Page:Weird Tales volume 30 number 06.djvu/79

Rh have the neutralium shell above us, and the outer steel wall is insulated from the inner lining; you remember I thought it advisable in case of electrical disturbances we might encounter. Of course what other offensive resources they have at their command we cannot tell. We can only keep our eyes open, and if we have to start, well, we must chance it," declared Carscadden philosophically. "As for the clawed wires, I have something here that will fix them if they menace us," he added quietly, as he stepped to a near-by chest and extracted from it a couple of short-handled and very large-headed instruments. "These things are carbons, insulated from the handles. When we switch on all the current at our command, the heat of the electric arc between them will be quite considerable. I think it will melt their wires without much difficulty."

"Fine! Here's your chance to experiment—a couple of the infernal things sticking to us just outside the doorway!" cried Burgoyne, as pleased as a boy at the possibility of a really effective offensive.

"Right! Here, get the wire between the carbon points, and I'll switch on the juice," cried the scientist, handing him an instrument.

A moment, and Burgoyne raised a hand in signal. The switch was moved, a flash of vivid light leapt between the points, and instantly the wire was fused and fell apart. At once the second wire was so treated with a like result. At this an excited shrill whistling broke out among the Martians in their cars above.

"That's got them guessing!" cried Burgoyne jubilantly. "Reckon they thought no one knew anything about electricity but themselves."

"Likely, but I'm afraid they've got other things up their sleeves to try out on us yet. However, in another thirty minutes we can close the door and leave them. But we must fight for that thirty minutes. Kobloth had better have his gun back; we can't worry about trifles in such a tight corner," said their captain coolly.

"Thank you, Mr. Carscadden; I'll do my best. I'm quite a fair shot," replied the Austrian gratefully.

"Better get busy," advised old Flint. "Those uglies are trying to throw a net all over us."

True enough, a perfect maze of clawed, disk-ended and star-tailed wires was enmeshing the great globe. Many fell on the neutralium cover, and failed to grip it, but numerous others attached themselves to the uncovered steel half. The four men at once commenced to rain bullets amid their foes, and the cries of rage and pain that answered the volleys told of the damage being wrought. Shortly half a dozen cars and their weird occupants had crashed to the sand; and many of the wires lay broken and tangled. All that came near the door were fused instantly by the carbons, and for a little it seemed as if the battle favored the voyagers. But at the globe's side, away from the door, many disks attached themselves and could not be come at by the defenders; and these began to draw the Neutralia along at a good pace. The strength of the wires and their grip must have been enormous, for the globe plowed a deep rut through the sand as though steam winches and giant cables had hold of it. Luckily the door faced the canal, so that they were drawn away from it.

"Another ten minutes," said the scientist anxiously. "Then, night or no night, we must go."

With redoubled fury the revolvers spat their deadly missiles among the besiegers, and car after car came crashing from the high cables. The execution caused even these fearless monsters to