brightly with a strange phosphorescent radiance!
"After the inky blackness of the tunnel this mile upon mile of glowing land was dazzling. For a time we could not see clearly, because although we had been using our cabin-lights, their shaded softness was nothing like the light of the cave.
"While I stood there gazing at the endless glowing expanse of land ahead, Rusty suggested that we stop to eat a bite of lunch and to send a message back to headquarters before proceeding. This we decided to do; especially after Rusty said we'd get no coffee until we did stop, inasmuch as his attempts along this line while we were under way had resulted in a none too invigorating shower-bath, when the pot tipped over on him.
"While waiting for the eats I looked through the 'scope to see if I could find anything. Blazing rockets! I certainly did. Quite a way off and devilishly hard to distinguish in that hazy glow was a city! Yes, Smitty, a full-grown, wheel-shaped city. I'll bet you don't believe me; but, on my honour, I did see it.
"I strained my eyes, trying to make out the thing more clearly, but it was no use. It was too jumpy on account of that infernal glow. After awhile I gave up and started sending this message.
"That brings us up to date. Tell Dick—I mean Captain Starr—that I'm sorry we've been gone so long. We'll just take a peep at the city and then shoot back to the Station. I haven't told the gang about the city yet, because they'd be heading for it without waiting for lunch. Particularly Rusty. He'd argue that we'd be asked to dinner there anyway.
"Well, here comes my tray of sandwiches, so I'll sign off. I'll let you hear from me as soon as we get under way again. So long."
The rumbling voice of the loud-speaker died out.
"There is another message?" asked the dejected and miserable Captain Starr.
"Yes, sir; shall I run it through?"
Starr sat for a time as though he had not heard. Then, the blood came back to his face. His jaw came forward with a jerk. His eyes blazed.
"Yes, Smith, let's hear the other message," he gritted between clenched teeth. The table shook as he pounded his fist upon it. "I'll find that city and those beasts who have my brother, if I have to crawl there on my hands and knees! And when I get there—" He stopped and took hold of himself.
"All right, Smith. The other message," he finished more quietly.
2. "Smash It, You Fool!"
SMITH obediently turned up the tape by twisting the dial, then, at the sharp clicking from the speaker that precedes a message, dropped silently down again beside Starr.
"Click. . . . click. . . . click. . . . Meteor IV again, Smith. I'll dispense with the old formula because I've already given it once, and besides, this is an informal message.
"I've just told the boys, and were they excited! It was funny. Rusty had that fool helmet on his head. You know that thought-helmet he's always fooling around with, don't you? It's that metal thought-transference contraption that he's been trying to perfect and simplify. Up to now he's never been able to get it so that any one but himself can operate it, except on rare occasions. He claims that only certain people have the right type of mind for sending out strong thought impulses. If it could be made to work, that helmet would be a great invention, but as it is, it is merely a plaything.
