black-robed
figures had appeared.

" Behold the hounds of Buddha,” he said.
"If they pick up the scent we're done.
Better sec to your gun — and keep a bullet for

Lying full length behind the massive
boulder where they had sought cover, he and
Derek watched the monks slowly progressing
np the valley in a long line which covered
both its sides.

“ They’re going to come very close to ns,”
observed Zoroster grimly. " We’d better
move back, I think.’-'

•' Con you manage it? ” asked Derek.

“ 1 can manage anything to avoid those
vultures," responded Zoroster, and there was
that in his words which conveyed to Derek
more clearly than anything else Zoroster had
said just how much the pirate leader dreaded
the black -robed priests.

Moving with infinite caution and keeping
always in tile cover of the boulders, the two
fugitives wormed their way further up the
hillside.

Zoroster's face was deathly with tile agony
and internal hurt, hut
his brow wet with cold

lightened on the trigger of his g

But the danger passed. It
matter of yards away, in the f i . . ....

gaunt and muscular monks whose great,
curved swords showed gteamingly beneath
their robes as they strode along.

As Zoroster hod said, it was impossible for
them to search cvciy boulder, cave and
crevice of the wide valley. To have done
so would have required ten times their num-
ber, and their questing eves failed to locate
the two black leather-clad forms lying prone
and motionless beneath the 1 ~ '
boulders.

A turn in the valley soon hid them from
view, and stirring, Zoroster muttered a few
disjointed words, then dropped off iuto the
deep sleep of sheer exhaustion ; a sleep from
which he did not awaken until the short, grey
afternoon was merging into dusk.

of his broken
grimly he kept

More tk

p Derek had to assist him.
t such times Zoroster would croak his
thanks through livid lips. They reached at
length a crevice formed by two huge boulders
lying propped together on their sides, aud
slithering into it, Zoroster slumped limply
forward on his face in the black oblivion of
iiiieonsoiousrtess.

There was little or nothing Derek could
do for him, nnd, drawing his gun, he lay
watching the_ monks progressing up the valley,
hunting assiduously among the rocks and
boulders for the man whose machine they
Lad seen crash ill flames, and whose body

PLANETS

A Weekly Up-to-the-minute News Feature or
Matters Inter-Planetary

By P. E. CLEATOR

{President of the British Inter-Planetary Society.)

Rocketry in the U.S.S.R.

R USSIA has long been interested in the
possibilities of rocket propulsion.

As early as the beginning of the present
century a scientific theory of space travel was
advanced by Konstantin Edounrdovitrh
Ziolkowsky, wlto wrote several books on the
subject.

As a result of Ziolkowsky's teachings there
cist, to-day, at’ Moscow and Leningrad, two
Groups for the Study of Reactive Move-
PTit,” called G.I.K.D. for short.

I have just received a report from Dr.
Jakow I. Perlmann, of the Leningrad Uni-
versity Observatory. At the present moment
• Moscow group is experimenting with
•ket planes for stratosphere travel, while
the Leningrad group is planning to shoot a
test rocket which will reach the outer limits
of the Earth's atmosphere.

Recently lug. Sktem, of the Leningrad
group, invented a new type of rocket motor,
which works on a rotary reactive principle,
aud a special rocket is now being contrueted
for the purpose of testing it.

The rocket, which will be propelled by
liquid fuel, is approximately ten feet, in
height, and weighs nearly ISO pounds. It
has been designed to carry meteorological
instruments, nnd it is calculated that it will
attain a height of over thirty miles.

It- is imped that the rocket will be ready
for launching in a few months.

The International Rocket Society

P LANS are afoot to link up all the various
Inter-Planetary Societies tluoughout the
world in one international rocket, society. I
have received a letter from the organiser, Mr.
G. Edward Pendray, of New York, in which
he explains that it has now been arranged for
him to draw up tentative plans, which will be
submitted to the leaders of the various sorie-
ibrooghout the world for discussion and
criticism.

In this way, to quote from Air. Pendray \s
letter, it will be possible ” quickly to reduce
to a concrete proposition."

I will, of course, give a full report of the
proposals in connection with this important
scheme in due course.

"It is evening?” said Zoroster wonder-
ingly, and his voice was stronger.

" Yes, evening.” replied Derek, " and time
we were moving if yon feel up to it.”

•' You should have- wakened me before.”
said Zoroster, crawling out from cover and
straightening unsteadily lo his feet. “ Those
monks did not find os then? ”

" No. and I've seen no more of them,” re-
plied Derek, also rising. ” The coast’s clear,
I think."

” Come on then." said Zoroster, then
added, as he and Derek made their way down
changing towards the vailev bottom : " I don't know
about you. but I'm damned hungry ! ”

Derek looked at him. His face was drawn
and haggard.

” T think you want- a doctor rather than a
meal,” remarked Derek di-yly. " How far
d'you reckon we are from the frontier? ’’

“ Three hundred miles,” answered Zoros-
ter. " Perhaps a little more. Seems rather
hopeless, doesn't, it ! ”

“ Yes," agreed Derek.

They were silc-nt then, threading their way
between the boulders of the valley bottom.
Suddenly Zoroster gripped Derek by the

“ Listen 1 " he whispered.

Derek hailed, rigid and matiordess. As he
did so there came to his ears the sound of
approaching voices.

"Behind here, for your life!" grated
Zoroster, ami swiftly ho and Derek went to
cover behind a nearby boulder.

The sound of voices drew nearer ami there
loomed up out of the dusk-two tall aud black-
robed monks striding briskly along.

Zoroster never hesitated. Drawing his gun
from his belt he straightened up. and before
Derek bad realised his intention the dusk was
split hy livid flame and the stillness of the
valley shattered by the roar of the powerful
automatic.

The range was far too short, to allow of a
miss. Death belching luridly out of the murk
took those two monks tragically unawares,
and with their shaved and hooded heads
blown abnost to pieces they swayed on their
feet and toppled to the ground.

“ Those robes of theirs will give us a better
clianeo of escape," rasped Zoroster. thrust-
ing his still smoking guu into liis belt.
" We’ll have to move quickly, though. They
may not be alone! "

“ That's just what I’m thinking,” re-
marked Derek, sickened by the merciless
slaughter. " Your gun must have been heard
for miles."

“ It's a chance we had to take,” snarled
Zoroster. “ It will he night in a few minutes,
ami pursuit of ns then will he hopeless.”
Bending over one of the dead priests, lie
used his sonnd right hand to strip the man
of his robes, whilst Derek quickly stripped
the other.

■' This is much better." said Zoroster. when
both he and Derek stood hooded and black-
robed, each with a. great sword strapped
about his waist. " 1 can talk their cursed
language, and if we are careful none will sus-
pect that we are not a couple of priests —
Jilood and furij. look there ’ "

The latter words Came in a scream and his
gun blazed into life, stabbing luridly through
the dusk, as from behind the adjacent rocks
rose a score or more of black-robed figures.

"Eire, you fool!" lie yelled ut Derek.

" Wo are surrounded ! "

Whipping out his gun, Derek blazed into
the priests who were sweeping in oil them,
but nothing could slay that vengeful rush.

Already Zoroster's trigger was clicking
harmlessly, for his gun was empty, and as
Derek emptied Ids lost cartridge into tile
throat of a towering and powerful monk,
blade-robed arms were flung around him from
behind and the flat of a sword crashed siek-
eningly down on his head, .plunging him into
oblivion.

420

May 12, 1931— SCOOPS

Hideous Offering to Buddha

UBN , *Dc»«k M nexr^pMS ,, ^Vs ,, eyM , *!t

was to find himself lying bound hand
and font on tlm floor of a small and dimly-
illumined stuns roll.

Near l:iin, trussed like a fowl, sal Zoroster,
liis back against the wall. Struggling l» a
sitting posture, Derek blinked dazedly about
him, for bis bead was aching agonised ly.

" Well, we didn't get far," he commented
grimlv. “ Where exactly are we” "

“ In the monastery of Kio Ra." replied
Zoroster. " 1 hope you are prepared for
death, my friend."

“ I've been prepared for it ever since I
landed on your blasted airship 1 ' ' snapped
Derek.

Zororter's bloodless lips twi.t-1 in a
grimace which was meant for a smile.

•' Yes, but not smh a death a' t.-.-v.- hei in
store for us." he replied. “ Listen ”

To Derek » straining ears nothing seemed
to break the bushed and blooding stillness of
the monastery. Then so faint aa to be scarcely
perceptible, lie heard that most dread and
sou I -stirring of nil sounds — tho roll of
muffled drums.

The noise grow in volume until, u tumul-
tuous thunder of sound, it reverberated
through the corridors and cells to die slowly

" That is the cull to service," said Zoroster
Calmly, "f think our time draws near l "

Scarcely bad he voiced the words than there
came the sound of sandalled feel in the corri-
dor outside tiie cell, a key grated in the lock
and the door swung open.

Standing on the threshold were six black-
robed and hooded monks accompanied by the
gaoler, a squat and leering dwarf, from whose
girdle jangled a heavy bunch of keys.

Stepping into the cell, the monks seized
Derek and Zoroster, jerked them roughly to
their feet, severed the bonds about their
ankles and marched them tram the cell.

Then liegan a nightmarish journey through
■ labyrinth of corridors and down a wide
,:..cc >tairtSM guarded by hooded monks
wi-k draws swords in their hands, until the
great curtain whirii shrouded the entrance to
the temple was reached.

Pulling aside the curtain, the leader of the
escort led the way into the dimly-illumined
temple, where a great concourse of priests
were gathered iu a SHni-rircle in front of the
: .weriig images of the Buddhist trinity— the
Buddha of the past, of the present and of

On an cmate and gilded throne at the feet
of the Buddha of the present sat a wizened
and shrivelled abbot in gorgeous vestments
studded with precious stones.

The assembled monks moved aside to afford"
the prisoners and their escort Passage, and
in the midst of their guards Zoroster aud
Derek were marched before the abbot,

"Behold. O Abbot of Kio Ra!" cried
the leader of the escort sonorously. " Be-
hold the dogs whom tho great lluddha lias

-livered into thy hands! "

The wizened abbot leaned forward on his
throne, liis aged eyes taking slow and vicious
stock of Derek aud Zorostev.

" fin two of yc who so murderously raided
tho monastery of Kio Blu Iasi night imw
stand before the omnipotent Buddha whom
thou has violatod and outraged," ho snarled.
“ Have ye aught to say before Buddha rises
in his wrath to visit upon ye tho dire punish-
ment thou hast merited t 1 ‘

" No. nothing at all, ye Abbot," answered
Zoroster. “ Proceed with tho execution and
ye will sne how lit least one man can die ! "

" Thou say (Si that now," snarled the
abbot, " but when thou hast witnessed the
manner of thy death mayhap thy courage will
desert thee'. "

With a skinny, claw-like hand he gestured
to tho priests, who dragged forward from
their midst a wretched, ton gn el ess peasant,
who gibbered like :i madman and tried in
vain to prostrate himself at the feet of the
abbot.

“ Behold one who struck a priest of

Buddha," grated the abbot.. " Tho tor-
turers have finished with him, and uow
Buddha is about to claim him for his own.
As he dies, so shall ye ! "

Obeying another gesture of that skinny
hand two monks climbed swiftly up the steps
which led to the lap of tho giant Buddha

if the

hauled up into the Buddha’s lap, thrust into
the great curved land of the god and fettered
to the giant metal fingers.

The two monks then descended and joined
their black r died brethren, leaving the pour
tortured wretch struggling in a frenzy of des-
pair, fast in the fetters of that monstrous
hand.

Ri-iing from his throne, the abbot i.'.ood
with uplifted bunds in front of the god.

" Behold, O Buddha ! " he cried. " Behold
the dog who struck a priest, of thine, in thy
hand ho lies and to thee be the ultimate, ven-
geance. Ho is thine, U Buddha. Thine to
crush and destroy!

As tho shrill word* ceased, Derek's horri-
fied eyes saw the great hand of the Buddha
begin to rise slowly from off its mighty hip.
Higher and higher it rose, hearing tho
doomed and terrified creature with it.

Slowly, slowly the gleaming metal fingers
commenced to close about tho gibbering

thing is work

Derek did not answer. Indeed, lie scarce
heard the words. Rooted to the spot in horri-
fied fas' illation he watched whilst those
terrible jointed fingers tightened about the
tortured peasant, remorselessly crushing him
to a boneless pulp.

One awful animal cry broke from the bant-
ing lips of the victim. It was the death
shriek and then it was stilled nothing.

Blood dripped from that gleaming hand ;
dripped down to the lap of tho god and
trickled to the floor. Then, slowly, the hand
unclcuchcd and from it dropped n hideous
thing which a few moments before hud been
a man.

The shapeless mass of pulp thudded to the
lap of the god und rolled oil on to the floor.

"Steady!" Again the voice of Zoroster
spoke by 'Derek's side. " I warned you of
what these cursed ' ultnres were capable ! "
Sick to his very soul, Derek closed Ids eyes,
and before his dreadful nausea had passed he
beard the abbot addressing Zoroster :

'■ Thou Inst seen what thy fate is to be.
thou who with thy carrion crows raided tho
monastery of Kio "Bin. As that misbegotten
dog has died so .shall thou. But the out-
raged Buddha will not crush thee so swiftly.
Thine will he a lingering death, with the
bones breaking one by one and thine eyes
starting but slowly from their sockets."

‘‘ Then get on with it," snarled Zoroster,
" and still thy cackling tongue ! "

His wolfish features contorted with fury
the- abbot wheeled on his monks and rapped
out an order. Instantly Zoroster was seized
and Ins ankles pinioned.

Helpless in Ins bonds ho was hoisted up
to the lap of the god, where two immks
fettered him to the great, curved lingers of
the hand which had been lowered to grasp
this second victim.

Watching. Derek saw the monks scramble
down to the floor, then again, with uplifted
hands, the nblmt addressed the vile god :

“ In thy grasp. O Buddha," he cried,
“ lies one who ravaged thy monastery of Kio
Blu and violated thy holy shrine. We, thy
servants, have delivered h'im to thee for ven-
geance, O Buddha, so that in thy omnipotent
hand may meet the death he has so richly
earned ! "

He paused, and slowly the giant hand com-
menced to rise, the great gleaming fingers
closing cruelly in about their victim.

(More thrilling adventures In next week's Instal-
ment ot this powerful serial)

SCOOPS — May 12, 1931

421

Men of To-morrow

Seek to Revolution*

INVADERS from TIM

TIME — the paradox of science.
Not the generally accepted mat -
ter of seconds, minutes and days,
but one of the greatest mysteries
of the universe. If we could tra-
vel faster than light we would
overtake Time. If it were pos-
sible to reach the ultimate of
motion Time would come to a
standstill. Here is the story of
a strange experiment in Time,
related by one of the accepted
masters of American science
fiction

By John Russell
FEARN

★ AN EXPERIMENT IN TIME

ti.M t.AWTOX,

ipwj. nobody credited h.s discover**
intents ; no>>ody believed he bud any
of research in hi* hands- save one

snaked from them across the floor and stapled
into iho roof-beams. Three-foot glass tubes
filled with purple liquid were poised upright,
against the wall. . . . In the centre ol' the
workshop stood a machine — a squat, vaguely
cylindrical affair of struts and circular discs,
the discs being capable of revolving in their
well-lubricated bearings when necessary.
And. linked to the whole, a switchboard of
meters, plugs, and pole-switches.

•• If my calculations are correct," said
Tom thoughtfully, surveying all this mass
of apparatus one Saturday afternoon, when
he and his friend had concluded the actual
assembling of the machinery, " we ought to
be able to take something from a future time
and bring it here. I believe it to be physi-
cally impossible for us to move ourselves in
Time, but it ought to he possible to remove
something from the future and bring it here

" So you've said before,” Bob remar ked.
" The trouble is, you're so wrapped up in
your theories, you don’t explain yourself

" Well, this can be explained quickly
enough," the young analyst promptly replied.
" Time, logically and clearly cnougti, is
linked immovably to the phenomenon we call
Speed, or Motion. For instance, the faster
you go. the less time you take. Were you to
reach the ultimate of speed you would never
move, because you'd be back before you
started. That would bring Motion and Time
torero. Understand?.”

" Uh-huh,” Bob
“ Sounds a bit Irish •

" Irish, be banged 1 It's logic— scientific !
That's tiie basis of the idea. Now. my
system is the exact reversal of, shall we say,
the ultimate of Speed: Since maximum

velocity would result in no Time at, all, it
follows that great slowness of speed— that is,
the slowest possible, rate — would result in
Time going actually fasteV thun Motion.
Hence, Time would shoot onwards, whilst
apparent Motion remains at zero. Get it? ”
•" Well— vaguely. You mean, that this

machine alters the normal law of Motion in
relation to Time, by making Time faster
than Motion, hence it must go forward
millions of times faster than is natural. Is
that it?

fn’ve got it. absolutely 1 That's just
.ml I do it by this special electricity of

“ You'vi
it! And I
mine, which exactly reverses the law'
Motion. That causes those discs there to
Totate, and in rotating they send out in-
visible magnetism iuto Time, magnetism

May 12, 1931— SCOOPS

422

Vorld for the Good of Posterity

A battering ram of destruction was hurled upon the grey walls
of the Controlling Building in Trafalgar Square. From near-by
roofs guns hurled deadly rays at the grim fortress of the Invaders
from Time.

capable of bringing back to here any object
:• encounters. You see. the moment I shut
the current off the magnetism returns to the
machine here, which, as 1 calculate it, must
result in any object in future time coining
back as well."

" Men? ” Bob queried dubiously.

" Possibly. But there are other things
besides men. you know. Oh, I see what you
mean ! Yes, this magnetism attracts flesh
ami blood — anything. It isn't just limited to
metal, like ordinary magnetism. You see.,
the magnetism will bring back whatever
happens to be in its path in future time.
That's why I think we ought to make some
pretty interesting disenvevies if the thing

“ But. say, aren't you ignoring a factor of
Time?” Bob broke in, calculating as ever.
" Yon cai>'t bring a thing back, because if
you do it will be in a space, or Time, in
which it never really existed or had being.”

Tom growled and turned to liis switch-
board. “ You're just repeating a sup-
posedly unalterable law of science,” he said.
" T intend to prove it for myself. Why
should it apply- anyhow? it's all sup-
position. . . . We'll make a test and see, any-

Bob stood on one side and watched intently
as his friend set to work with the controls
of li.i remarkable device. Presently the
gene:.!- ors began to hum; the purple liquid in
tin- ‘ss tubes boiled strangely. The air he-
came i—hvy with the smell of ozone from
<I:m I'H.'g-s S;iarhs t’nshe.l from .!e
waste- corn a :s The whole affair look on
an indescribable weirdness.

Tom's fare glister. d with the perspi.ation
<• < i:.t -;:i as he stared eagerly at tl.»-
empty spH.c beneath ;l:e cow rapidly iota-
tine d:sc« of il-.e " T:-ne fmestigclrr.”
*• . a .. k movement .ie turned nr ! s-vuog

the Time Pointer to the year *.o. 2534, six

For perhaps ten minutes the humming and
buzzing continued without abatement, then
Tom cut out the master-switch. The dron-
ing stopped ; the boiling liquids subsided.

- Came a thud. Petrified, the two friends
stared with goggling eyes at the floor
beneath the Time Investigator — stared

transfixed at a glittering box of some un-
known, silvery metal.

" What — what is it? ” Boh ventured at
last, taking a step forward.

" We'll soon find out, anyhow.”

Stooping, Tom picked the box up — it was
perhaps six inches square witli a remarkably
engraved lid— and placed it on the bench.
A quick examination revealed no trace of a
lock, yet, manifestly, the thing was not

" A box — out of future time — out of
2534 1 ' Tom breathed, fascinated. "Bob,
do you begin to realise the wonder of the
thing we've done?” Bis whole idealist's
soul was momentarily overcome with futuris-
tic visions, visions which the practical,
mundane Boh quickly dispelled.

" Be hanged to that— let’s get the thing
open. Any suggestions?

" Try an electric charge on it,” Tom re-
sponded, and placed the box in the area of a
force beam. The switch shot over, and
almost instantly the box blew apart under
tile stream of high-tension energy. From
its shining interior rolled a sheet of wafer-
thin metal, rolled up in the fashion of an old-
time parchment.

" H’m, ihe box seems to he of something
like silver, and this scroll thing's the same.”
Torn commented, unfurling the roll with
slightly shaking hands. " it appears — Great
ScoLt ! What is it all, anyhow? ”

Puzzled, the two stared at the now un-
furled two font length of metal. Upon it
were engraved columns upon columns of
names and, apparently, addresses, with dates
at the sides of the names. The lettering

was understandable English, though tLo
names at the top of the scroll assumed re-
markable pronunciations. “ Varkol, 2534;
Mornas, 2533; Ramikal, 2434. ...” Tom
looker! up in amazement. " What in the.
name of wonder is -t, lloh? See, the list
goes right down through these names to our
own, year, 1934. What do you know about

“ I believe I've got it! " Bob ejaculated
suddenly, after thinking for a moment. " In
fact I’m sure, of it! It's a pedigree! ”

” A what ? Don't be an ass ! We're not
dog-fanciers! ”

. ” Well, an ancestral record, then. See,
the name of the person in 1934 is quite
sensible — Robert Halford, 42, Maryland
Gate, London. E.C. The names are quite
normal until 2134 is reached, then they as-
sume weirdness. Don't you see? These
names here, and numbers, are ancestors of
these other people ! Look carefully, Tom.
At the top of the scroll are four names—
Varkol, Ramor. Forjan and Lanor. Those
four chaps obviously exist in 2534, where we
pinched this thing from. Their ancestors
arc shown ou this list, and boil down finally
to one mail — Robert Halford, who is pre-
sumably alive at this very moment. Though
ho doesn't know it, lie’s the forefather of (ill
these folk who will come in future genera-
tions. Understand? ”

‘‘Gosh— yes!” Tom whistled blankly.
“ After all, through the years, the number
of people from one forefather would be
tremendous. ... I believe you've hit, it. Bob,
though it docs seem a dizzy sort of con-
ception. Say, all this is too muddling to

talk over here. Let's go in and have tea.
and perlinps we'll straighten tilings out a
hit, . . ”

★ MEN of to-morrow

T ea and conversation brought home the
realisation to the two friends that they
had indeed captured from 2534 a record of

Well, what are we going to do about,
it? " Boh enquired, when they had discussed
the mailer Horn every angle.

Tom stroked ids chin pensively. “ I'm
hanged if I know ! The trouble is, wo can
never send anything hack where wo got it
from. I'll tell you what we will do. I’ll
put this scroll in my own private section
in dad's safe, and we'll have another shot
at probing 2534 to-night. The whole business
is fascinating, Are you on ? "

" Nothing could slop me. Let's get
going."

In a few minutes they were hack in the
laboratory, and once more the Time Investi-
gator got to work. For ten minutes it hurled
its invisible magnetism into Time, then, aa
before, Tom cut the current off. A brief
pause, then

The two friends jumped back, overcome
•with shock. For standing beneath the discs
were four grim, square-faced men, attired ill
close-fitting uniforms, with instruments — six
_ to each of them — in special holders in their
leather belts.

For a while they stood in silence, gazing
round the workshop with eyes of cold blue'.
Indeed, the four of them were so much alike
in their blue eyes, square faces, and black-
liaired heads, barely covered with peaked
cups, that they might have, been brothers.
Then, with a slow, faintly majestic tread,
they walked out into the laboratory.

” We'd better run for it! ” Bob breathed,
sudden fear overwhelming him. Then he
looked about him desperately as the ruth-
less eyes of the obvious leader of the quartet
turned to him.

“ You are responsible for the theft of our
ancestral record ? ” lie asked, jn a hard, tui-
mellowcd voice. “ Answer me ! Quickly!”

" That was my doing— an accident," Tom
broke in quickly. " Tell me, who are you ?
Where do you belong to ”

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

423

A Scientist of

The man considered for a moment, and
glanced significantly nL liis rigid-faced com-
panions. Tlion at Icngtli he tinned back to

“ I, my young friend, am Varkol, Master
of Greater London in the year 2634. These
three are my brothers, Hamor, Forjan, and
Lanor. By n clever piece of trickery with
Time and electricity you slole from us a
valuable ancestral record!" The man
brooded over that for a space, and looked at
Tom’s worried face thoughtfully. " You
arc dever for your age. my son. Very clever '
Of course, we knew j-ou would make this
discovery, and we know it to be a pi art habit;
way of investigating Time."

"How dij yon know!" Bob asked iq
amazement.

" It is in our history records that in 1534
a yonng man named Thomas Lawton found
how to explore Time, ilis invention was not
used after the twentieth century because it
proved of little Use, hut it did provide the
basis for a more thorough search into the
mysteries of Time.'’ Yarkol smiled faintly.
“ You sec, to me your history is past ; to
you, it lies in the future. . . . After the
accidental theft of our record of iinccstry,
wo discovered the cause of the trouble, and
decided to see if you made an attempt to in-
vestigate Time again. We placed ourselves

.stolen from — end so we came here. Now we
ere here, there are many things we can do."

•' Bu — hut, we can't send you back
again ! " Tom cried despairingly.

' Let that not worry you,” Varkol re-
turned calmly. " We realise that. However,
v/i- of 2534 are n scientific rare; we give our
lives for its progress. What better then tliat
rov brothers and I spend the remainder of
our lives in studying the habit* and ways of
the Ancient Britons ? Indeed, we might
make a few improvements with our greater
knowledge.”

“What do you propose doing!” Bob
demanded, gathering courage.

’■ Oh — who knows!" Varkol shrugged his
massive shoulders. '* Presumably we are in
rhe Ancient London we read about, with its
Trafalgar Square, and Thames, and Strand.

. . . Wo will change all of that. We linvo
the knowledge of future time, and can turn
it to advantage.”

"But you can't go upsetting a city of
eight million inhabitants like tliat— spoiling
oil law and order ' ” Tom protested.
'■ You've no right, Varkol — — "

Tlie Master interrupted him with a bass
chuckle. " Eight million inhabitants, all
with the knowledge of medieval England !
Don't vou sea what you could do if you went
back sis hundred years? You could perform
miracles I So it is with us. . . . You two,
for you obviously possess fairly clever minds,
shall he our ambassadors 1 ”

” 1 refuse — and so does my friend !

Tom snapped hotly. " 1 " lie broke off

suddenly as Varkol whipped one of his six
instruments from his leather belt.

” You cannot refuse the wish of Varkol ! "
ho retorted fiercely. “ I can see you avo both
very fractious, but you shall obey I For
the time being, this will suffice."

llo pressed u button upon the instrument,
and n pink pencil of fire leapt quickly at
both men, each in turn. Instantly they
sagged helplessly to the floor, all strength
.•f hone and inusele mriously set at naught.
They found they could uoL even speak ; only

“ Just electrically -induced paralysis,” tho
Master explained coolly, replacing his
weapon. " VVe have quick ways of dealing
with the obstinate. . .

He coaxed to speak, and, placing his hands
on his trips and feet astride, surveyed the
laboratory with studied care. Finally ho
nodded. ” H'm, you two liave enough stuff
here for onr puqxise. Come — we will pro-
ceed." This last remark wus addressed to
lib, three brothers.

In the sixty minutes that followed, the
helpless Tom and Bob became the amazed

424

To-day Becomes a Genius

spectators of scientific wizardry on the part
of the four men from Time, llsiug their
various iris! iiinionta they converted number-
less clectricul devices in the laboratory into
one complete and complicated machine, a
mass of wires and switches — the only pic-
dominant thing about it beiug a cylindrical
projection possessing a concave lens, from
which, open tests being made, there sprang a
beam of greenish-blue.

” A brain-transformer." Varkol commented
at length, smiling grimly. ” We have many

into geniuses, and geniuses into super-men.
You sre. slow brain activity is merely
occasioned by excessive brain-substance,
which hampers the activity of the brain-
cells. This machine, rough though it is iu
design, acts on the same principle ns our
normal ones. Namely, it painlessly disrupts
the encroaching brain tissue and leaves tile
cells dear and active. Also, by a slight alter-
ation in frequency, wc make u brain — your
brain! — entirely subservient, to ours. Yon
will he brilliantly clever, as we are, but yon
will only do -what we tell you. You
call it hypnotism— hut it isn’t. It is elec-
trically controlled brain-activity. Now you
see how you will become our ambassadors ! "

Tlia two friends were roughly hauled to
tlieir feet and dumped on laboratory stools
before th» bench. Varkol surveyed them for
a momc:i> in amused silence, then flicked the
main switch on the remarkable contrivance
he had cansod to ho created.

The greenish -blue beam immediately
played upon Tom's -shock of fair hair; Ins
brow and temples seemed to glow strangely.
For himself, ho experienced the most amazing
mental metamorphosis he had ever known.
His mind seemed suddenly capable of con-
ceiving the most abstruse aid astounding
things! He found he could quite dearly ucnlcr-
s tana that tremendous mathematical riddle —
the calculus. Yet, despite this elevation of
thought, there was withal a sense of control.
Dindy he realised it was the mind of the
amazing Varkol dominating him.

So the brain-transformation continued, nnd
finally the four men of 2534 had before them
two super-geniuses, yet both under their dic-
tates. The paralysis was removed, and the
two frionds abruptly found normal bodily
vigour had resumed. No thought was iu
their minds of rebellion. They were
machines — just controlled, flesh -and -blood

” Excellent emissaries, indeed.” com-
mented Forjan, glancing at his Master. “ We
could wish for nothing better."

” Truly," Varkol conceded, complacently
putting his various instruments in his belt
once more. ” This particular task is com-
plete ; to* let 03 view the old city of Lon-
don. You two will lead us to the centre of
yonr London — your Trafalgar Square."

" This way. Master,’ 1 said Toni
mechanically, and. opening the laboratory
door, he stepped out into the hack garden of
his home. He had no recollection of his
parents inside the house, otherwise he would
undoubtedly have tried to summon their aid.

Willi the same measured trend, Boh by Ids
side, he led the way through the wicket Rato
nnd out into I he street be.yonfl, dimly lit by
gad i gluing — tor darkness had nuw fully come.

"Gas. 1 ” grunted Farjon. " A system prac-
tised by tho ancients. Master."

” Beyond question,'' Varkol agrees!

" We have electricity," Tom said quietly.
” This is not a high-class, residential district,
vnu know. How would the Master prefer to
reach Trafalgar Square? It is twelve miles
from here on foot— nearly four hours. Per-
haps you would prefer a 'bus or trains! "

"Are those modes of progress.'” the
Master asked curtly.

“ Yes."

Varkol shook his head. “ No, then. We do
not wish to excite the public curiosity. We
will walk."

” As von wish, Muster. I will lead yon."

So the journey commenced — a journey
which proved the utter tirelessuess of tho

of To-morrow

brain-enslaved Torn and Bob. and the en-
during powers of the men from Time. They
walked with steady, rhythmical tread, draw-
ing into the shadows ns people passed. I hough
it was obvious that their almost orthodox
uniforms occasioned little curiosity. They
could easily have been mistaken for seamen,
or something simiJni.

Then eventually the bright lights of tho
city began to loom up, and progress by
stealth no longer possible. This being
so, Varkol led tho wav forward with deter-
mined strides, but still no heed was paid to
bim or his three iron faced brothers. True,
glances sere cast at the somewhat vacantly
staring, hatless Tom and Bob. but tliat was
*1L

So, down the Strand, amidst the throngs
of theatre- goers, across the traffic-jammed
square, and- to the centre of Trafalgar Square
ii-ielx. Here Varkol called a halt, and stood
for a whiie looking about him in apparent
amusement at the teeming life, the sky-signs,
and the black silhouette of Nelson's Column
behind him.

The vision of — to him — old-world London
seemed distinctly funny. He chuckled
silently to himself at intervals- Then
presently lie turned and cast a suggestive
look at his three brothers.

"An excellent spot for a base." he com-
mented calmly. "The very heart of old
London. There is indeed something won-
derful in I icing back in history like this —
right back in the core of an almost for-
gotten city. Ye# — here will be our head-

quarters."

With that lie turned slightly and surveyed
Nelson's Column thoughtfully, right up to
the dim summit where stood poised the one-
eyed mariner. Quietly, lie loosened from hi*
Left yet another of his mscramsnt*, then,
sighting it upon the on* hundred and fifty
foot length, ha pressed the button.

The result was astounding !

The column, time-honoured and almost
sacred, suddenly split in twain, and came
toppling downwards ui a cloud of disinte-
grating chips uf stone and dust. Tho figure
of Nelson himself collapsed outwards into
space and .smashed into a thousand piocos.

Within tho space of u few minutes, as it
seemed, a startled, dnzed populace beheld
Trafalgar Square littered with blocks of
stone and thick black dust slowly dispersing
in the night wind. Traffic came almost to a
standstill ; people caine from all directions to
stare and wonder.

” Stand bii. k ' " Varkol commanded, as the
surging people pressed dose about him.
” To touch me means death ! I haTe w arned
you ! "

" What's all this about?'' demanded a
constable, striding through the crowd. "Hey,
yon! What do vr.u think you're doing? You
four arc np to no good ! Incendiarism, that's
what it is ! Come with me ! "

"I've wamod you — stand hack!" Varkol
grated out, whipping another weapon from
his lielt. " Take heed, you fool ! ”

"Aw — enough of this!” the constable
began, seizing Varkol by the. shoulder in u
fierce clutch. Then lie staggered backwards,
gasping hoarsely, ns n sudden beam of pure
crimson enveloped him. Finally, lie fell
backwards into the arms of the crowd, shud-
dered, and became still.

“He's dead!" came an astounded shout.

*' Yes — dead I " Varkol snapped. “ I
warned him. You others do as 1 tell von.
Keep away! Cuuie along" — he turned to
his brothers — " we have much to do."

Resolutely, the party pushed their way to
the crumbled min of stone aud dust "tliat
had been Nelson's Column. Then, with in-
finite calmness, ignoring the shouting people
and screeching of police whistles. Varkol laid
out four of hi* instruments on the stonework
ready for use. His brothers did likewise.

"Granite," Farjon commented. “This
will he easy, Master. The transmutation of
granite into maldelene steel will bo simple.
But we had better hurry — the crowd is in an
ugly mood."

May 12, 1931 — SCOOPS

London Changes into a City of the Future

“ Have no fenv of them,''

Vat'ltol returned, with tiis cus-
tomary placidity. " They art*
nothin); but fools ; we' can
more than beat them with our
brains uml knowledge.”

The vast crowd that had
gathered became more quiet,
however, as they witnessed
what followed, for, in the
same manner os they had
formed a bra in- trails farmer
out of odds and ends of elec-
trical apparatus in Tom's
laboratory, the men from Time
created a small but efficient
metal abode out of the granite
of the fallen column !

Four of their instruments,
which emitted dull yellow
beams, were capable of caus-
ing transmutation of elements,
a science so perfected by their
advanced time that they could
— and did — form out of the

E suite a square metal dwelling.

came obvious for the first time when
the dust and smoke from their salanic
operations had subsided.

There it stood — an impregnable for-
tress in the exact position where Nel-
son's Column hud been a few short
hours before.

There seemed to be only one door in the
tiny stronghold, and through this the four
men entered the interior, Tom and Boh, si ill
mentally controlled, accompanying them.
^ he door shut, and a gaping populace
realised for the first time that something had
come into their ordered lives that was as
apart and alien as anything they had ever
known or dreamed of !

Tom turned back the
levers — then gasped in
amazement. Standing
between the discs were four
grim, square-faced men.

LONDON TRANSFORMED

QIYARDS midnight, as nothing further
happened and the metal stronghold ro-
ll! ruled as solid as ever, the populace drifted
:!.* way and normal life returned.

l-.emis cf Fieet Sires, Yard

»=d tie Hesse O fees. As a sequel, the
sc-ijwiirg Crermng in » track was made on the
- - -• -6 : >c--d by :hc home-defence corps, and
Trafalgar Square became, for perhaps the
first time in history, the scene of martiul law.

High explosives were flung at the domain
of the invaders; every known means of
destruction was rained upon it, but stiil it
remained an impregnable fortress. How
were the Home Office to know that malda-
lene steel was the sole of 2634? That it,
was indestvuetible by all known forces and
had a life of one million years?

Hostility failing, ultimatums were pro-
ceeded with. Men paraded before the
dwelling with friendly messages on sandwich
boards, hoping the inmates would see them
somehow t hrough the apparently solid walls —
but still nothing happened. So finally, til ing
of their efforts,' the corps withdrew to await
events.

In the stronghold itself Varkol chuckled
with sardonic satisfaction. He was gazing
through the wall, and on all sides it appeared
as though the domain was of nothing stronger
than glass — opaqnc seen from outside ;
transparent from within.

“Wonderful stuff thin nuddelenc steel,"
Varkol said presently. " Owing to its atomic
constitution it is impenetrable when light
fulls upon it — in the sunlight outside, for in-
stance. In here it is totally dark, the only
opening at all being those ventilation holes
in the roof, — thus wo are enabled to see
through the walls. These people of old Lon-
don nro very amusing with their toys. Wo
will change it all. Since wo are doomed to
stay in 1934 because wo cannot return to onr
own Time, we will at least have a city worth
staying in. You two, my young friends, will
now carry ora message lo the people. Wo

Will control your brains so that the right
words are spoken. No harm will befall you.
Now go. . . .”

"It shall be done. Muster,” Tom assented
quietly, and Bob nodded also.

In another moment the two friends were
outside, and, under the mental dictates of the
men from Time, made their way to St. James
Park. People standing round Trafalgar
Square followed at a safe distance, and by
the time they hail readied a deserted band-
stand, a monstrous crowd had gathered round
to listen.

“ My friends,” Tom shonted, using the
words the distant Varkol was deliberately
patting in his brain, " you are at. the mercy
of four men from the year A.n. 2534 — men
brought here by n scientific experiment. They
mean you no harm ; rather they seek to im-
prove on your methods by using their
enormously advanced knowledge — knowledge
six hundred years ahead of you. Tliev ask
that you place yonrselves unreservedly in
their hands, and in return they will give vou
a super-Loudon, u dream of luxury. They
cannot return lo their own Time, so will
improve this one instead, and, ultimately.
Loudon will lie a city of super-knowledge and
power. It is for you all to decide? What

" If they mean no harm, let them carry
on ! ” shouted oue.

” We could do with improvements ! ”
bawled another.

" Hear, hear ! ”

■Snub was the general tenor of the crowd's
response. In no tune the news spread until
all London knew. There were many dis-
senters, hut they were in the minority.
Finally, it was agreed that the populace were
willing to listen to schemes for improvement,
and so the invaders from Time won their first

E oint. This poiut achieved, the two atn-
assadors returned to the Trafalgar Square
stronghold.

All London unreservedly in onr hands,”
commented Varkol, with a grim smile. “ It
is excellent news indeed. Once we linve
London we can soon command, the world. I
am a lover of power, my youug friends; in

2534 I was just, the ruler of one city. Here,
back in Time. I can master all the earth — .i
treasured dream fulfilled. So be it ! The
improvements will commence.”

brain then on improvements did commence,
bom radio sets were obtained by Tain and
Bob, and were con verted by the invaders'
remarkable instruments into one remarkable
machine lor radio-television. Indeed, super
radio-television, for the apparatus was cap-
able of viewing and hearing anything with-
out the necessity of a transmitter at the
"other end.” Also, it eonld, by alteration
in its circuit, pass through solid buildings
and obtain clear-cut pictures of what was
taking place within them.

With this machine, by issuing radio in-
structions to the B.B.C.. which, in turn, were
relayed to all London, the vast improvement
scheme began. Aided by Varkol’s uncanny
knowledge of advanced machinery months of
work were accomplished in oue day.

■So London became a slowly changing city.
'Buses disappeared, and in their stead ap-
peared buIleL-sliaped niacldnes that muved
with demoniacal swiftness on almost hidden
wheels. The streets underwent lightning
changes — the Strand was widened ; edifices
appeared and disappeared., in a vast, magic-
ally changing mystery, as various elements
were transmuted into different orders.

The Tower Bridge rose no longer by chain-
system as time passed, hut by small but in-
credibly powerful atomic force motors. The
noisy, fussy tugs vanished and gave place to
streamlined enigmas that piloted the oily
walers with a swiftness and strength never
lieoiued possible. . . .

So the change went on, evciywlierc. The
Underground became a world of hurtling,
snub-nosed vehicles ; above were the strange
conveyances, the wide streets. A changing
skyline and a changing city, fn four mouths
the invaders from Time had brought about
a master-city, in power and design.

In those four mouths they had emerged
from their tiny stronghold in Trafalgar
Square, and instead created ft massive one
oq the same site. A six-storey edifice with
windows at the summit only — a building of

SCOOPS — May 12, 1931

425

Prisoner in the Stronghold of Time Invaders

malclelene steel equipped with every comfort
mid countless scientific devices (lie sole secret
of the invaders themselves.

The people of London had little cause
to resent the presence of the invaders until
ventful, early spring day, when the tide

b Tom U

_ n from Time

have done," Tom shouted, speaking, as ever,
under mental control. "They have given
you n perfect city; now they propose to make
very necessary alterations in the populace it-
self. In London there are eight million m-
' '■'sills— four million ton many for com-

led significantly

for

e multitude
silent, waiting for

" Varfeol, the man who has given you so
much comfort and progress, has decided that
for equal social footing four million inhabi-
tants is quite enough. He therefore proposes
to destroy the remaining four million'
Briefly, my friends, half the population of
London will painlessly dio at sundown to-
morrow night — sis o'cfock. Thai is Varkot's
edict. This he will do with his asphrxia-
*- - machine, which lie has in his Strong-

holi

He-

Tom proceeded no further. The multitude,
at first overcome with horror at the. ruthless
nniiouneement, were too astounded to speak,
then their rage became abruptly unleashed.
They surged towards the handstand in a
furiously shouting sea. Stones beg"" to sail
through the air. Dust rose in clouds, and,
obeying mental command, Hob suddenly
turned, descended the hand-sLintl slepn, and
raced with more than human speed Imck to-
wards Trafalgar Square.

Tom, however, was not so lucky. A flying
stone caught him full in the forehead ; he
reeled dizzily, toppled over the rail of the
stand, and into the miilst of the crowd. Im-

" The Icid hasn't anything to do with these
dirty invaders. He's somehow hypnotised
by them, or something. (Jive him a chance."
"Yea — stand back there I Give him '

a sheet of paper sad brought water from a
nearby drinking fountain. Under its influ-
ence Tom began to revive.

•' What— what happened! " be asked
dazedly, at last, looking at the sea of faces
about him " I— Good heavens, yes ! I
remember '. " He sat up with a sudden jerk,
wiping a smear of blood from bis forehead.

" Take it easy, kid— you'll be nil right,"
counselled someone.

“ I'm all fight — just a hit dazed," Tom an-
swered, staggering to his feet. *' A most
amazing thing has happened ! " He alood
quite still for u moment in something like
silent awe, then he turned to face the crowd
again. " Friends, up to now I hare beeu
controlled by Varkol — you probably know that
— hut that blow on the head has broken that
mental control somehow! 1 nin master of
my own will again, lint, if it has broken
the enslavement, it hasn't spoilt the genius
which Varkol gave to me. 1 am nearly as
clever as he is! He made u,e that way.

Completely recovered, Tom climbed
actively to the stand again.

"This monster from Time has spoken to
you, through me, in honeyed terms. What
lie really aims at is control of the world,
through bloodshed and ruthless destruction!
My powers of memory arc not impaired 1
can remember everything he plans to do. At
sundown to-morroiv half London's inhabi-
tants will die. Somehow, we've got to stop
it! Wo must attack — and 1, only I, can lend
you. i\ly friend, too — ho must bo rescued ! ”

" What do you propose doing ? ” some-
body shouted.

" Make weapons— commandeer the assist-
ance of everybody we can. The only known.

Government at the moment is Varkol himself,
so we'll take the law into our own hands.
In my mentally improved condition I ran
think out the weapons necessary. It means
war against the invaders — rout them out,
destroy them before they destroy us ! "

" lie's right! Down with the invaders!”
“ Death to Varkol ! ”

And the shouts echoed, as it seemed, ever
the vast mass of newly-made London.

if. HALF LONDON DOOMED

V AIS ICO L scowled heavily as ho studied
Boh Hite hard standing before bin'-
“ Your friend got away ; I can’t find him
by my televisor system. Where is lie ? " he
demanded grimly. " It is belter that, you

Bob's face remained a blank; he shook
his head slowly.

"No n.sa that way. Master," remarked
Farjon. " His mind’ is only controlled by
yonr own. Even if he knows anything, his
mind is not capable of letting him tell it."

Varkol started at that. “ Of conrsc, Far-
jon ! That had not occurred to me. Very
well, stand him before the brain-neutraliser,
and we will break the enslavement of his
mind. A pity, for it meaos we cau never
resume it. However, we must know where
Tom is. We cannot have a missing ambas-

Accorilingly, the machine for neutralising
the brain-enslavement was switched on, and
in another moment Boh was again the master
of himself — but, unlike Tom, he no longer
retained genius. He was siinpty back to his
normal self. With clenched fists lie stood
facing the grim-faced men of 2534.

"Where is Tom?” demanded Varkol
again, his pale blue eyes menacing.

" l don't know what happened to him —
he's probably dead," Bob answered thickly.
" The crowd were out to lynch him after he
spoke those words of yours."

" You're lying! You know full well what
happened to him. Speak, or it may ’he the
worse for you ! "

" 1 tell you I don't know '. You've got to
believe that, Varkol ! One thing I do know,
and it is that all yonr former friends are
now hitter enemies.”

" What does that matter to me? All fools,
inrapable of doing anything, any more than
an arrow from an old-time bow could pene-
trate one of your modern tanks. Don't for-
get our stupendous knowledge — and tins eou-
troliing building is proof against anything ! "
Boli shrugged hopelessly. " All right ; I've
said 1 know nothing. What are you going
to do about it?”

" Bo rid of yon, nhimately.” Varkol
snapped. " For the time being you will be
imprisoned in the adjoining room whilst wo

Unable to help himself. Bob was roughly
seized and pushed into the contiguous apart-
ment. Tiic door, possessing a strange und
puzzling lock, closed.

In moody silence Bob wandered a hoot the
great apartment, gazing at the scientific
machinery stacked against the walls in the
sunlight streaming through the windows.
He did not attempt to find a way out : he
knew from past experience it was impossible.
The windows, of which there were three,
were equally useless exits, being such a vast
height from the ground.

For a while he stood by one of the windows
looking down on an almost suspiciously
quiet London. Then presently lie turned to
the wail ol instruments again, ami begun to
finger the various apparatus thoughtfully. H
was os lie was doing this thill the door sud-
denly softly opened again, and Varkol nud
Farjon were standing ou the threshold.

Leave thnt machinery nloue ! " the
Master snapped savagely. " You niny do
some damage. That is tlio machine to
asphyxiate half of Loudon's population

Bob wheeled round. He laid forgotten the

Master's villainous plan, but now it returned
to him with vivid recollection. Quite sud-
denly, almost by instinct, he drew up his
right fist and struck the Master a terrific
blow on the jaw. Unprepared for the
assault, he staggered backwards and col-
lapsed against the metal wall, striking his
head with numbing force. A short grant
escaped him, then he sagged sideways and
became still, obviously Vtunned with tbo
concussion.

Surprised and delighted at his victory.
Boh swung round on Farjon. This wortfiy
was desperately striving to rip his paralyser
from hi* belt, bnt chance ordained that it
stick in its holster. In another instant Bob
was npon him, and it became increasingly
obvious that, whilst the men from Time were
great brain-workers, they were anything hilt
physically powerful. Against Bob's heavy
frame and strong muscles the hapless Farjon
stood little chance. In a few moments he
was tethered to the unconscious Varkol by-
long lengths of metal wire, and firmly secured
to the legs of one of the instrument boards.

Bob grinned as he rose to his feet.

“ Think yonr way out of that! " he threw
down to them. " It's time somebody else
had a chance '. ”

With that he strode {ram the chamber,
taking care to leave the door slightly ajar
because he knew not how to operate the lock.
Then, with quick strides, lie moved to the
radio-televisor machinery which he under-
stood fairly well, hoping desperately that
Hanmt and Lonor, who evidently were else-
where in the edifice, would not see fit to

Frantically operating the dials of tho
machine, he stared into the screen until St.
James' Park came into view. The place was
deserted, nor did any sounds of interest
beyond the chirping of birds reach him
through the loudspeaker. Disheartened, he
searched London as circumspectly as be
could, hut nowhere could he find a" trace of
his missing friend. Tom had completely and
mysteriously vanished.

At last he switched off, and sat for a
moment in thought.

'' Since I can t get ont of here, the only

Hung I can do to help is to destroy that
Asphyxiator," lie multi red to himself. ' " An
Asphyxiator. eh ' Sends out a beam for ten

area — the air is sucked dry long euotigh for
humans to choke. A bright idea • I'll stop
that, anyhow."

Nodding with decision he returned to the
adjoining apartment, to find tluit Varkol had
recovered innsciousness. He and Farjon
glared fiendishly and struggled (n relcasa
themselves from their bonds of wire as Bob
calmly walked across to the Asphyxiator and
surveyed its massive bulk, deciding upon the
best method of destruction.

Presently be bent over it and examined
tile many wiring terminals, debating in ins
mind — to be suddenly brought to attention
again as something hard prodded him in the
back.

“ Better not. young friend," commented a
grim voice; and swinging round lie beheld
Ramov and Lavmr immediately behind him,
paralysers levelled. They fiurl niB.le no
sound in entering owing to the thick pile
carpet,

■- Good work ! ” growled Varkol. " Tie
Ihcj vojmg traitor np, then release Farjon

The instructions werp duly carried ont. and
Boh, to hi* alarm and disgust, found himself
in the snme position as his former victims
had been. Varkol nodded in silent com-

C latency and led the way from tho room with
is three brothers, closing the door securely
behind him.

" We will dispose of that awkward young
map. to-morrow night," he said grimly.
" VVheq we release the Asphyxiator we will

? lace him in the area of the electric charges,
'hat will me«;i lie will be surrounded by tho
[Head on at foot of nest jnye.)

426

May 12, 1931 — SCOOPS

Prophets of Literature Whose Dreams Came True

FICTION Becomes FACT

H. G. Wells Predicted the Tank

I N February, 1915. Major Hctlierington
submitted to onr War Office plans for a
gigantic “ tank.”

It was to fie one hundred feet long, eighty

wheels were forty feet in diameter, with
treads of no less than 13 feel 4 inches, and
the tank was to fie able t» ford rivers fifteen
feel deep and climb o»ei walls or embank-
merits twenty feet high.

Its inventor reckoned its weight to work
not at three hundred tons, but the Director
<>f Naval Construction, having -t jdicd the
plans, declared the weight would fie nearly
a thousand Ions, and that it wa- tco big for
pract.cid use. Yet the tank idea flourished,
and it ts hatdly too much to say that tanks
won the war for the allies.

Who invented the tank ? Some say it was
that amazing Italian. Leonardo da Vinci,
four and a half centuries ago. He had an
idea for a tort of portable fort with wheel'
and horses inside to pull or push it along,
hut the real originator of the tank was un-
doubtedly Mr. H. U. Wells in his story,
"The Lund Iron Clads," published in 1807
— lhal is, seven years before tile Great War

The Vision of Jules Verne

T HE brilliant imagination of writers of
fi-'fion hai time and again forestalled the

" - :v a**, p: Jo i r Zeopehu

■a ' JSyfiri at t at dead*,"' and las

Mr. Weils e jb-aa tod nabs'" Wax in the
Air.” Mr. Weis' teenst of the German

Tank*, Zeppelins, Motor-cars,
Aeroplanes, Poison Gas, X-Rays,
Radium — Once Fiction, Now Fact

dirigibles that bombed New York might
almost have been token direct from news-
papers of years later, recounting a Zeppelin
raid on London.

Some thirty years ago " Pearson's
Weekly " published u serial railed ” Tha
Angel of the Revolution," by George Grif-
fith. Here again we cau read of dirigible air-
ships very much on the lines of the modem
Zeppelin.

To go baik to Jules Verne, hi* " Twenty
Thousand Leagues l.'nder the Sea" was an

submarine. and his descriptions of Captain
Nemo's . qrar fha|icd submarine vessel prey,
mg ou the world’s commerce was a most
accurate prophecy of the raids of the German
tubman:. -< duni-g the Great War.

In another stoiy called '' Tha Begum's
Fort une *' !.e itesi nued the use of poison gas
in warfare. He even spoke of gas contained
in shells filed from guns.

To-day Fiction — To-morrow Fact

I N future ages Jules Verne will be spoken
of as the first writer to describe Inter-
planetary travel. He did Ibis in his

' Journey Around the Moon,” in which his

adventurers wee fired from a tremendous

eaama is a specially constructed shell.

One mere forecast of his which mast be
mentioned is in one of his less known works

"The Steam House.” This shows that he
foresaw the turning of the motor car many
years before the first car was constructed.

To go even further hack we have the dis-
• every of radium prophesied by Bulwer
Lytton in that strange book " The Coming
Race." " Vril," as he called it, could des-
troy life, yet, differently applied, coulil
restore the sick.

A writer named John Ury Lloyd had mote
than nn idea of the coming of the X-Rays,
although he wrote long before the first hint
of this discovery had dawned on the world of

Fiction of the past constantly lieromes the
fact of the future, and this sort of imagina-
tion becomes increasingly common The

usually soaked himself in science text hooks
and knows, of couise, far more of the powers
of modern science than was possible to a
man in the times of Lytton or Jules Verne.

Some of these stories of Inter-Planetary
travel are so convincing that yon feel, as
you read them, they must ho true. 1 1" they
are not true, yet they will be in the not
very distant future.

1 do not for a moment suggest that nil
the marvels recounted in such stories can
become fact, but I do feel sure that the
prophet's uinnlle lies firmly on the shoulders
of more than one of these writers, and I can
well fancy some youngster of the year 2034
digging up yellowed copies of Scoops from
his great-grandfather's desk and exclaiming
in amazement :

”1 say, these old johnnies knew a jolly
sight more than we think they did.”

Continuing ....

INVADERS FROM TIME

•an - energy we are proposing to spread over
half London. As a result, he will die. A
gw.d idea, is it not?”

'Excellent.' nodded Furjtin in satisfac-
tion. " And what of Tom? "

Tito Master shrugged. " We cannot ilo
anything about him. He has disappeared,
ami Loudon seems quiet enough. Uni it
to-morrow night there is little we can

* DEFEATING TIME

I F. however, the egotistical Narked ex-
po ted perfect quietness and submissive-
lie's to his grim plan to destroy lialf Loudon's
population he was mistaken.

For at five o'clock that same evening he
was startled to behold his entire controlling
edifice surrounded by a literal army of
people, headed by one whom in: instantly
recognised as Tom himself ! Ilis square jaw-
set as he beheld strange machines in the
people's midst, trained on the invincible
building.

" Trouble coming, Forjan, from the look
of tilings," he commented bitterly. " Tom
must lmve somehow broken my will-power
over him. All right, if they want trouble,
they'll get it. Close all the windows with
the shutters: we must have darkness in here,
then wo can see through the walls. After
that the three of you will stand by the
switchboards for the defensive weapons.
I'll give orders. Get ready. "

” Very well. Master.” Forjan nodded —
for. hrother or no brother. Varkol was always
the commander-in-chief.

Down in what had once been Trafalgar
Square, at the foot of the great building —
the, building without visible doors— Tom was
shouting to the army he had brought with
him: an army equipped with hastily made
rmicliineti, constructed from his own know-
ledge of Varkol's own complicated weapons,
am) uiileil by bis electrically-given genius.

” My friends, this is our only chance to
destroy the invaders. II we fail, you know
the penalty at sundown to-morrow. Prob-
ably my friend is in here, too, but if he is

be destroyed, no matter who goes with them.
It is the only course. Now— open fire! Our
Tery lives depend on tins ! ”

I mined iately there sprang from the
machines of the remarkable civilian army
rays of various colours — some heat-rays,
some rold-iays. others disintegrators- — which
with one accord hurled a battering ram of
destruction upon the grey walls of the
Controlling Building. Nothing happened.

The iimldolenc steel remained impervious

Then came the answer.

From hitherto unnoticed apertures high up
in the six-storey building, there poured
forth n death-dealing barrage of counter-fays,
rays which carved a hideous. arc of death and
smoke wherever they touched. The jieeple
screamed and fell buck. Those who were
not quick enough vanished in clouds of fine
ash ' Tho very concrete of I lie ground was
riven asunder by the nameless, terrifying
force, and smoking, bottomless chasms and
abysses appeared.

" Open war ! ” Tom thundered. M Let
'em have it ! All yonr weapons ! "

Under this order tractors, guided and
driven by atomie-forco motors, rumbled
heavily through the smoke, bearing monster
machines, from which sprang invisible radia-
tion* of electricity. The instant the radia-
tions hit the walls they turned into Cascading
stream* of blu.s and purple fire, crackling and
flashing— yet still, to Tom's growing horror,
the building remained untouched anil hardly
scratched by the frightful onslaught. In the
meantime, the terrible weapon* of the Time
Invaders were wreaking death and destruction
in all directions. People were vanishing by
the dozen under the disintegrator and heat-
beams. far greater in efficiency than anything
Tom had devised — secret machines, of which
Varkol had never spoken. Evidently he had
deemed it wisest to keep warfare knowledge

pn

' Only o

' last c

Tom mattered at

length, to the man who was ailing ns his
commaudcr-in-chief. " Try out that dis-
ruptive energy thing we brought along. It's
loaded with two tons of pure copper. It
seems to me that the instant disintegration of
all that copper into pure energy ought to blow
this building to the skies. Wo can hut try.
Tell the people to get back; there'll ho
danger.”

Hurriedly, the news reaching them. I lie
people pressed back and tho tractor contain-
ing the copper-energy releaser moved for-
ward. governed now by remote radio control,
so that the operators could he well out of
tango. At length Toni nodded, and himself
depressed the disruptive-current button.

-In unearthly blaze of green fire hurled

427

SCOOPS— Mav 12. 1934

A Man’s Sacrifice Cheats Time

itself rii masse at Hie edifice. The ground
shook and quaked ; the beams of the Time in-
vaders were hidden for a while lu the eye-
paralysing glare, as the copper converted
itself into pure energy. Smoke rose in dense,
solid columns ; an appalling dill split the ear-
drums. . . . Then the confusion began to sub-
side. and with it sunk the hearts of the brave
little army who had fought, so desperately for
their liberty and freedom.

The building still stood — untouched !

" We're done! " Tom groaned hopelessly.
“ (Mi. why did 1 ever experiment with Time?
Tile disaster I've brought upon the world ! "

1 ' No use reproaching yourself now. son.”
muttered bis commander-in-chief. '* The
damage is done. Varkol wins!”

So the defeated army began to retreat, and
the rays of the invaders from Time were eiit
off as the fact became obvious. The building
of nialdelcne steel was invincible !

At nightfall. Bob was released from his
bonds and allowed to move about in comfort.
The four rulers :j[ London, complacent in
their victory, spent the time strolling about
the edifice and planning carefully for their
intended future, conquest. They took good
care, however, to leave the room containing
the Aspbyxiator securely locked.

Having uo need to guard Bob they left him
to his own devices, seated deep in thought,
and, talking amongst themselves, left the
main control room.

“ There must be a way. a mathematical
way. to defeat these monsters! ” Bob mut-
tered to himself. “ I wonder if. . . . That
pedigree of theirs ! Jt seems it ought to be

of use somewhere. T. . . . Good heavens !
He sut up with n jerk in his chair, astounded
by a sudden conception. His face flushed
with the audacity and yet scientific possi-
bility of it. " Tom ! If I can radio him ! "
he breathed. " It’s a chance 1 . "

In an instant lie had crossed, for the second
time that day, to the radio machines and
began another careful search. This time, to
his satisfaction, he met with lurk, finding
Tom where he expected — in St. dames' Park.
The place was floodlit with electric arcs, and,
in the loudspeaker, which Bob kept muffied
perchance the invaders might hear it, Tom
was apparently sitting listening to reports
over a radio set from the new London broad-
casting station.

Intently Bob searched the televisor screen
mid presently detected the radio set from
which the voice was emanating — a few ad-
justments and he liad Tom's lace clear on
the screen. Beyond doubt it- was bis friend,
surrounded by u group of bis immediate sup-
porters. There was little doubt of the
melancholy expressions on the faces of cvei'y-

Bob quickly adjusted the wavelength
apparatus of the invaders’ radio-televisor,
issuing forth a heterodyning wavelength Hint
immediately cut out the announcer's voice in
the St, James' Park radio sel. Tom and the
others looked up in surprise — then became
rigid in attention as Bob's own voice flouted
to them in place of that of the announcer.

“ Tom ! Tom ! Listen ! This is Boh
speaking from the controlling building — and
it's dangerous work, too. The invaders may

Can it be DONE ?

Another Idea
for Inventors

If towns spread out very much more roof farms and Cardens will become necessary. Who
can find soils and fertilizers, drainage schemes, etc., for the roof gardens of fo-morrow?

be back at any moment. Listen carefully.
The only way to save London is Lo pet that
pedigree from your safe back at home — your
house was one of those which wasn't altered,
as von know — nud find the address that was
given for Robert Halford. He's the ancestor
of these four invaders. Find him, and ex-
plain to him that, the only way to save
Loudon is for him to die. for by tfo doing he
will destroy the ancestral line. At that mto
the invaders should vanish from sight, lt’->
Time logic, anil the only chance. Can't say
more now. Act!”

The night passed quietly enough, and the
following day until towards sundown. Then
Bob was quietly but firmly placed in the
area of the Aspbyxiator ami immovably
secured to it- Varkol surveyed him with
grim satisfaction.

'‘You have one hour, my young friend — ■
then extinction."

Bob compressed bis lips. He wondered
what Tom was doing; certainly he had re-
ceived the message — that much had been seen
from the televisor. But what, was happening
in the interval ? Bob's heart seemed to sink
with thus sun, until presently Vnrkol’s voice
jerked him into alertness again.

“ Five minutes, my young friend.” The
master-scientist reached out his hand to the
main lever for starting the generators, his
eyes on his strange watch. " Four minutes'.
Three. . . . Two. . .

He clutched the lever tenaciously, pre-
paratory to pulling it over, then, before Bnl.'s
very eyes, the four men mysteriously melted
and vanished from sight. !

Tlie room was empty !

Sobbing with relief he found himself over-
come with the strain and fainted eleuu away.

When he came to, Tom was leaning over

'' Bob ! Thank heaven you're not dead ! ’’
Tom whispered. "I could never have for-
given myself. Your idea has prolmhly saved
the world — just ns mine nearly destroyed

“ You mean — you mean you found Robert
Halford?" Bob asked, sitting up, alert
again. " My idea worked? "

"To perfection. Yes, wo trucked down
Halford — the address was correct — end,
fortunately for ns, he was a sciontinc sort
of chap who fully realised the position —
really understood that he was the ancestor
of the men from Time. But-, bv dying —
which in the urgency of the case ivas done by
an overdose of drug at his own wish — he
destroyed the ancestral line by defeating
Tune itself. Hence, all those who really
Came after him never really existed once lie
died. So, our four enemies from Time,
evaporated into thin air. Halford died at
one minute lo six exactly."

" Yes — yes. The invaders vanished at the
same second." .Bob nodded. " I thought my
idea was right, and thank goodness for that
pedigree we stole, otherwise we'd never have
been able to do it. Hut, Tom, if Halford
killed himself how did the ancestral line ever
come lo be in existence at all ? As I see it,
the invaders never existed, because they were
never even hum' You can't cheat Time."

" It depends," Tom answered thought-
fully. “ There are two states of conscious-
uess — conscious and subconscious. In one,
the invaders might be still existing ; in the
other, by what we've done, we caused them to
lose — er— visible entity. Get it? It is all a
paradox. Wliat is Time but a paradox, any-
how? We’ve got rid of them, and I’ve be-
come a genius through them ; we’ve got a
super city and everything — so why worry ? "

" How did you gel in here, anyhow? "

“ Climbed up to one of the windows and
smnshed it through with a force-ray. Only
ordinary glass, you know. Well, that about
finishes our little adventure with Time, and
thank goodness for it. What more can we

“ I'll tell you. A good meal and a shave."

" Right oil the naii ! Let’s be going ! "

May 12, 1934 — SCOOPS

428

A Mighty Civilisation in the Unexplored Depths of the Ocean

1JEW places are left on earth that
"*■ have not given up their secrets
to Man. The depths of the sea is
one of them, and in this amazing
story of imaginative adventure
our author takes three intrepid
explorers down into a weird
undersea kingdom

DEVILMAN

of the

DEEP

Bobbing up and
down on the surface
of the ocean, Corn-
wall flung up bis
arms in a sign-,.1 to

the passing ship.

THE SEARCH FOR DEVILMAN

S EA FLIGHT, Prince of the fish-men oi
Jie submarine world, twirled the mirror
that was balanced on gimbals on his
table. At the door of his cavern on the
Minimi: of the submerged mountain peak
stood a guard stiffly to attention.

Beside Sea Flight were Mark Stanniore and
Bulwer Kells, the two scientists, arid their
'.s riipauion, Abel Cornwall.

With his hands on a lever opposite the dials

jEOebioery rocet far beiew. The gangways
we» pctrcdf— 3 br fcsk-nxn troops, the control
bets-* was rzas&ed, the entire place was in
_ i . .a end ought have been the engineering
shop of a British firm.

Another tilt was given the mirror. This

ship except a vessel that was plugging along
in the centre of the scene, its funnel stream-
ing with black smoke. The (lag aL its stern
could bo distinguished as that of Britain.
The sun was rising over the horizon line.

Again the chiaroscuro tilted. This time
Hie watchers saw the depths of the sub-
marine caverns, the ice walls that kept the
ocean at bay, tile glow of the volcano below
the hills, and the escaping steam and belching
smoke of the boiling centre of the world.

The three men bad almost loBt the capacity
of being astonished at what they were con-
stantly experiencing in this new world six
miles below; the Atlantic ocean. They had
lost reckoning of days and nights : hut the
short glimpse of this reflector told them one
thing — timt up in the world they knew dawn
was breaking

Ever since they had been drawn down to
the depths in their diving gondola adven-
tures hail crowded fast upon them. The
fish-men who stood beside them were no
longer grotesque animals, but had proved
themselves highly intelligent beings.

The Earthmen had helped Sea Flight to
fight, his enemy, Devilrnan, the modstev of
evil intent who ruled by savagery and (error.
They had seen Devilrnan ’s forces, tile smaller
1 1 lack fish-men, and the still smaller, crawl-
ing yellow things that wore his allies also.
Their guns bad slnin hundreds of these
ghouls. And yet, dauntless though they
were, the same thought was always present
in th-.-ir minds — how to get back lo Mother
Earth.

They had seen things that few would be-
lieve. Their scientific knowledge had been
widened, biottdene.il, until it hud become
superhuman. Would they ever reach the
upper world again? Sea Flight had promised
to direct them to a passage by which they
might escape; and that sudden vision of the
surface of the sea and the ship with its
British flag had come upon them un-
expectedly.

Up there in the chamber in* the mountain
top of the ocean bed Sea Flight was manipu-
lating a vision screen of his own invention,
a mirror that had all the characteristics of
the aneient'aldiemists' claim. By it he could
see all that was taking place within his
kingdom so long as reflection was possible.

As the mirror remained glowing with the
vision of (he active volcano far below, Kells
was forced to ask a question.

“ flow is it that the smoke of the crater
under us does not rise mid fill these

" Deeper than you have yet been,” was
the reply, “ are the draught chambers. By
powerful cm-rent from our generators the

we have not yet explored. In a measure we
know that- tlie fumes are consumed by the

high temperature. I sen no sign of Devil-

It was the monster they hod been looking
for, searching through the hundreds of caves
the mirror controlled.

The battle which the three men bad had
with Devilrnan had hecn followed by Sea
Flight’s forces sweeping tlio enemy out of
sight. They had passed through the belt
of unstable earth surrounding the very centre
of the world where rio gravitation law
existed. They had sought Devilrnan hut ho
laid hidden somewhere in the darkness.

Down there in the gloom of the cavities of
the underworld he had lain wounded, but
probably still alive.

Sea Flight turned to tlie fish-man who
stood at attention by the doorway.

" you and your men searched every whero
for him? " he asked sharply.

“ Everywhere, Prince. We entered the
cave of mild, we went lo the very lip of the
crater, slaying the yellow imps as wo went,
but Devilmau was not to bo found.”

Sea Flight seemed buried in thought,
tilting the mirror to and fro slowly.

“ It would be too risky for yon, my
friends, to go towards the passage I spoke, of
so long as Devilrnan lives; To reach the

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

429

opening we must pass across the crater's
month. Tlio position is this ; while we hold
tiie upper levels ami the machinery, Devil-
luan and his imps hold the crator."

" Yon mean,'’ said Stanniore, “ that he is
still in possession of the source of the energy

;a Flich
•epped :

gazing into the mirror, uttered nu exclama-
tion and pointed to the reflector's surface.

The edge of the circle had become cloudy,
hut through the mist shapes begun to take
form. From the ruddy hue the mirror
ihangcd to one of yellow as Sea Flight moved
it gently.

“ Devilntan ! ”

There was tho monster crouching in the
recesses of the cave of gold, the scene of the
combat with Stanmore. The walls of the
cave gleamed and shone in the mirror, and
the reason the scene had become visible was

One of the black fish-men had brought into
the cave a tall torch that spluttered fitfully
ns lie planted it in the floor and piled pieces
of solid gold around its base. Mow every
detail showed clearly.

Devilman had been brought ligck to the
cave by the fish-men, and several now stood
around him and began to work over him,
kneading his body and his limbs and face
with their soft sucker arms- They mas-
saged him, pouring hack Life into his
enormous frame, iu the fashion of the tribe.

For smun time this went on. and then
Devilman rose to his feet and shook his mas-
sive body like a dog that emerges from a
hath. His hands clawed at Ilia face convul-
sively, his capacious tuoufh opened and shut
us if he were in the act of speaking.

What he said, of course, could not be
beard, but his gestures were swift and filled
with meaning. There he stood, towering to
his full height, while more black fish-men
crowded into the cavern, and behind them
came the little yellow imps running to and
fro like ants that cannot be still.

'■ I can guess what he is planning," said
Sea Flight, with a grim smile. “ Healer,
you know your duty.''

To Ihe fish-man at the door Sea Flight
gave a swift sign and line fish-man saluted
and disappeared at owe,

The Healer had leaped to the levers on the
wall, [lulling down one after another.

At once tho- vision was blotted out of the
reflecting mirror. The surface became
blurred and reddened. A flue dust like a
sandstorm passed over the bright circle, but
streaks of red mingled with the billows of
dust.

v as dark and dense and wavy : and then it
grew bright again ; but this time it was the
brightness of fire that was shown.

Outside the chamber there was the
shuffling of many feel. An army of tall Ash-
men passed in stately procession, four deep,
rank after rank turning their heads to salute
their Prince ns they moved along on their
shambling jogs. Last of all came a dclitch-
ment carrying skinfuls of ammunition.

" Now that we have located Devilman.”
said Sea Flight, smiling to the three men,
" the attack on his defences will begin ! ”

* SEA FLIGHT ATTACKS

H E went over and looked at the mirror
again. Its surface was illumined now
by a red glow and through that glow Stan-
inore and his comrades could see the terrific
draught processes at work.

The fiery heat and dust of the submarine
volcano had been drawn off the pit below
and were being forced at tremendous pres-
sure through pipes into tunnels far down into
I lie unknown regions. This had been done
in the manner of a series of flues, the levers
which' the Healer had operated having the
effect of enormous dampers.

430

Strange Terrors of the Deep

The thought flashed into SLanmove's rnind
that here lie was looking at the solution of
many of the earthquakes that had puzzled
mankind. This enormous pressure must
have an outlet somewhere. It was well
known that the real source of an upheaval
on the earth's crust which destroyed towns
and whole landscapes was far away from the
actual catastrophe. The lava that periodically
threatened the towns near Etna was thrust
upward by forces that were far from Europe.
Human science had established that the
Japanese earthquake had its origin, like most
other earthquakes, somewhere deep within
the earth, somewhere mnler Ihe seas.

Was it possible that these fish-men, highly
educated ami controlling the internal fires
of the earth, were the real cause of man-
kind's most frightful disasters'! By dosing
these flues and sending the draught of ter-
rible heal into the tunnelled rocks were they
really creating the outpourings from tho
world’s 1 volcanoes?

And this thought was followed by another.
Often earthquakes and upheavals were
registered on the delicate instruments, of
Britain and America without the expected
disasters on the surface of the world taking
place. Human science hud located seme of
these disturbances as being buried in tho
ocean- Tidal waves generally followed earth-
quakes. Hero was ihe key to the whole
mystery.

It was these submarine fish-men who were
the cause of earthquakes, it. was their opera-
tions, governing their own strange civilisa-
tion, that affected the world of men. Tho
pressure of the interna! gases of the earth
compelled them at times to " let off " tho
iic. uum'mion by sending ii through the tun-
nels of the centre of the earth. Sea Flight
himself, with all his knowledge, was un-
aware of the effect of this operation, just
as the engineers of the world of men did not
know what effect on the nppor air the carbon
and smoke their furnaces sent forth pro-

But all these speculations of Stanmore
wore brought to a conclusion for the time
being by tho voice of Sea Flight.

“ You can pack any provisions you care
for your journey. We have stripped your
ship of its contents, and these ure at your
■disposal. Also, the three diving suits have
been preserved for you. ] have a special
guard who will transport these things until
tile moment comes for your dash to the pas-

Ile beckoned to them to follow him, and
they passed out of the chamhpr and pro-
ceeded along gangways to the vast storehouse
of the fish-men. They saw the wreck of their
vessel still in the outer cave, its broken
masts dangling over its decks. Their gon-
dola lav on its side, its long cable si ill
fastened to its top-plate — sis miles of cable
all neatly coiled ill piles.

Hastily they packed a supply of what pro-
visions they desired from their ship. They
took a large supply of ammunition. They
saw that the. oxygen cylinders on the back's
of their diving suits were full of the neces-
sary gas. There was no hope of dismantling
tho gondola. It had to he left where it lay.

The thought entered Kells's mind that
they could rise to (lie surface from the sea
beyond the ice wall instead of making for
this passage that entailed a hundred miles
underground burrowing. He remarked on
the possibility ; hut Sou Flight merely
pointed to the ice wall significantly.

In the dimness, beyond the massive block
of ice, could he seen the moving shapes of
small black fish-men, the forces of Devilman.
They swam up and down and across the wall,
peering through it. furtively, scores of them
moving to the gentle sway of tile deep ocean.
Devilman -had sent a force to cut. oS the
Earl, Ilmen's retreat iu 'that direction.

" So long as he uses his troops here,”
said Sea Flight, " he will have fewer to
oppose us below.”

At length they were ready, and each man's
diving suit was carried by a tall fish-man

w.io acted as bearer and others carried the
provisions and a bottle of water that were
wrapped in the skin coverings- of sharks.

- Now they marched back-the way they had
come and turned into the slope leading down-
ward. For hours they tramped in the rear
of the columns of the troops. They reached
the strange dim valley of half-living things
in the first stages of life, and ploughed their
way forward to the weird belt of void.

Again the men felt the same sensations ns
they had previously experienced, the same
oppression on their lungs, which cleared and
gave place to the sensation of lightness. They
fared the belt of formless motion in which
locks and vegetation blended in a moving
mass. Gravity began to wear off. A step

"Join hands.” said Sea Flight. “Wo
must not separate here, nr you will be lost
for ever in ihe unknown."

The troops in front also, tlie men saw,
were joining hands in rows, those behind
holding, at tho end of the rauks, the feet
of those in front.

Sea Flight's shrill cry sounded as a signal.
At once there wns a common effort. The
whole of the troops rose from Iheir feel and
spread out like a cloud of floating gulls.

The three men rose too. They pushed off
from the ground like their companions, in
a diving motion, ninl next moment were sail-
ing through space like swimmers. But there
was no opposition to their progress. They
1'eil nothing hampering their onward thrust ;
indeed, they experienced the reverse. A
gentle current which they could not. distin-
guish carried them forward without effort.

They seemed to lie sailing on a stream that
neither bore them nor impeded them. And
there was another peculiar sensation. Eock3
loomed ahead which they observed and ex-

t eited to bninp against, but they did not
ump. The rocks dissolved as they ap-
proached, or seemed to dissolve. They passed
over floating vegetation, through it, below
it. Thero was no roof above, there was no
floor below.

" For the first time in my life,” said Abel
Cornwall, “ I'm beginning to be afraid. Is
this a land of ghosts we have entered, Mr.
Stanmore ! ”

" ft is the belt of void,” replied Sea
Flight. “ You are in the very centre of it,
and so these masses are not really what they
seem to lie. You others may understand
what I mean." lie added, turning to Stau-
n.ore and Kells.

" We arc moving through a condition
where the atom is not yet an atom," replied
Stanmore. “ The electrons and protons com-
posing atoms are without the relative energy
to cohe.se. Mass and weight have no laws
here. We are in the fourth dimension."

“ It's all Greek to me,” muttered Corn-
wall, “ hut why don’t we drop to the
ground ? "

" We will in time," answered Stanmore
grimly. " But I'll try to explain simply,
Abel. For instance, in our world above
masses are masses because the atoms keep
iu a compact form. It is known, as one of
the flint truths of physics, that iron is iron
because it stays in shape. The same with
other things. Here the protons and electrons
prove by separation just what science has
always said. All matter, as we know it,
is built up because the electrons and protons
form complex materials, and so gradually
the whole inorganic world of liquids, metals
and gases is formed."

" But where, do these electrons and protons

“ We do not know. But we know that
they exist in excessively hot suns before
formation makes them matter, either organic
or inorganic. We, at the present moment,
are in theTsentre of the earth, or near it,
and that wns once a hot sun.”

“ Hold steady ! " came the voice of Sea
Flight. “ We are approaching the edge of
the belt, and will soon he in the world of
form."

Away ahead they could see the peculiar

May 12, 1934 — SCOOPS

Battle in the Bowels of the Earth

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

formations caking other shapes, shapes they
knew. The rooks were rocks, the ground

rose up and remained fixed, the heat became
less oppressive. Through the vagueness
came the sight of ruddy glares beyond.

They landed on their feet again gradually ;
lint there was no time for talk just then, for
from the distance ahead there came thtc
shrilling voice of a command. Like, a cur-
lain on a stage the. gloom was broken Uv the
flare of light; and it was the light of the
volcano that broke on them.

The three men found themselves on a ridge
looking down on the deep pit that must he
the centre of the earth. It was the pit of
a crater; and across its immense rim, that
might have been a mile in diameter, they
Saw the enemy.

Devilman stood trumpeting in defiance. He
had emerged from the golden cave surrounded
by a host of black fish-men. There were
hordes of yellow imps ranging up and down
the sides of the crater from which steam
arose in wisps. Hut what caught Rtwnmove's
eyes was the volume of draught that was
controlling the active furnace below.

tip from the centre of the crater the steam
rose, mingling with flames of molten rock.
It hurt the eyes to look at that white-hot
mass down there bubbling like an enormous
cat of metal in a foundry. The flames were
white hot, too. But they did not rise up-

Thfe powerful draughts that Sea Flight had
set in motion carried the leaping tongues into
funnels that bore off the otherwise unbear-
able heat. The roar of the draught taking
the smoke away Was like the constant roar
of the sea; indeed, a veritable sea of flame
and gas was being forced through • these

funnels into the earth, a series of Niagaras
of blast furnaces.

But loud though the roar of the natural
fires was, tlie trumpeting of Devilman was
louder. It came across the blazing gulf
in wild derision, and the chorus of liis troops
made the yelling awful to hear.

8ea Flight flung up his arm ns a signal
for the attack to begin. Ilis tall fish-men
moved along the rim of the crater, advanc-
ing evenly and steadily from two sides. The
black troops and Hie yellow imps of Devil-
man remained stationary, but they loo hud
formed into columns.

THE STRUGGLE ON THE
CRATER

T HEN the yellow imps moved forward a
little, throwing out. a line of defence and
attack at the same time. They did not seem
to feel the heat, rior fear the roaring flues.
They scrambled down the pitted sides of
the crater-, yellow betlles of evil, and ran one
after the other round the furrows of the
immense basin, so that they were below tire
troops of Sea Flight.

Many of them were armed with tiny
tridents that glimmered red in the glare of
the furnaces. Others carried balls of a
yellowish material between their hands.

The manoeuvre was apparent at once.
These imps were to attack from below und
hreak the columns of Sea Flight; and as the
three men watched, the battle began.

The imps rushed upward over the red-
brown earth. Their trideuts flashed, their
yellow spheres Were thrown.

“ -A gas attack 1 " exclaimed Kells. “ Look
at that 1 "

As the yellow
spheres etrbek Ilia
attackers or touched
the ground they broke
and sent up a thick
cloud of smoke. The
tall fish-men, who bail
wo weapons save Ihev;
hands, o» the loose
rocks they could find,

prise. Under the
poisonous gases let
loose they staggered.
Seme fell over the
ridge and were thrust,
by the imps downward
towards the. centre of
the pit. Their bodies
rolled and bumped
down the rugged,
blackened surface.
Those who could lay
hold of a rock clung
there ; but the imps
were upon I hem iu a
wav e, liko beasts of
prey on their quarry.

Down the slope into
the white-hot basin
the lifeless fish-men
were tlirusfc after the
blood - sucking imps
had gorged them-
selves. Into the ter-
rible cauldron the
victims toppled and
disappeared.

" I think,'' said
Stonmore, " this is
where wo will lake a
hand. Sen Flight, even
though our weapons
mav not carry that
length. Kells, try
for Devilman!"

The three revolvers

their muzzles pointed
straight at the mon-
ster. The three re-
ports broke out as one.

They might as well
have saved their shots.
Devilman remained standing, taking no notice
of the attempt on his life.

Again the revolvers spoke, and again the
same result. A third time the men fired.
But it was useless. Apart from the distance
at which Devilman stood there was another
reason. The electric bullets were being de-
flected from their course by the magnetic ele-
ments of the furnace below !

Meanwhile, the. troops of Sea Flight weie
being cruelly punished. Devilman was
prolong himself a general who could take
every advantage of his position. But his
hups were- by no means escaping in tile
struggle. Dozens of their bodies lay on the
ridges of the crater's mouth, and scores had
dropped into the pit beside their enemies.
Now the black fish-men too had taken up
the attack and were advancing with their
tridents in dense formation.

They rushed and drove the tall fish-men
hack on either side. The horns that Sea
Flight had thrown out were being compelled
to retreat, but they did not give a foot with-
out inflicting death on Lhe enemy in terrible
shape. Yet retreat they must unless some-
thing was done.

Rea Flight signalled to his physician, the
Healer. The latter ran lmck into the depths
of the tunnel from which they had emerged
and returned with a group of troops held in
reserve. And these troops brought with
them weapons that Devilmao could not.
supply.

Loads of bombs which had been taken from
sunken warships, from wrecks, from Stan-
more's ship, were carried to the ridge aud

“ We arc not unprepared for them, yon

Trapped in the Ocean Depths

see." said Sea Flight, with a smile. “ These
are our final answer to them."

IIo rapidly outlined liis scheme, pointing
towards ono of the tunnels through which
tlio flames and smoke of the crater were being

While we drive them hack with the
bombs, Stamnore, you add your companions
must make for that passage. We have con-
trols fixed Lit a side crevice, which the Healer
will operate, and the flames will rush bark.
Do not fear to puss through the wall of
smoke -and flnitio at once."

He pressed a chart into Slanmore's hands.
It was the diagram which hud been provided
for their direction, a charcoal drawing on
the white skin oE a shark's throat and with
it he handed over a pocket compass.

'* Put on your diving suits," lie urged.
" You cannot hope to pass the gases other-
wise, and remember, do not be afraid to push
through the wall of flame. It will be but a
momentary experience. The real heat- is at

" I know. Anything else? ”

“ The passage descends steeply. Von will
come to the arm of ocean below. Enter il
,-ind puss on, guided by a ridge of white
rock. Your greatest danger lies there, for
it is the dwelling of such ns Devilmun "

" There are Others like him, 'then? "

“ Yes, but sunk in sloth and darkness.
You will sneooed. Here is one of your sub-
marine torches. You will ueed it. Fare-
well ! ”

A pressure of the hand and Sea Flight
moved in the direction of bis troops, issuing
onlacs iu hi* shrill tones. The three men savr
the bombs being brought forward as the Ash-
men began their counter-attack furiously.

Tlie bombs wore heavy for them, but they
flung them into the front ranks of the blacks
as they might have heaved stones. Many of
tlie bombs did not burst, and acted only as
missiles, mowing down the enemy by their
weight : but those that did burst created
terrible havoc.

The ground was torn up, the walls of the
rave echoed to the roars, the black fish-men
were blotted out. As the wave of smoke mid
debris melted it could be seen that a hole had
been burst in the rim of the era toy, and the
ground was crumbling all around.

Down the slopo went dead and dying in an
avalanche of debris that shot into the white
hot depths with an explosion that rent the
air. Aiul from the basin there arose column
after column-of smoke, as pieces of ro*'k were
thrown upward to the very roo? ana fell in a
shower on ail sides.

'Those are the unburst bombs exploding
in that heat' 1 " cried Kells. “ Sea Flight
has performed a master-stroke. Sen the
blacks running! "

Tlie blacks had become demoralised at the
bomb attach. They were running back,
those who could run, to the shelter of the
caves behind Dcviliunu ; and his great arms
waved anil his voice trumpeted as lie called
them back to tbo fight.

Around tlio other side of the rim of the
crater Se-i Flight was hurrying with mure
bombs. The retreat on one born of Ids
attack had been turned into a victory, and
now he was about to perform the same
operation on the other side.

But this time the blocks did not wait for
more than the first bomb. If burst among
then- Hying forms, spurting flume and earth;
and then Sea Flight advanced to a hand-to-
hand encounter.

“Now's our chance!" exclaimed Stnn-
more. “ On with the diving suits. Kells,
what do you make of this chart ? "

" 1 know it like the palm of my hand,"
was the reply. “ It leads ns to the mouth
of the Platt, and explains the tidal waves
of that region. There's a river that dis-
appears near Montevideo — I'll explain as iva

.’Vs soon as they had their diving suits on,
tlie Healer guided them around the crater.
Hastily they shook his hand and clambered
down the slope.

432

Stamnore took the lend, and threaded his
way along the hot ground, which was soft
and spongy. The need for the diving suits
soon became apparent. Oases began to float
past their face glasses ns they pressed on.

P.nt the fight above thorn still continued at
the very mouth of the caves. Many bombs
were proving ineffective. Down past the
three men rolled u number of these missiles
to rest on the hot earth. The bodies of Ash-
men and yellow imps littered the narrow path

Now the three were near the. pasttace fur
which they were making. Stamnore looked
back. He saw Sea Flight watching their
progress eagerly, He saw the biacks break
before the pressure of the Prince's troops
mid flee. Dovilmail, too, observed the rout
and could not stem it. He was retreating
slowly towards the caves. A wave of tlie
hand from Sea Flight, n final gesture of fine-
well From the Dealer, and then Stamnore and
his companions saw in front of them the
wall of flame.

The Healer had operated the draught,
chamber controls from the edge of the nit,
and the white hat seething cauldron below
boiled and bubbled like it whirlpool, while
wave after wave of flame spread all over
tha rim of that pool.

Stan more plunged into the flame followed
by liis companions. The simple. fact that
the most intense heal of a flume is at tlie
top was proved in that rush. The flames
licked about them, but they were through
in a flash and were facing the passage. Its
•lark mouth, coated with the carbon and
brittle pumice-stone of ages, seemed to in-

Stanmore passed the entrance, Kells at
his heels; Imt Cornwall, as ho rushed for-
ward, felt himself lifted mid tlirnwn into ihu
air. There was a uiighty roaring and flash-
ing on every side, be was smothered in sand
and dust, his head was dashed against the
sides of bis helmet, the world spnn round,
and blackness canto over hi m .

4ft BACK TO THE SURFACE

H R did not altogether lose consciousness.

lie was aware that a mighty explosion
tm-1 taken place. Gradually ue tumid lug
feel and Mood erect. He was appalled at
what he saw. The month of tl-t passage
had been closed. The released flames of
tlie crater bad iound several nnexploded
bombs and bad touched them off. One side
of the crater seemed to have fallen away,
and through the, c»ved-ui cavtli there stuck
up the smokiug end of an iron tube.

Hull SLanmora and Kells been smothered
in that fall? Cornwall felt sick as he
crawled towards the wreckage. He swung
round and saw that the effect had been felt
among tlie combatants, too. There was now
no ridge, no vim. along which they bad been
fighting. A gulf had appeared, cutting off
Sea. Flight's forces from those of Devilmun.

Cornwall turned ids head towards the lat-
ter's position. Devilman was not there, nor
any of his troops. Stragglers could he seen
hauling their tortured limbs towards the
gold cave. Nobody could pursue these
maimed and wounded blacks. Tlie wall of
the great cavern dropped sheer into the shill-
ing basin on tlio side ol' which Cornwall
clung, and a heavy mist had thickened the
atmosphere like a fog. The flames had died

A hand was laid cm Cornwall's shoulder.
He turned expeeliug to face ail enemy. It
was Sen Flight, and tlie Dealer with him.
Who had clambered down to his rescue.

" What's that ■; "

A tap-tap had sounded, the tap of melnl
against metal.

"It is the pipe!" shouted Cornwall.
“ They arc alive ! "

He scrambled up and laid bands on the
pipe that stuck upward, g narrow pipe oE
several inches diameter.

“Hullo! Hullo!" lie shouted frantic-
ally " Are you there, sir? Are you alive? ’’

Back come the answer in SLaumorc's cool

“ Wo are all right, Abel. How about

" Safe and sound, sir. Sen Flight is here
ami tiie Healer, too. We'll dig you out

I'm afraid that is impossible. Cornwall.
Tbs* plu'-e is filled with dust and fog. arid
c.'riy the end of this pipe is available for con-
versation. There must be forty feet of earth

flip news seemed to stun Cornwall.

“What's to lie done? " he cried.

“ Listen. Cornwall Yun cannot burrow
after ns. Tell Sen Flight I wish to speak to
him."

Sea Flight put his ear to the end of the
pipe and listened fur some time.

" You are right," he said at last, while
Cornwall heard his words in iv fever of ap-
prehension. " Devilman would Overwhelm us
while we dug. I will do as you ask."

A few more words and then Sea Flight
turned to Cornwall.

Your leader is very wise," he said.
" He has given his orders. Listen to them
for yourself. ”

Again Abel listened tu Slttrmiore. Tlie
plan which he proposed was the only on»
possible in the circumsfan-’es. It was that
Cornwall must, escape by the sea, while
Stamnore and Kells pursued their way
through the undergronud tunnel.

" You remember when we looked into the
mirror," said Stamnore quickly, " We ob-
served a British ship on the ocean above.
Its course lay above these mountains. If you
float upward by air-bubble, which Sea Flight
will provide, you may be picked np by that
ship. It is making for South America.
Make for Montevideo and explain things to
the British Consul. \Ye will join you there."

There was nothiug else for it, liecause
Devilman might at any moment reorganise
his forces and attack again, and to dig was
impossible in any ease. There was no time
to lose and, with a final word of encourage-
ment to Cornwall, the conversation ceased.

Barely had I hoy ceased to speak when an-
other landslide tuok place. The pipe was
driven down and covered with earth. Com-
munication was cut off.

At. once Sea Flight banded Cornwall over
to the care of the Healer, while he liimself
hastened to press his victory to its con-
clusion. Cornwall was guided by the Dealer
tip the slope.

They left the combatants and hastened
hack to tlie caves where the gondola lay
i i.i died near the ire-wall, passing, as they
had doue in coming to the attack, the various
stages of submarine development.

Tlie sound of the fight died away ami
silence reigned in the heart of the depths as
they forged ahead. They readied tlie high
chamber they bad left ami here the Iloular
gazed int’> I lie niirvcir, t ilting it to and fro
as Sea Flight had done.

Once more the ocean above appeared, the
sunlit sky. the long swell of the sea's sur-
face. There were more ships to be observed,
but tbe one they had seen earlier that day
was heading straight for their position.

Cornwall made a rapid Calculation, his sen-
man's knowledge being able to judge dis-
tance with fair accuracy.

" .She’s at least five hours from us," lie
mused. " There’s a chance, Healer, and I'm
taking it. But, there’s something I want to
do."

“ What is that? '*

“ i want to buoy the position of this
strange world. I'm going to take up the
cable-end of the gondola with me. My chief,
Stunmore, told me to do so in case I never
readied the top. The buoy would float, any-
way, and he would make for the position if
1 didn't reach land."

" You mean that lie would come back
here? "

( Read on in column one of next page)

May 12. 193d — SCOOPS

Continuing .

Devilman of the Deep

That's what was m his mind, I believo.
Up's not one to leave a man in the lurch.’

“Very well."
So tliey hash

i huti been

”SE

md to make t
ascent. These
to the previous attempts flu
made. Cornwall in his diving
vided with an air bubble that „
as soon as he stepped past the opened ice-
wall. The ocean closed around him, and he
felt himself being drawn past the cliffs null
towering foothills of the depths.

In ids hand lie carried a bladder filled with
compressed air tied to the loose eud of the
gondola cable.

He rose slowly, almost imperceptibly.
Again he saw the effervescent effect of the
big bubble that surrounded him, again he
saw the queer life of the ocean move past

His head sang as he passed from one stage
of pressure to another, but. there was no
great discomfort. At times he turned the
tap regulating the oxygen that flowed from
the smull tank —

He entered n

life of the ocean pass in trout of him, falling
below him slowly. Fish scurried away at- his
approach.

Once a shark passed at some distance,
turned over and shot into tho darkness.
His movement had frightened it.

And then, after a period, he saw the water
around him become lighter. The babble, that
surrounded him was fust evaporating. Only
a thin skin of it remained, and then it, too.
vanished.

His hands were strnelt by flic chill of flic
sea. Hut he hardly felt the change. He was
in water that was no longer dark. It became
deep blue, then changed to a dull yellow, llien
again to a green, ami then all these melted
into a general nondescript shade.

Anil then, suddenly, he felt a sharp pain
in the ears. Hu month couched up a little
Wood. At once lie turned off the pressure of
oiygea. With blurred ey« he kwked
around. H* «u boUsu-g cm the ;ulwe uf

teabag hfr# a fish, now in ihf trough

i lus shoulders
of cold, lie s

a the ci

He Scttcdiis arms up and down, splashing,
taming himself round so that his face glass
•night give him a view of the horizon. To
liis jny nc saw the ship steaming past him.

He waved liis arms, splashing more than
ever. He shonted. but realised (hat was use-
less, when the noise of his voice inside his
helmet deafened him.

But he had been seen. He observed the
ship stay in her stride and circle round. He
saw figures on the bridge looking at him
through glasses. He waved more than ever.

A boat wos lowered and ho was taken from
the sc-a. Nut until he was h.-iulcd on board
the ship wus his helmet unhooked. He found
himself facing tbp skipper and mate, while
seamen gathered iu a bunch not far off.

"What ship is this!” asked Cornwall,
with his first gasp.

" It's only a cargo boat bound for the
Platt," said the skipper slowly, staring at
Cornwall. “ How did you come to be in t lie
sea in a diving dress? What does it all

" Cau you put me ashore at Moult

“ We're going there. But ”

■' If van'll came with me to the British
Consul at Montevideo, sir, I'll tell you the
strangest tale you ever listened to, something

the depths of the ocean, six miles down.”
The skipper looked at the mate and the
mate looked at the skipper.

■' Pool - chap," said the skipper, “ he's
dotty, but- we'll take care of him. I'll hand
lum over to the Consul. We're due in Monte-
video before sundown. Take him below und
make him comfortable, will you ? ”

(Read nexe week's long and thrilling episode

SCOOPS — May 12, 1934

A Free I.C.S. Booklet , , - , r

That Concerns Your Future »*■“*’ r,;

Most young tnen, it has been said, are too small \
for their jobs. That is why they are not promoted :
and why many are discharged when business is slack. \

The wise young man should make himself too big \
for his present job — outgrow it. If' he docs, pro- |
motion and Letter pay will follow. 1

There is only one way to do that; the way of
spare-time specialized vocational training. The
International Correspondence Schools. ergative
pioneers or tuition by post, have been giving Such
training for 4i years and have enrolled more than
4,000,000 students, hundreds of thousf'r'ds of whom
have won substantial success.

This booklet is comprehensive. It explains the
I.C.S. method in detail, and gives brief particulars
of all I.C.S. Standard Courses, covering practically
every branch of commerce and indusiry and many
professions. Twenty-four other I.C.S. booklets, each
dealing with one group of Courses, contain every-
thing the ambitious man would wish to know about the particular Course
that meet his individual needs.

Our 25 booklets, averaging 54 pages each, are entitled as follows:

I.C.S. Courses of Instruction
Domestic Engineering
Electrical Engineering
General Education
Languages

Lettering and Showcard
Writing

Marine Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Advertising
Aeronautical
Engineering
Agriculture
Architecture and
Building

Art for Commercial U
Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

wish I

(The,,

Motor Engineering

Radio

Railway Equipment
and Running
Salesmanship and
Window Dressing
Scientific Management
The Services
(Civil, etc.)

Textile Manufacturing
Woodworking

U :

on! grow your present job, to make a real success of
your life, write for any one (or more) of our booklets. It is free. So
also is our expert advice on any mailer relative to your career.

International Correspondence Schools, Ltd.,

DEPT. 248, INTERNATIONAL BUILDINGS, KINCSWAY. LONDON, W.C. 2.

DON’T BE BULLIED

. S PL E N 0 ID I LL U S-
ED LESSONS. Posts
' lapanrsr r

BE TALL

and Gukranteu in plain waled envelope. Writ

°~STEBBINC SYSTEM (Oept.S.P.l

BOOKS YOU WANT NOW!

[LEARN TO

CRICKET ]

: SWIM

FOR |

BEGINNERS

| IN A WEEK

By JACK HOBBS

> OP <Po!l Fne 7id °

2 /■ (Port Free 2/3) j

PHOTOGRAPHY!

FOR

BEGINNERS

By GEORGE BELL

PRACTICAL

ATHLETICS

And

How To Train

By ALEC NELSON

2 /■ (Post Free 2/3)

433

WXK5S

Ideas that are making a
new World

LONDON'S STREAMLINED BUS

A LMOST completely streamlined, the
latest 'bus to be put on the streets of
London has its engine fitted in the middle.

The new VJus is of the single-dr- k type,
nnd is being given experimental runs by the
Green Lino Go. It is the same shape at
either end, ami the eoaeliwork sweeps in a
flowing curve from the roof down to within
ail inch or two of the road without thero
being a single projection. No radiator is
visible when the coach is travelling.

Very high seats are another fen lore of this
coach, and they are intended to give
passengers a better view of the countryside
when the 'bus is used oil country routes.
Variations of this design have been ordered

-:**# The Air Ministry has just approved
the construction of an aerodrome in Jersey at
a cost of £20,000.

GASSED APPLES KEEP BETTER

T HE latest idea for keeping apples dur-
ing the winter is to gas them!

This new method requires the apples to he
put into a chamber filled with carbon monox-
ide gas. 'There t hey are " sent to sleep "
for the. winter months, and ori awakening
their flavour and condition is said to be as
good as before.

It is thought that this method of keeping
apples will supersede that of placing them in
cold storage.

In the restaurant cars of the British
railways, 7,500,000 meals arc scrre/l terry
year, in cdlping the consum/ition af 1.050 tans
of meat, 700 'tons of bread and 650 tons of
fish.

IMPROV ING THE “ EYES OF THE
NAVY ”

A DIRECT-CONTROLLED autogiro,
fitted with floats and minus wings or
control surfaces, is to be delivered to the
Air Ministry.

Soon if is expected Ilia! autogiros will lie
put into use for many jobs with the Fleet
Air Arm. No doubt this favourable opinion
of the autogiro's abilities has been assisted
by the feat of the inventor ot' the autogiro,
Senor ile la Cierva, who both touk off and
landed on the deck of a small Spanish air-
craft. carrier as it lay at auchor.

Tins would he impossible for an ordinary
aeroplane, which requires the carrier to
steam into the wind before it can take off.
***** To reproduce exactly the Great
Pyramid of Egypt would require 5j years'
toil and would cost £39.000,000 !

TO A FIRE— AT 100 M.P.H. !

B ROOKLANDS Race Track has the
world's fastest fire-engine. It can
race to a car fire at over too m.p.h.

A light fire-engine body lias been fitted 1o
a, racing Bentley chassis, and this high-speed
tire-fighter can reach any part ol’ the circuit,
2| miles long, in 1 j minutes '

•»*** ,4 Canadian claims to hare invented
an aeroplane, which cannot crash. Should the
engines fail, autogiros, helium filled, gas-bag,
arid folding icings arc automatically brought
into action

VELS

CONTROL TOWER FOR GOODS VAN

A S a large goods van was found difficult
to handle in traffic, a cab for the
driver was provided — high up on the roof!

The normal controls were lengthened to
allow of this being done. The driver goes
up to the control tower by entering a side
door and climbing a stairway.

Forward and backward vision is naturally
better than would be possible with the cab
lower down, but what would be the result of
such a car running about streets where there
were many " Bahy " machines dodging

Would they not need some kind of long
flagstaff extending from (heir roof to draw
the lorry man's attention to them?

It mat 0 Donat i , an Italian oilman,
recently reached a record height of 49.673
feet [over 9 miles ) in a Caproni biplane.

BUTTERFLY NETS OUT OF FASHION !

T HOUGH the learned old professor
with his butterfly net is just as keen as
ever, he is now using scientific help in his
search for knowledge.

An instrument known as the “Light-trap ''
is used to seciit'o insects, and one of these
traps, in use af an Experimental Station,
lias collected no less than 180.000 insect* in
11 mouths 1

Valuable informal ion has been gained in
this way. It has been discovered that the
numbers of insects vary tremendously,
according to the weather. 6.000 insects were
caught one night, and only 50 the next.

Scientists are now fighting insect pests by
bleeding other insects which will attack and
kill them.

Discoveries that are
Foretelling the Future

A PRESS-TITE-BUTTON VOTE

V OTING in the Swedish Parliament
will soon be carried out by pressing
a button. ^

installation of electric cquipnieht to record
votes automat ii ally, without members having
to leave their seats.

A vote tor the motion under discussion is
registered by pressing a button marked
■ Aye." *' No " is recorded by means of a
second button, und when a member docs not
wish to vole at all he signifies this by
pressing both buttons.

The equipment to he installed will auto-
matically count the votes for and against,
show how many members did not wish to vote
cither wav. ami how maitv members failed to
vote at ail.

**** The Brazilian Government his
authorised the Zeppelin L'nm/iany to establish
a regular airship service, between Europe and
Brazil.

THE MECHANICAL “SECOND'’

REALLY up-to-date mechanical de-

A

vice may soon take the place ol the

second who vigorously fans a towel in the
boxer's corner between the rounds.

This is an elec-
trically-driven fan
which revolves at
high speed in a
guarded case.

The fan is car-
ried on a special
extension like those
lilted to many tele-
phones, and tan be
pushed back out of
the way when not
required.

As the fan blows
a miniature whirl-
wind about thi
boxer, tho second
is left free to mas-
sage his man and
give instruction as
to tactics in tho

-BE TALLER! S

A.B.C. Of
SCIENCE

organic. Common examples of former are
acetic (CjHflL). citric (C«HA) and tartaric
acid (G«H«Od). arid of latter sulphuric
(lLSOi). hydrochloride (HC1) and nitric
acid (HNOa'j.

Aconite.— One of the most deadly poisons
known. Found in Monkshood, a common
flower of the raimucalacca family.

Actinic Roys.— So named by Hcrschel, but
mure commonly known as ultra-violet rays ns
Abrasives. — Polishing materials used in they exist beyond the violet end of the
l1- spectrum of visible light. Present in sun-

f VISIBLE U6KT

1 1 1 1 1 1 n i miTi II

w * • ■: WfiA RED ULTRAVIOLET fm

manufacture. High grade

fO- CAU.EP. ELECTRICAL

The complete
lioi'iindum, silicon carbide, etc. Low grade
are crushed quartz for sandpaper, feldspar
and quartz for polishing powders, quartz
sand for plate glass making, pumice powder
and tripoli for cleaning materials, nnd liny
Hint pebbles for grinding purposes.

Acids. — Characteristically sour substances
always containing hydrogen (H). Turn blue

tin- film riel it or Actinic Band.
shine, causing chemical changes lint pro-
ducing no heat. Used medically in artificial
sun baths.

Actinium. — Radio-active substance found in
pitchblende, the ore which is the source of
Radium, Uranium, Thorium, etc. Has not
yet liecn isolated; Unit is. lias never heeu
properly purified, or separated from other
materials with it. Renders bodies in con-
tact with it temporarily radio-active.

434

May 12, 1931— SCOOPS

Our Readers Send Us—

More PRIZE- WINNING Ideas

The READERS
IPLATFORM^

Readers stand arid hold forth
on this — their own platform.
They present their ideas,
theories, and criticisms to the
vast audience of , their fellow-
readers .