Page:Amazing Stories Volume 01 Number 09.djvu/60

826 account of abnormal weather—with frosts in April, and no rain in June and July—the crops were cut practically in two, with a tremendous loss. Yes, the installation of my towers will require a huge capital; but it will pay. It will pay, not in comfort and crops alone, but it will pay in other ways besides. When Siberia as well as the Sahara desert, and Congo as well as Alaska, have perpetual spring, and the peoples of the earth find in the tilling of the soil, where they were born, a sure, unfailing source of wealth, and the differences of climates and products are eliminated, we will see the disappearance of all the other differences that separate nations from nations; and all men, saved from famine and strife, will hasten in harmony on the road of a glorious progress."

"Good!" Wells and I exclaimed.

"And at last we shall realize the dream of all ages. Wars will be made impossible. All the nations will have to obey the verdicts of the International Supreme Court, and no people will dare to rebel. They would have to face my wrath. Do not smile gentlemen. Think how the winds in my hands may become weapons, the most dreadful weapons. The gentle breeze, if I choose, may be turned into a violent storm, and the beneficent rain, if I wish, may become a deluge. Woe to that nation that will dare disturb universal peace! I will thrust upon them with full force my means of destruction, against which whole armies will be powerless—the hurricane!"

"You will be mightier than a king," I exclaimed.

ES, because my kingdom, the air, covering all the kingdoms of the earth, will be as vast as the earth."

The inventor said these words calmly, with his perpetual smile; but the expression of his eyes revealed how well he appreciated the full significance of that assertion.

"Are you sure the apparatus will work?" I inquired.

"I am positive of it. What I am not certain about is the degree of power that it will develop. You see, the problem consists, not only in originating the winds, but also in fighting back the winds that, formed by the difference of atmospheric pressures, may be contrary to my pre-arranged plan. We must be able to develop a current strong enough to win the strongest winds."

"That is to say?"

"In St. Paul, Minnesota, there has been recorded a wind of the velocity of 102 miles an hour, the maximum observed in this country. I expect to reach and surpass that speed, if everything goes well."

"That is a terrific speed," said Wells.

"And the effects are in proportion," added the inventor. "The pressure of a hurricane of 100 miles an hour is 49,200 pounds per square foot. You understand now why I have chosen this desert place for my experiments, and why I must wait to begin the tests until all the wooden houses built by my helpers are demolished, and men and animals sent to a safe distance."

"Professor," I ventured with some hesitancy, "I had planned to go back tonight; but if you would let me, I should like to stay and see your towers work."

"I have no objections; but I warn you there may be some risk, and you must take upon yourself all the responsibility."

"I will," I assented with enthusiasm.

"Now, Professor," interrupted Wells, "you have satisfied my friend's curiosity; I wish you would satisfy mine."

"Oh, about the tourmaline that I told you Andrews keeps in his cabin?"

"Yes."

"Well, let us go there. It is just half past nine. Andrews must be in; perhaps he is in bed already."

We turned off all the lights and went out. The night was balmy, the air still, and the moon high in the sky.

Andrews' cabin was only fifty to sixty steps from the stone house. Nobody was in.

"I know where he keeps that stone," said the Professor. "Come in gentlemen."

We entered. The cabin was not more than nine feet square, and the slanting roof was so low that I could almost reach it with my outstretched arm. As we entered, the Professor proved his familiarity with the place by finding the electric switch in the dark.

"The powerful batteries we have stored," he explained, "allow us the luxury of a good light. I will find the tourmaline for you, Mr. Wells."

HE inventor had scarcely ended his sentence, when a sudden roaring noise broke the stillness of the night. The sound clearly resembled the coming of a mighty storm. We looked at one another in great astonishment. The wind was blowing against the back of the cabin with violence. We had to shout at the top of our voices to be heard.

We went to the door, looked outside.

The Professor pointed into the air. The summit of the tower was illuminated. The large glass globe was glittering with green and blue sparks.

I looked at the Professor, and trembled. I had never before seen a like expression of stupor and dismay. He held his head with both hands—then, as if struck by a sudden idea, he made for the open. I caught him by his coat, and pulled him back.

"It is folly to go out," I yelled; but I could not hear my own voice, as the wind, increasing in violence, had increased its roaring.

The Professor, turning quickly, struck me a powerful blow in the chest, then freeing his coat from my grip, leaped toward the stone house.

HAT I had expected happened. The ill-fated man had scarcely taken ten steps, when, once out of protection of the shielding cabin, he was seized by the wind and thrown to the ground. There he struggled frantically, while the wind rolled, knocked and tossed him. A little farther on I saw him stop: perhaps he had succeeded in getting hold of some rock protruding from the sand. I saw him rising again, and then, (the moon was so bright that I could distinguish everything) he was lifted bodily from the ground, as if he