Page:Weird Tales Volume 7 Number 1 (1926-01).djvu/106

104 a window, where he kept an eye also on the plain below.

The Sphere continued to settle slowly, though they knew not what moment the gyrostats might stop, allowing them to crash down upon the plain. With each hundred feet of descent their hope grew stronger; but that they would fall into the enemy's hands was now inevitable, for they were sinking into the very center of the camp.

Off to the south the sounds of fighting had ceased. Stretcher bearers were bringing in the wounded from that direction. Robert wondered dully how long it would be before he and Taggert would fall into the hands of the invaders.

Curiously enough, the Martians below were equally perturbed at the approach of the Sphere. Having witnessed its terrible destructive power, they felt absolutely at its mercy, and feared even to train a gun on it for fear that they would be wiped out immediately in retaliation. So far they did not suspect that the Sphere was not descending at the will of its occupants.

Realization of this occurred to Robert.

"Maybe we can bluff it through, Tag," he said, hopefully. "It's our only chance."

By this time the Sphere had settled to within a bare fifty yards of the ground. Its buoyancy was now virtually the same as the slightly denser atmosphere at this height. It drifted slowly for several minutes, the gyrostats continuing to revolve softly.

The Martians had crowded round in a generous circle below. Mingled fear and curiosity were written upon their upturned faces, which could be seen quite clearly in the rapidly brightening daylight. A pompous officer pushed forward into the open space directly beneath the Sphere.

Robert leaned out and addressed this individual.

"As emissaries of his excellency, the Governor of Svergad, I demand the immediate withdrawal of these forces," Robert began, affecting a confidence which he was far from feeling.

"Fine. Go to it, boy!" encouraged Taggert in a hoarse whisper.

The officer did not seem surprized at Robert's demand. But, unfortunately, in spite of his pompous manner, it appeared that he was not of sufficiently high rank to treat with so important a matter. Every moment was precious, for at any instant the Sphere might betray their weakness by settling to the ground.

The officer politely stated that their demand would be referred at once to the generalissimo. Realizing the importance of satisfactorily completing negotiations before the Sphere descended, Robert decided to take a bold stand.

"The generalissimo will not do. I must speak with the emperor quickly—here."

As expected, the officer was visibly taken aback. Several valuable, fleeting seconds passed before he recovered from his surprize and indecision.

"Your request will be communicated to the emperor at once through the generalissimo," he answered presently.

The minutes seemed like hours as Robert and Taggert anxiously awaited the reappearance of the official. Meanwhile the Sphere very slowly settled lower and lower. Taggert's efforts to start the engine had availed nothing. They could but wait idly with what, patience they could summon. To have attempted utilizing part of the disk's power to carry them beyond the enemy's lines would but have resulted in disaster, for their present buoyancy was maintained only with the aid of the disk's