Meanwhile the little squad of snake-cavalry was charging side by side, in one line. The inexplicably useless deathrays were still aimed ahead from each man's right hand, while in the left each carried a broad, curved sword. But no pale beams shone from the boxes.
Then, suddenly, from the grey shape that seemed to be a submarine in the harbor there shone another ray like a slender thread of red fire. It shone, not at the heroic squad of snake-mounted cavalry but at the roof of the cavern high above. At the touch of the beam clouds of what seemed to be smoke poured out. It looked as though the rocks themselves were burning.[1] An enormous mass of rock fell from the cavern roof. It must have weighed millions of tons.
The speed of the charging snakes carried most of them beyond the main mass of falling stone, but odd rocks, flying out of the main fall, struck and crippled half the snakes and men. The line was broken, a disordered confusion.
A great crowd of ape-men, waving metal clubs and hurling huge stones, rushed at the disorganized line. Each guard found himself facing, at the same time, the blows of four or five beasts.
The ape-men seemed to flow over men and snakes like the sea over the shore, submerging them, hiding them from view. Wimpolo's heroic guards had charged to death.
CHAPTER III
In the Ruined City
"IT looks bad, Hargreaves,” said Winterton.
The two were standing in the dark looking down upon ruined Selketh. The fall of rock had blocked the hole out of which they had come. If any more guards were following the first twenty they would be unable to get through the hole until they had first removed many hundreds of tons of rock.
"At least Wimpolo is in the hands of human beings, and not animals," Don said.
"Are you convinced now that it is hopeless to attempt a rescue?" Winterton asked. "Come back with me and let us report to King Usulor."
"Look," said Don, pointing. "See those huge dark shapes in the water. What are they?"
"Ships."
"No. They are submarines. There are many of them. The people of the city are being marched aboard them."
"You are right, Hargreaves. But what of it?"
"According to my guess, the Princess will be on board that biggest one of all, the one the burning ray came from. But where are they going? Where are they taking her? I will not go back until I have found out."
"But my dear boy, it is hopeless."
"The information we have got so far must certainly be conveyed to Usulor," Don agreed. "Very well then. We will part. You return to Usulor and safety as quickly as you can. Let the snake carry you. I will remain here and see what I can do to help Princess Wimpolo. Will that suit you?"
"I don't like to leave you like this, my boy," said the Professor.
"You must. When Usulor gets here
- ↑ Although this thread-beam of Bommelsmeth's appeared to set stones, metals and all solid substances on fire, this was not actually its effect. It was not until long afterward, when Usulor's scientists had an opportunity to examine a ray producer that the means of its operation was discovered. No heat and no burning was involved. Where it touched, the ray neutralized the force of cohesion that holds the atoms of solid matter together. Those atoms then flowed apart in the form of gas. Passing out of the influence of the ray, they solidified again as fine dust, producing the effect of clouds of smoke. Thus the thread-ray could cut its way like a knife through any armaments whatever.—Ed.
