October 1930 by Astounding Stories of Super Science

Author:Astounding Stories of Super Science [Science, Astounding Stories of Super]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Petra Books
Published: 1930-05-15T02:22:43+00:00

CHAPTER XIII - You Can't Down the Marines

"He's pulling out of it! Keep it up, Gotch!"

Dick heard the words and opened his eyes. He stared in amazement atthe faces about him. Honest American faces under tropical helmets andabove a uniform that he had never expected to see again. It couldn'tbe real. And yet it was. One word broke from his lips:

"Marines!"

"He's got it. Don't let him slip, Gotch.", grinned one of the friendlyfaces, and the man named Gotch, who presumably had some qualificationsfor his job, continued what was meant to be a gentle massage of thenerve centers along Dick's spine.

"I'm all right." Dick muttered, beginning to realize hissurroundings. He was lying on a strip of prairie near the beach, onwhich the waves were breaking in low ripples about a motorboat thatwas drawn up.

He sat up. The world was swimming about him, but he seemed to have nobroken bones. Not far away was the wrecked plane, an incongruous massof streaks where the fabric had ripped through the gas-paint. "Whereare the others?" Dick muttered.

Then he was aware of Fredegonde Valmy lying with a white face under ashrub. Her eyes were open, and turned toward him.

He heard Luke Evans's voice. The old man hobbled round from Dick'sback, one arm in a bandage.

"She's hurt rather bad, Rennell, but we won't know how bad till we canget her away," he said. "You've been lying here about an hour, sincewe crashed. President Hargreaves made them take him to the fleet inthe other motorboat to see what he could do. He's assumed command.

"You see, Rennell, that damn gas caught the fleet and put pretty nearevery man out of commission for good. But these fellows wasn't goingto give up. So, since all their officers were gone, they took two ofthe boats and their arms and equipment, and came ashore to settleaccounts. And they won't believe there's anybody on the island or anybuildings. And I can't make 'em believe it. God, Rennell, thoseinvisible devils may attack us at any moment. I don't understand whatthey're waiting for."

Gotch spoke: "We know you're Captain Rennell, sir. And this gentleman,we know him too, but he seems a bit queer in his head. Talking of theInvisible Emperor's headquarters on this island, a mile or so inland.The only invisible thing we've found is that piece of a garment wepulled off you."

"I broke my watch ray machine in the fall, and I can't make thembelieve, Rennell," almost wept old Evans. "Tell them I'm not crazy."

Dick got upon his feet with an effort, staggered a little, then madehis way to Fredegonde. He kneeled down beside the girl. She wasconscious, and smiled faintly, but she could not speak. He pressed herhand, rose, and came back. "Mr. Evans is not crazy," he said. "Theheadquarters of the gang is over there." He pointed. "Didn't PresidentHargreaves tell you?"

"He was kind of incoherent, sir." The marines looked at one another,wondering. Was Captain Rennell crazy too?

"We've had scouts out through the jungle, sir. There's nothing withinfive miles of here. They had a clear view through to the sea from thetop of a hill.

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