Scoops v01n10 (1934 04 14)

Page 1

BRITAIN'S ONLY SCIENCE STORY WEEKLY April 14, 1934. No. 10. Vol. 1. PRICE TWOPENCE.

Page 2

Great New AIR GIANT 290 Al.ril U, 1931— SCOOPS

Page 3

Under the Land of Eternal Ice lies — lee Mefr4»polii« WHAT MYSTERIOUS FORCE causes the Mag- oedsm at the Poles and sends its Po»«eT all over the World? Dr. Heddle sets out to sohe the mystery. ★ A GANGSTER GOES ON BOARD * faiii.LAlir . N.r.‘;:Tli .lisUi..', l«ns. Ifvfl iaii»*y III regular " / •J It liail been iinat'l'- In Iwnlj • •I l!w- alrca'Jy-ocdtpi^il lianitai'H, . .» not wlipii or wherp il wnnM (ly il (•oldniii was ancostuim'd ti> tiikiii.; ■ »De bpfofp httn. o. ' weak's growth of red -I- '» ami his furs were Iwgrimed abliy nfti-r Ills long flight. l.aw Was ImfJ on (iuldoiii’p linil, ■ '• itip jail rif ths ArL'lic I'lilii iii'nli)iii{ I' liiMiig iiitn Ms lungs, tli' ti-lt i.i lniiiiiiig roiiiul liis inuijth whi'i'p Im irll liiii.k (u fi't'pre. i. U ' lam was a “ mail dug " hunted : .. .1 -.pil hy t'-.' lawless. He N liPTi lie made the Slatiw So he liaH 1 , ’ .-li nr. Heddle dc. pressed the key. and a bnrst of vivid electric tire shot out at the horde of ghastly Gloogs. f\i_ _ .• . , , • »i hnk let • i i.'a siit/riai pr'*. : of it. D^e - i mself appeared at thrt - .Vs t .. hirt-i the i-nw»y ami - I • 1 . !;me from t' ■’ r-..gh 'leepuie .lUaiUii. where lie had .,.>iil Hip iiiidit. Il was .lltTn iill to lielicve il r ' - was Britain's ^ii-iilesl geologist. Iintihng a I'.iveted ihnir ul oiia of liiiglautl's most famous I’nivprsilica. Clad in ihin Hying Ipiithei's— fm-s wpiv mil. lu-eJeil in ihp I'lpi It ii'ully lioatei! cahiii of Tht Si/rer l.ii'k — In- walked wilh ;i li»mi-. lungj stride. He was tail .shove the jan .ire. and' only m-/ that glimmered ngm — i H- r,-l Hen.!'- 4'ijuaimao.v’ 10 tl e ' Coago. Ihe svicr.Us'. ' siippi-d liai'k to the il ami reloi ked the slieei hni k mhi SCOOPS — .Vprii 14, 1931 291

Page 4

The Men from the Ice Kingdom ^;>ciiinrQS in an HtiuU lie iiu eUiiut vuliaiin. Kvi'n llii'u lie liml been inyiiiB with the strnngo tlieury that had brought niin tu the Arctic, aiiil in Ellis l''ram[iton, «mal ghibo Iroltoc auil Iinril-hiltcn adveniviicr )ip had tlif* pilch, lie nrcHi'H for his ynu'rc ufler, I — well, as I'm ubw involved, I tfiink 1 tniftht to know wl'Bt it is 1 " Hcddlc s film liionfb rrl;ix»d in a smile. Thai was the h>ny>rsl s|>ei'i.li lie had ever heard (he rather tadlum pih-l iimke. He was silent fur a few mniamts; Iheu. laakmi; sues that (he Alaakan ,\irwayi me-, h, inn s were nut •if earshot, be sp»ke in his 'p i ' : - iiirig *' First, my dear Framjdoo. I ran assure yon that we are definitely out t" M.l.r the mystery of the Mafrsetic North. 1 m after I it, mg mure spectacolar than that. But, aa I believe onr tnisanm may be attended hy more danger than that which ne nay expert from the naturally rieorous rondiliuns up there, I feeh perhajK. I should take you fully into niy confidence. The retison that I Imveu'l told you my actual theory before is that it is au revotuticnscy thiil I haven't breathed it hitheitii to a living smil. In a few words, Frampton, 1 lielievo (tint it is simple iniignctisni, caiiaed hy induced elci- Iricity, that makes the North magnetic. " He paused to cive this siuiplc rvplanation time Mok iniu hi* lisiei-er'i brain. But did’i't luv, the effe.t be evpecteA Obi,..,uilv. Elliv Framjann did ri't yet seo what he was dmhic at. ills next words made it plain to the air piUd, ImHevri. -tHmittiag the idea of the huee metal loir " he pomteal. "the problem I want to atjve is ; Wlial keeps it so strongly magneC- ised that its influeive streb lies to the S>n(h Pole, over thiiusjnds of mites hi cverv direc- tinnT Oljvhiusly. Nature herself, who is sup- posed to t« the only inhabitaut uf the Polar wastes, cannot mauufactiire eits trii iry in the targe and atcsj l« trying to pirne the fraxen dislar .ea that >tifl separated him fiom ■ ll's a great rjoest. Eili*.” he murmured. ' The Pular regions are still only panly ex- plored. There may lie things there ou- drramt of in our |>bikisopby. Vou'ie not a man to shirk danger, but no one we know >'f has ever faced the dangei-a (hat may lie ont there. Dn you want to turn bai k J ” X!>e pilot didn't haskale.. -■ Let':. .. i.l-l, uml f.,||.,wr.i lb. .Taiiio HccMlc nil i;ie iadilci ini.i iln- I', tr.lilll of 7'irr S'lfc'E Link. if THE WORLD BENEATH THE ICE ••JT'.S nn use. Due. I can’t hold licr. We'ro Xaoing ih.wji ’ ” Kills Kraiiipiun's voice was lioar.se a.s he shouted the woids down the .speaking lulie • onnesltnc the pilot's cabin with the navi- gating cabin of T’/ie .s’lfr'E Link. He was juggling mmlty wilii llu- »iilit Fiamploii sidl silluig in bis scat at the uui'iul ■•otumn. “Well haodled." ibe s-ientist coiig .sin laled "Here, put these furs on, amt ...c oolside to have a look rosod." "Phew! .\ narnivt squeak'” giunl*nl Ellis Frampton, rauing his heavy bulk and clandiering into the fur overalls the ctl.ci offered him. ” If this i* the M.ipnti.- Pole there doesn’t seem much to see " ■'Wail'" inuni'ured Heildle, and swung open the iloor. .V blast of ice cold air swept in. auil the pair weie glad of Itieir furs as lliey clinilie.1 clown the isdlapsihle lad'ler lai to the ice. I'uJcr the pitiless glare of the ,Ar>tic siin the white wa‘lcs whi.'b stretched tn every iKiriznn were deserted oml forlorn. The only- relief to its uniformity wag n stmtige group of ice hummocks like a Druids' circle rinse to the 'ulune. '■ I. el's have b look at those,” suggested Heddle, niid stinted forwui'd. liiili hr anti the little air pilot hnd scarcely tukcTi half a ilnxen striiles wlicn tliey gav*e H simnltaiienng gasp uf nurjzemciit and h, sited in tlieir Iroclts. .A score of squat, fur clad figures had iiji- peaied from auiuiig (he Ue huinniu)i.'.ii In be I'i'i- in'vv-. nmeis did iirit, linlt imlil tlicy bad snrioundcrl tlie twu Englisbiticu, Tli.ni ime, will) wiia cvidctilly lliinv liiiidpr, i-.micd ii.ii rude, r t o -nmigc iniigne. iinl Fi.iniptnii mul Uni. ill w.i. iiniiirdiaiely seized, -igaiii ilic geologist (old his c«ni|i;iiiiim to make n.i i. •i«l..iiiv. Hi' eyes weie glcuiiiiiig strangely, for he had lecogmsed Hu- words the leader of the )>alc faced men spoke .V keen student of tanpi,i,<-. he ic.igiiivrd n as one of the aociem songnes ■,{ ilm Taitars — tbosa old nomads from v.buh ili.- t\ - c anil many* .»lher ra-vs spring. What Would you have with os ami who .ce yon r” bo asked laboriniisly in its -nic language. ” I ..vuuoi tell you." was the reply. ” Bid v. ii must lOnie to Anklogh, our ruin He will tell you." 'Yes, we will .nine with yon,” niumed livdilJc. "Hut first let u.v protect uiii iiei'i- puiiu- I'jriiii the eiemeiU.v. *' He hmi ii.-iiori'c to 'iiy llip word " cern- pLiiie " ill Kiigliali. but he iiiationed tuw.iida flu Link to show llie ica duiul' to w b.n he referred. Tlie man iinddcil ngreenient, ami )ic nml his compmiioiiv Rlocd l.y while the twu flyer* Moiled up the 'plane to protect it in wiiiie i.oavire fiom (lie snnw ,-nid wind. Tlien, i-onsumed wiHi curiosity, the r\- piurers permuted their vii'angely'geiitic .np- lurs to leed them towairls the snow limn- iiio.'lis. Tiiey bad sum- lialf-vvcy when a losiise y.-ll snended fmm tlie rear and a uildijr gcslitulaliin; figure eluuilded toHanl.s tlirn. Frampltiii and Ilesl.lle met (lie 'Iona, way whom t!;.y had larii'ul with Ibetn ov-t •unii'. :h..'aii.is of mile* uf frozen dr*ula- ■■ Wimre on earth did ymi :;aiug ileirauded Dr. James Heddle. eyeiBg tUa sLabby ^ure of UoJdoni lliroiigh hla pinve- nez. Stowaway, I suppose? " Tiie AiiiericniTs shitty eye* roved around the gcocip uf ice dwivi fs amt back to tlic two Ei.gli'iiiiicii. HiiL lie .IoIii'l lucct their level gaze, • Don't lx- hard cm a giiy," be vvliined. ' CJiicc' I've liNil a tough break. I'm jest an hone.si tii giMidmws gnl.l digger, but J wn* broke an’ -well, guess 1 iu/iipcd yore 'plane for a tiilel-fver nip b.nk South, I never figured you d go farther XoiHi. Mister, .toyway. I got out fer a leg stretch at the ot^r side of the 'plane when yon In.i.led here, an' heana’ these people e^lariii’ you I tboD^ht I'd lielter bom in and give yon a The fat little air pilot was seowling a< the guumaii feroi-ioiisly. He knew well enotigli that the fellow lid. It vas fear of 1^111^ left alone in (he .Arctic wastes (hat had caosed him tu Mmw biiiibelf. But Dr. .Iimmy Ilrddle eyed liold-mi as emolmidessly a* he would one of Ids genlogi cal speciiiiriis. "II'iii. I'm norry wc bmiight you so far off the behlcii track.” lie murmured, ” Itur I'm afraid tliiise giullemeu will make you eume with us now vvliether yon wiiiiL to or The ice ilwaiTs, wlio bud been uiiiwiiig iiupidirul. iirgeil their captives lunvaiJ auain — and Hiiiik linldiuii vveut, loo. When they reached the i.'e liummocka a surprise awaited them. For they were Ushered mi tu a large metal platform mi the surface of the ire. There was a swntclilfuard at oue eud and. .squalting liefore it. tlin leader of the dwarls palled a lever. Next moment Uie platform began to sink into the solid ire, with UolJoii!, the two flyers, and all ibeir queer captor* alioarJ it. Down. down, at ever-increasing fjveed went tlist strange Polar lift, traversing a Wiell-like shaft that seemed to lead into the very IioweD of the Earth. Heddle noticed lliat lie walls past which they slid were also of 292 April U, 1931— SCOOPS

Page 5

Prisoners in the Ice Metropolis •’ • I, t-t Ui? jilnlform on A* A y jirngresBC’d it Iilisiiil' T - . ill Ual. and the tiireo woi'O H-! ;■«»»-• t—’.i.ron^h an opening in (lie u - c.f i‘-e shaft. r •'•-stw'ca r.f iwilonislinieiit hiiist from :t 4t xtiiat llipy saw. They weie- ; ^ ill a loailivay juivkI nitfi iiiBlal. . ‘ side ninlli-tviuJowt'd SikysrraiieiR t -I. AI>ovt' tlic-sr they Rlimjiscd n gVL-at ‘ ronf. *0 vsst and distant tliat it might — - I e^-n Hio sky itself. •\:ir! suspended finm this artificikl Pnna- : • • I W.1S a huge gluhc-, fi'oin wliiih gleamed ' - •:*). vellow light mure SEKitliuig to the eyes : .1 sunshine. I’luhably iii'tm gas p!pelri.-ally ilis- ■- '1 I." filiurmi'ed I)i'. Ileddle. in* iultirpsled gaze I'e.sleil ou a iiunibei' of flvii'g mai'hinps, iimooeiit of ))mpellei's, ' ' *li (I'uised al'init iu the aii'. One uas .ling lipfore a window of n Iniildiug ’.V, and onu of llio ice dwaifa wa? • •|’;ing into it. He seated hiiuself hehiiui ; 1 lint, who (lew cfl down the street. llp'lJle al.so" iiiithed an almost entiio i' • of siimul ill this world helow the Ir'p flying niachim;s and tlie various ■ h: on the loadwny neio alisolutely ■ f They pruhahly drew their power a hiid." he (nlil the .tmei i.-an qnieLly. '■ There is nhIv liiiiiiaii liic in ifelrovia. nut / i-aii suawpv yiui for tUi.- hinl. ,Vn;is 0/ you in'// f.i-rr Per l?it iiy/,'r wiili! iiyiiii." THE MEN.\CE OF THE GLOO(;S “CAY. h-tiime tell yuh " O " Now look here ” Dv. .Timmy lleildle's rni. e, smooth .as glass, hard .as iron, Hit into li's lOinpuJiuni'a ex- ■ Iniiialirins. “And why will you not allow us to go hack to our 'pl-anc. rny deai .sir t A.' you cru see. we are c]iiite luivmle.s:;.'' The Metroiian looked at the tall, wiry '■ 1 like yoi!.“ he said simply. '' .\nd though [ know you would not wittingly hiu-m inv pcojile, yet T .-aimot let you return to 1 he outer wurhi, i oil will be happy with us. There is eveiy ni.iteiial coinfnii. a nmii can ilesire hi Meti'uvia. We work only for a sliort linie every day: all the lieavy lalionr is done by nmehiiiery, ile. tii.aliy op,-niteil. We havo nvery plruMlie ri^vhe of the upper worhl Mii'h .IS the Talkiis, 'WLrele.ss, TeleviBioii, Wfiepiljilane lUring — ami riiniiy others your wnild hasn't invenli'd. Tli.- air wc breathe Jfe smiled .at his listeners. “ Nr> riniibl you will liave uotieed that It is mnrp diffi.ull tn walk itbcint down here than it is in the Old AYoild. That ia liecsuBB I liLi t’nrr.'e of giavily— J'eally an electrical jiliem.iiieiioii — ia condin'ted by Hint iron 0111 from the Eailh'.v cciiUe. \\V have liainessed lliB jsswrr, roiiverting it luto comuiercbil elci l.iuty. It uiake.s life for us very, very pleasant, niy friends." Before be i-ocilJ say niiy more Dr. Heddls bioke in .'Tgiiin e.vi'itedJy. ’■ My own theory on the MnKiielic Xorlli. This piuvps it, up to the hilt I Oh. won't Pn>- fes-sor Alorrant look si:k when I ditip this little, liumbshell at the U.tl.S. 1 ” He pausstl and the eagerness died out of liia voice as he went 011. “ Oli. yes, nf course. I had forgotten. W’e are not. to he allowed to return to the World. But why — er— .'Inkiogh ? The news ali.nil thin place wouhl be a nine days’ vvr.iiiler. And think of the invalids wo rtnihl . me by seuding them Uut the old Melioviau leader shook his “ I am sorry aluiiil ynitr invalids," he said ill his kindly voice. " But I’m afraid Ruth- iiig can he ilnne for them, Recanse we just haven't i-oom for any iiicreose in the popu- lation. People live down here to a great iipe. If f told you how old I am voii wnnlrlnh lielicve me. Tlie comlilhuis of lifo FramptMi’s finger went down on the trig^r, ud bullets sprayed Into the terrifyliig beasts that came advancing in hordes towards the city. t UiagnctiMii uitli which the .vir was .. A I'.jrged, The smell of ozone was c\- TV’t!: his two rou'.pniiious tlie geologist was 1. I iiiio ooe of llie tall hiiildings nearby, and 4 ti.-i;.l lift, took them to an upper floor. T' - .gii a door of the same substance they :.r — (o enter a viist, qiieerly fiiniislicd -t! .V low desk n frail little niBii, with Ic. lu'c-. .similar lo those of their raptors, snt •« iiiuig. lie looked up as the party filed in. 4nJ the leatler of the icu dwarfs explained l’ i-r.-iience of ihe thiee stiwngers. ■ itjoeliiigs, .Anklogh, ruler of ilelrovin. V.‘, I'liinid the.se three mrii on the outer ice. T • •' canio from the old world in a flying i iiileed ! ’’ togh put down his peu. and motioiicil H- ‘ ' , Fr.impton mid GoKloid into three i iiictiil cliair.s. '••• n, my friends." T • dwarfs filed out of the room leav- - t * *wo Britons mill the Amencaa aloiiB ' • . .Ar ruler. The Inst named showed no • Hank Clul.ioiii who bioko the '•V. Mi-tcr." he said to Dr. Heddlc. ' • • bud if lie's ^uhig to let iis go. t ■■ iJnazemeiil of all three the Metro- I'cf answeied Hank — iu EiigU.sli. i.-.t iindeT-faud y.iiir lefpicte.c I'.' is puinpcd down from (lie Icf ficbls above, aoa as you know, the Arctic air is quite tree Dr. Heddle iiilevjiosed a i[iipslinii liere. His eyes were gle.aiuing lieliind Ins pince-nez. Ho had forgotten in his scieiilifc zeal that ho and the other two were virtually prisoners. " Tell me, how dill ymi or your iim.-rstiu's get here? And how do you make the elec- tricity you need for all this ? " Anklogli shrugged his frail shnnlders. “ My nnccitors were a imml of ancient Tailara, as you will probably liave guessed from iho laiiguago niy people speak. They tame here from Russia — a mere handful of bavaiits niiJ thinkera who had been driven from the liainit.ii of their fellows as nwro* mancers. dealers in wilclicraft and the black lilts, liy uceident they stumbled on this cavern world — rlc.vrly of volcanic oitgin. -\jid here they decided to inalce their lioriie. " -Ts for the niectriiity, we don't need lo iiianiifaclure it. It is here already — In greater quantities than we sholl ever need, fly forbears discovered that by a strange fi'cak of Eaturo a vast streak of iron ore. nearly a mile iu diameter, Teiicherl from tha suifavc of the ice here lo the Eiirth's cure." •• Hill It the Alelrovi4 tliero -4—.- ....... ... — er — -.-oLniise us. Sonus covetous natiou would probably wipe ns out altogether. No, we know of tlie world, but Hie world must never know of 11s. We liave Hie ideal atule here, and 1 onie what may, I as tiic ruler mean to keep it so. . . . But you will be hungiy. Permit me." He brought a little Mark box from a drawee in his desk, .snil snapping open tho lid invited each of his guesls to take one of the diamoud-Hhu.ped black lozenges it con- tained. They did so and pap|>ed them into their montlis. liiimediately they felt ne.w Ufa coursing through their veins. Wliutever thosa lozenges contained, it had .a highly lonceit- Irated nutritive value, and the liialc, ihougli not iiuplea.saut, eluded auylliing they luid ever eaten in the upper worlil. After fuilher ctitivevaivtiou with the old Met.rnvi.vii, in which he learnt llieir name* and the mission that Imil brnught HrdJIc and yrunipton to the Ai-rtir, the three slraugely n.ssoi'ted comnsmons sallied out into the streets rif steel. No iflort was made by iho iiilnibitants of this wonder world to ie>ti .in SCOOPS — .\pril li. 1934 2S3

Page 6

The Fight with the Ice Beasts Ihcm in any ^ay. Tlicy wci'o accovdod tlie same freedom to ro -Klieie tlioy jileiiseil as were tiro Rretvuviaiia tliemselves. Fresh wuiidoi s opeuoj iit every lura. They looked in at n. huge sled factory where a Jiandfu! of 3f>'trovi»iia were sindtiag iron ore in huge elretncnl furnares. Thev went to see a talkie, Init the air pilot and (ioldoni. jiot iindcralaiidiiig the language, soon tired of that. Tlie speadplane I'lices in an of>en space l>e- yimd llie itetwork "f skyscraper streets iield liieiti a liltle ioiiger, .Inil all the while they could only gauge the passing of time hy their ■wrist-Wiitciies. That immense artificial sun. wliieh seemed to cast its light over evtry part of the tjnderwoild, never dimmed. .\1 last they had left the city behind, having traversed about four miles. The gfuuml hereabouts was all pitted and covered with lowering crags of lava-rock. Heildle was passing cue of the imliiral goJJies in tlu'so nmuutLiro hills when he uttered a sudden nxdanititiau of horror. Ileddle was facing a Thing that he find never imagined PTeii in liis wildest dreams. The Thing had jnst tioated out of cohs Ilcildle'a theory of the Magntllc North, April 11, 193>— SCOOPS 294

Page 7

Men Like These” — Go Down in the Sea ATH IMV ★ ROBBERY ON THE HIGH SEAS The Trnns-Oopflliii; lillCL- I'n/nvioiinre the Allantip swell st an even fifty Ileep duwn in her hull skilleJ e7i;jiiiri-is kei'i a watchfnl eve un her liatteiies of liii- Lil'.M. I’p m her whecl-linmie the nffieejs of llie iuad« sure that llie Tiaiis-Oveauic Navigation rompany's rrack vesael ki-|il to cotiiae ami schetfiile. Sh'lietlule — that was more important, h'or with four iiiiliioiis in hiilliuti in her slitiug- rooin, even an timir late would efist u small fortune in loss in uiterrat. Night had fallen two hours previously. Twenty-four limii.s Imrk the I'limmoihn- had left Uic Ststiie of Liherty asle.rii; now she was within a vouple of hundred miles ot the Irish rosat. Nothing untoward hail upset the rouliue of 1'-. voyaeo. Meals were being served in First mil' Toiirifit dining halls: pa.ssviigers sipped cocktails at the Davy Jones Bar; *«nc where on the pvoDietinde deck a hand was pUying. and coiipfvs danced in the soft liglit of fairy lamps. All WH.1 well . . . and llie Cnmtnodorr wtiuld berth at Sontliampton to schedule. Dat things were happening aboard llir linn — lillle things that were soon to swell Tlw { liief OlTirer was on duty in the wheel- 1 . U'i!other with two other officers and SCOOPS— April 1 J. 1931 Spnrks " looked up suddenly fiom the impressive control panel of the trauaniitter : ■' Can you please check nur position, sir; diifitional .signals appear to he fading." Tile Commnflnr' Imd set the lead in ril'nt steei'ing. The idea had been borfowril fi-oin aviulion. The iiort of desluiation ««il nut low-wave mdio signals at five-mimUe inter- vals. Similar signals were transmitted from the Hebrides and Spain. JT WAS SINISTER Salvage. Men Fought Men in the Misty Depths two hundred Fathoms down. And Gold — gleaming yellow bars — was the Prize Delicate apparatus aboard llio liner re- corded the strenglli of the lereptimi from the three different directions, and so long as Smithamplon recorded mairimnm, and tJebride.s and Bartelnna were eorri«poii(liiig]_v faint, the liner was ou its true cniirso. A falling away in the Southauiiiton signal alrengih would mean an increase from one or other of the aitonmtivea. thus showing whether tlic liner had veered to port or StavU’il. And now " Spnrks " was ennc'erned to see that, ac.oi'ding to the directional signals, the. liner was i.-onsideiably to port u£ its (Ipstinatiun. The Plhcei limslilv ghiiii-ed at his roiiipess. He lunked up in kma/ement. " D>„i say wi've veered to porli " he asked. "Tliats right, Sir. Hebrides signal is i.ipidly growing in Tolame." •' Something seriously wrong, somewhere, fonipiss shows we're swinging to starb'd.'’ He turned to a juni-ar officer ; ••Bcltei' net tho Old Man up here. . . Tile (.'ommandcr was dining in the .saloon with the first-class passengers. On the deck heoeatli, leading from the captain's suite, was tlie ship's strong-room. In view nf llio four iiidliuns nf gold lilocka stored hchiiid the steel dooi'.H, an officer and two men liad been dctailetl to gnard the contents. The guard was c-lianged every four hours. The two .seaineii sat playing card.-, at a small port.vfile tnlilr they had erected outside tlio strong-room door. The officer strolled slowly up and down Lh« oorrirlor. the revolver in lii.s tiiriii pwket making an inconspkiious bulge There was the aoiiud of harried footsteps appmuliinjr the corridor. The officer stopped in his stride- and waited, tensed. . . . A .‘iraavtiy-divssed man came towards him, obviously a pussrnger. " Ah, offleer— can you direct me to " B " Deck? 1 always seem m be losing my way in this eoafuuiidp'.i lioal. It they make 'em much bisner tliev'll haw to emnluv rrolire- mcn. Ha! ha ! " He luiiglied good-naturedly. "If yoa'll go iiBck along Ihis corridor. The passenger, preparing to light a cigar- 295

Page 8

The “Commodore” — and her Secret — Go Down ili'Opped his pill) ,it(ai’eUH 'uu2d siraighfeii np — the passenpei stnu.lt him ti iiithleM Idow im tlip hiuk nf the skull with ii alum length of lead piping. . I'hu uftii-ev a|)ivi\vleil on Lis fiii.e with a ion),;-dniwn-oiit slgti. The pusM-nse.f eyed the un-'Diiscious man fur a ranmeiit. Iheii he slipped the pipius Luck into iiis pocket. He wlustleJ so/lly, and two ntliBi-s liiu'i'jed ulnm; the rjiridvr, ■'Out to huny.'" ei’onled ilie pa'senge', "fllina this fellow into ilial .jLiii llieve — lie won't he found ■” He laughed, uud ii wa-n't pkus.oil Due of the seinuen qniside Hie sttMiijt-vnou! loiist have hetii'd the muciiinr of ecuiversfilion. He oppiiod the dorir with an *' Isveiy- lliiog O.K. siiV Then lie .'./u- Die jiiissiuiger nulaide, dihI the twu olheiB ciiri'.v- iiig Die oiK'onseious offiiei' into Die oppoBite 'Uhin. He sinUed to sluolt something, nnd Ids voice clipd to im uiiintcdliiiihte hm-We of ■•otind n.s fi bullet laii.st in his livuiii. He ahnuliRil hiidiwuids iiito the iiims uf his iistoiiislmd mate. Thut wns wily the IuUpv uiuhl not so niin h us I'tti'e n Lund to defend liiiii.self ns llie lend piping? iTushcd dowu on his uiipvulecic'il The pussciitipr grunted with salisfuetign. " D.K, We'U gpl Ijiisy, ..." The three of them roughly lifted ilic fw-o SetiTiieTi usiile. One of lUem diii'ted limk li' a neighhouijiig rithin iiiid veappeui'etl with u nimpact oxy -acetylene kit. fieiiiriihi thn liig man who h.id fi'sl' ii|i|ipal'eij ull the scene, lieiil di.wu by the st Kitig-t'oom dufir, He opened the rotk ot the lylitiilei', adjusted the jet. and hvoilght his glowing cignrclte to the gas, A Iduo flame hissed against the sle.el of the door. The (tvo gusnh lay Jifelpsu uii Die fl.Mj'. Heiiitiidi, with proiBilive goggles covering his eyes, knell at the slrung-ioom dmjr, his bead liuiied in u siiower uf flying sparks ns Hie flame lot into the stoel. His two accom- plices l>eiit forward in tense expeelatiun. lleiiiricli looked up for aii instant ; '■nun’t stand aisiund doing nothing' You. d'oiter. get up on the bridge deck and try to find out what's happening in the ■wheel i.-ause. Ton'd Letter bang around the door. Hemp. It anybody ^ets inquisitive yfln know how to cute him! lie turned hack to the job of i.uiling away liie cumliinatioti lock. Twenty minutes Liter there was a /mp ns Heinvk-h extiugnisLcil the flame, Ha ihrust the acetylene kit .-iside and .swung ope.n the slvung-rooiii door. 11c glauce.d at hit " Right— to the mimiie I '' he grunted with sntisfuttiun. Hotter cume "Lacli r ■' O.K. Should happen any inonicnl, Fp ill the wheel-house the oflicevs of the wnlch were facing grim tragedy. The Comumiider had been called imraedi- alely the cOTiffictiiig evidencp of tuinpass nnd dii'ei'lional slesving a))p.irattiB had iic'en dis- c.ivered. "Spa,i'ks" had Vjee.n making desperate effrirfB tn coiifiriD their true p-ciitioii by rnilio. The Caiit.vin and Chief I'fficcr wei-B bent Over tt pud •wiivkiug at in- tinate ralcidations . . . and it was (he laller method that revealed their position in ail its trim possibilities. TTne comnmnJev suddenly dropped tho pen.-il and reeled lo Ills feet. ■'full speed sStc-ni 1 ” he scveauied; vre're almost "m tlie Uurgen'Reef '' The rliythruic rnnilde uf the tuihiin's giadiially slowed and then incichsed in •peed. A uiaulsunm of whiteness npi .-..ted at the stern as the triple screw-^ iried to fuc.-p liif huge hull into reveisc. 1 lien there w.as a sudden giindiiig alinr-k staiiEcied the whole hmidvad thoiisuml Inns nf the /''immitJnK : th.rt sent dining Inhies and duieis crssliuig lo starb'ij in u biuken heap, Idle einei'getiry bells pealed the >iill In Iciai-.sialions. " Spaiia '' flung his brukni chair aside imd crunched over the iraiis- fiighteni’d piiasengers coninieiii eJ lo sireani up on In the boat-deck, the Iioarae tiliouts nf men njiilgling with the screaming ui panic-stricken wumeir and the staccato oj.leis iif the /ilEccrs. A duzen grcase-srnc-.sred men in Llue over* alls lunililcd up from (he tnuinc-i'inm, end the chiet engineer informed tlie whecMumse- i-i cint tones Ihiit there wue seven feet uf water in the huh! iiiid mure cuniiug in fust. The cumimnidcr tuiiDd t.j (he wiiuiiig ..Hr, era. •(live llie ovtiev tii lowvi iivvay ihe iiunte —and then' must he no |nnuc." lie turm'il tu the Chief Dtticcr ; " My place i' on the lividge, (.let down to the strmig-i'i'oin : lako a couple nl men willi ymi, Uet the Imllinn up and into Mo. 4 Lout." The (.'liief saluted Biimvdy and LiiuirtJ He fniight his v.-ay past those uf the piisseiigeva atid crew whu, having st- pped |c. pack a few uf llieir ]K>sspssinFie — now iiisLi.d iii.uUy up on deck. He Inni'ieil d"Wit Hie I'lirHilnr lo the- slruiig-iuunt, the two seamen iit Ill's Iieets. He flung open the inner di>>r. then slag gercil Lack 'with half-i*h>'kcsl »*D h* he saw the gjcat, steel door swung open: the gaping hole where the ci'ituhinaiiun li“-k had been; llic motiuiilBs.s Iniditn. huddled on the fiu.,r. Then ho leupl to in lion ; "Cel these men rnf' the boats — ] II -c- pull til the fummaiidcr ' ' He rushed Lack lUto the covridiir m in.ikc- liis H-H.v up In the wlieeMi'mse. Then t)ie floor sagged as the sinking liner lirclcil bi‘ keiiingly. His hands outfluiip, stnig((ling lu retain his halnnee, he was siinulieil up hy the black wall of woler ihtil hurtled down the cstfridor. Them waa an iiislaiit.'s glimpse nf Hnj bodies of Die officer and hia nii-ii as they were flung lip on the oresl, llion tin- in-nt«h- iiig turreiit Lad flung iDelf ul the eml uf the conrdtw and i rushed ihiuiiglv. -An hour later, out in Mo. 4 hual. iLe ( oiu- niander sat crouched in lire stern. 'Die t'oai- Moiforr had made her la»t plunge a few uiinutM before The Second Officer broke in on his reverie. • Better pull to the south a bit. liadn'l we, sit ? Better chance of gflting picked up. The I'aptam looked up with a start. AVe're staying here til! we're picked up." hr almoat snarled. " They’ve got to get the piisitioii of the i'omnun/ort, and if we move from here they may have to drag fur inuULba. Soruewliei'e out in the darkness to the east a fast malor-launch with font' occupants was tiiakiiig for the liisli coast. Tlie craft was low hi the irater, so low iLat nii nccflaienal wave broke over her. tihe was carrying a henviet cargo than her huihlera had intended, but then, ahe had coat only a couple of hundred jmuntls, wherca.s now, as she ploughed swifily throiigh the Atlantic swell, her huilders couldn’t liare bought her bask for less than two million. . . , The Second Uflicer spoke again. " Rut sorely they won’t try to raise the ( 'tiinmofiore. Bir ! " The t.’oiumaiidBi' looked up with a fruwn. " (.'oniwuifore be hanged"! There’s fotir iiiilliuu ill LuUioiJ down in her strung room ) .And you can bet they'll drain the .\tlaiilic- iiefore they let that little lot go to Uiivy * SINISTER SALVAGE THH Geueia) Salvage OorpiorHliun gut the job. riiey lociilcj Ihe suukeii liner a week Inter, lying oil her side at the base of the Durgeti Reef, in two iiuudted fathoms of water. " t'lah ’’ Browning was in tomniaud of the outfit — they rallerl him "Crab" bcoauie. before he'd got a tough dose of the " hends." he'd sireiiL more time .uii the sea bed lhau liny ijther man living. Ho know all there was to know about salvacn, did Crab — and lie hadn't gn his kiiowledge fnini liui'kii ! Ho turned to Die steward wlio was just leaving hia eabin. " Se'nd -Mr. Harjter iilong to me,” •liiu Harper, the "Geiienirs” crack diver, was nut long iu aneweriiig the Mum- inoiiB. He had the broad chest, the huge limbs, the square siiouMers of a man ac.os- toiiioJ to vvithstaiidiiig the terrific jnes-sures of iinderaea work. And be was yotiitg . . • still in his early twenties. '■ Sit down, ,lini," L'vnh smiled, imiiiouiiig the utiier to a clinii', ".lust hud the i'V|i(irl froiii llai'i'i.s. Tile old C'limmoiiare is on her .-.ulc at ahocit two hundred fathimis. He irpoita she's uD a ro:k huttorn. bo I reckon tliJjt nieaiiH theie won't be any s|tade work. Hcic’s thr hiiilders’ plana of the Itwt : I'ye iiiiiikifU tile sLioitg-Toom with a cross. . . ." Together they bent uvvi the plans, wuikn.g uoi the best route lu take in getliug at the Miiiken g.,ld. "We'll gel busy ill the mortiing,” (''rnb fitiisited up. " I.Asik5 liki; everytlting's gniiig to he plain asiliiig on this jeh, . , ' M »un-up next mmniiig the deck of the a.'i'vagc ship llf 'iihf was a hive of industiy. .funwasin ■ liavpe uf the Huilereen squad — the men whu would do all their work on lha o- ean huUoni. l.'ltnthing into the atecVnlloy Jiving suit hr reflovtoj that salvage work Ji«d muck- suniu strides 111 tlic pa>,t fifty yeava. Thow' guys who osed to work at twenty faUiuJiis I'l-n- li couple uf hours, with just a length of nir li"sc srpaiating them from death, luiisl Intva had a bit of uerv,-. . . . Provided one Imd the coiistitotiou tu with- Ftaiid (he coiidftious prevailing liuiidiedv uf feet heueiitk the auiface, there wasn't imn-h The new light sicel-alloy suits iveii' imide t.i rvithsiBud Icnifi, pressures; the ,'uiiipnut uxygMi cyliuJevs strapped to the liiick dis- pensed with the vulnerable airdinea. Even lupcs I'oiiiiectriig (he diver to the vessel about were umicceasary, le.vTiiig the undersea W'.ikci flee to loam about a sunken wreck without fear of being caught up. Jim was the first loan on the si eiie ot l.lnj wmk. The powerful electric lamp filled to his head-gear illumined the water iui u yai d or so around him, Occaaioiially a IkK would dart at ihe front, plate of his helmet, attracted by Hie light. He dropped (o the sea-bed and, .still iiPeping the lowei'Lig ropo attached to hisi harncas, spoke into h'is wireless tvanaiuitter. "O.K. Tm .down. UcHci' lower tho arcs and a couple uf men to help asseinldc.” He waited for a few minutes, milil the big steel tiipods iipcm which were fixed tlie ]>owHrfiii an-.luijips came down out of (he blackness ahuve. Within half an Ihuiu the lumps wuro in place, und the se.a-lied fr,r hundreds uf yards iiEoimil was tliriiwn iiilu the light of duy. Jim tnnied tn see the huge hull uf the sunken hiier lying cm its side quite close. It reared aimvo Hm like a towering wall of steel, and ho realised that bis climb up ou to the dock would involve aU the hazards uf nioiintniuepritig. Notv the salvage work went r.xpiJly alieacl. Mure dtvevs dcficciided, ,ind now tha.t there was mi fear of behig lost on the stui'hed in the hrilliaTit light of tiie lamps, the lower- ing ropps were dulsched and left lo sway ghoat-hke front the Htrru/ra above. The eai-Jier difficultie.s of under-sea coni- tniiuicaliuit hud bMti solved during the past few inoiillis. Three-way r.tdiu coninuinica- tiuii wax iu olieralion. Jim, for instance, viiiild speak lo the deck of the salvage shiix direct; and the salvage ship could speak .4firil IK 1931 — SCOOPS 296

Page 9

Death waits at 200 Fathoms oiitprs jliioci WHiliuR fur him l-\ l!if mil Ai iir-vt va. tmijitril to ^{mak into llic . itifoniiiiL^ tJm of liis AnH then hr tlioii(cli( l'>at i( mijlit »i?»r )>> kr^p hi^ iiifurmBtiOB lot Crah's pruato I r. II ihu uil •r man ku ou« of llie c r*-u. liini tlirra aii)(ta lie otI>«Ri. Anrway, il wu tht good stayilie up uii deck any longer. To- morrow tliey’f get. the oxy-a>’etyli>ne appa- Tiitiis ii]> on top, imd run the gnn-linu liuwu lo till' slrnng-i'ooni. Jim mutiiiuPil lu llie otliers lo pivi'Oclo him diiviu till' rnpi-. lie hung hsii'k, hoping ti> t-alrh e fiiiUnT glimp'c of that uiyatriiou* light. Ill- Hxw mititing. He looked dcmii l>|>ed Ins hand-, save.1 (ntu. There could he only om- en-iiug li he in!'^»ed hi> hold . . . slilheilVig ik-» o' ll-i -leeji fuie of tlie lioll at cvet- iutir.i-.io,; -ji^rd . . . until he hit lliv ro>k He i.ado t gone more than ten f.et wiirn N.uiethiug made him look up. AUive hi- liead. Iwioliug over the rail, he saw the hel- met of Bii.ither diver. He started to climl. lip, then tlie flash of steel glinted for ,i mcment in the light of his Lead-lmnp. Me wii.s cutting (he rope! ... No time to i-litiih hack lo llic ileck . . . death t.Hdoft. .lim Imd to art tpiickly. He sat.' the si lidded edge of a port-hole a ynrd lo the left of him. Wilh ilc.spernte energy he swiing hiiiibeli siUcivine. releasing his hold uu the is!|H-. Hi.s Ungers found tlio rougli edge of tlip jK-rt and giipped. Dazedly, lie saw the rope snaking through the water down to the lied liclow, lie flmig a glanie upurids. and su’. l! i- diver had vnnishol. They got him down twenty I'llmili-' later, Ids fiiigcr- torn and numbed. . . . ■jrTHE B.\TTLE IN THE DEPTHS •• T'M telling you. Crab, there's queer things Xhapiicning down il-rere.’' said Jint iivgenlly. They were silting iu the captain a cabin an hour taler. " .4i Qist I thought 1 297 • the drum under th t • -.-.-j-eil l a k a fev. paces, .vnl then • I • hanr'. He pn-sred llie tiigger. t .f » ,-er in t'ne neigldiMurhiiod of - . , : , . ■ . .i and then the am hor-Tvail- c tojie liehind — .‘ouhi 1-c giiiipsed i .1, ih.-viugh the w.iler iiiilil it I tile I'ommnihrtr't lij'pei- J I- diew in the sla.k of ihe io(>e -.intil a ■ i. • ta.iliies-. told hin that the a'.- h-n h.iJ ... i a hold. He .-j-ike into lh« tianMiiitl--r .ig.-iiu. 1 1 K-. llerful's. (. liinl.tng nq-c s in [io.»i I-..; going lip on deck wnli a isniple of •ici. Tell Rolrt'ils and l\Tule lo follow- led til* other two to lemaiii as they an-, i.-ejiing the roiw Iiuit." Jito went up fiist. He'd done a hit of V tinbing amongst llie Fh-iiiyshire piniks. hut l.e'd m-VHi- Iried Hiiything qiiiti like this, His leaden soles ilisd only the simill iiriijcdimw formed li.v the riveted jihilcs. Tim imll ' I' slipjiory niid. Iml for the io[>c to save '■ .ni, he would linvc plunged heiidloiig to tllo IliKii below. T- to-ik him iiMily tcu iniimti-s to ilimb |o • -vi l of the ptonienad- ihs k- a hiiiidted • ' -iiiMiuous t-floit that Ipniiiaht slieams • iislion pouring down his i-io-eks. H» log h-msflf on lo the dc k hsikcd . - tl..it the olhei It . for ail tu« world like the light itoa aiuylhar diter’a hoinret. But Ihe other two were still i-linihing the hull. Thii re- maining t.wn were lieeping the cupe taut nt the ker-l, iiml Ihe other undersea workers were loii.-entnited on installing Ihe equip mem tli.st was heing lowered fiwn llm llrrcul'/. I’i-rs).,dily sumo deep-sea ti»li. he assured himself. Perhaps a i>oit-hole gless swaying in the slight swell . . . ccfliH’tiug the light from the aie laiiqis. 'That -.vas p.-o!>#My tin- s,do- SevetthrUss, the thought p'l .|sled Sup- posing soinelioily else was making a lod (oi the Cemwnofurr'e gold? No — that was absuni I They'd have to have a salvage ve-sel oil (he .suifaic. and the firrmln hud at least a couple of hundred square miles of in can to herself. Siispii i'Mi sli'l gnawed nt his mind. .Anyway, he told himself, it wouldn’t do auy harm to have a look round. Jim wcnl forwiircl until he rearhed tlio spot, where he judged he had .seen Ihe light. Ho found liiinself at u spot when' ii. <<irridoi' went across lo the port side. Itc moved in llial direction, lanio to the port rail, looked down from where it reared out over the sea- i llgt'l ahr: .ke Ilia pe'.iknis i'»\ iJ-'lig t 1 planking. icfnlly memorised the es-enii bed. Il was jiitili hlaek. 'The isntsidc of the liner was m the deep shadow of the are- lanips 4-oncentnited to starh'd. He was turn- iii~ to retrace Ins steps, when something uisiosed his euriosily . . , Hnuethiiig that lisjked strangely like the harpoon lie had Ki.tly fired. It was — and it wasn't I It fa* u liarfKtni! all light— he eonld s.-e the lope dangling I'eneatb. But il ".isn't the one he had &ed ! That was livnl in the upper works on the siarb'd side. It ineaiil that sniiielmdy else had come xlH»id ; somebody rl«e after Ihe gold. . . . lint hr-w 7 . . - He iimdH his w.sy l-a'.k to where llie l"u SCOOPS — April 1 I. 1931

Page 10

ynT fw«?ng tbingt; l>ut when tliat itiap was sawing uwuy at that rope t klK'W that tins jol wasn't Kniiig to be plain nailing ns you said. Siin bore, Crab, we’ve gut to rniil out wlial's hnupeuiiig . , . bfJ'oie Minic- bmlv gets liuiL ! ” Thn siniloil reassuringtv. ' Tluii s all right, kid.'' lie Inwcital his vniif : ' .-\s a lustier of fait. I cNjieited ».irielliing of tbs kiud. That guy w1.» . ..tis hiiiiM-lt Hiiiylliies. ami wlia is supwisel I« rcj.iiMieiit the insuianre r.oiiipauy, I happen to know he's a Vard mao. He me into hi- nuifidin.'e, and — sinev I know you — L rei'koii I rail let it go a trip fonher. *' Voii see. apparealiy Smythies or whst- -e'.rr his teal name may !'« — was tipped the wink that the uoklng of the eld f'vsiWKxfoi' wasu't quite sarh a iou) piece of tnek aa the public iniagiue. Those of the oUlccrs wlia survis-ed swear that soiuirthing went wrong with the steering, that it must huse hecu t.iiiiiiercJ witii. . . Tlio youngster gnped his aniaseiiient. '■ You mean somebody sciittieil her ” " .fm>t that,” Crab said slowly. ■ It ilnii't make sense.'’ Jim iwid tit. last. " It wiisn'l IIS if sliQ was an old Iramu invpied up to hei smoke-stai'k-s with lieiivy uisumm.-es. It wouldn't do anylHidy tniv good to sink Ibf It. wasn't as if she was rarrying ammunitkin fur u foreign " — - — (Jold." the captain interjeitcd. The ypuiicster'i mooth opened ujid rinsed, •it Iasi be blurted : " Tell me. Crab — am I > raay or are you* \Vhu would want to send four mtlliona in gold boliiuo to the Imtluiii? .Answer me that ' " Crab's eyas twinkled. " You've got it all wrong. Lid. Wiien a murders another he usoatly tries to i- ■; ..... :l,i- laxly; wlien a tbsef stiAi.bes a bag he doiieii't keep the bag — too datigen'iis ' Hmythies— the 'Laid man — has got^an idea that's why the Cnmaiodore went tn the lotlom. And — tl he's right— fWre won't be any gold in the etroiig room safe when you “ Th.-ii why all tliis bother to . . “ You vrti'l eonvifl a niun on tliniiies. The |xduT liuvi all sorts ld ur at a niidiiers’ sewing ilais. .t; : • '!> ih-ru have l..r;i wb!>;xT« of a gaug 1. .. !u ta» ]-• j; >.| f,-.. and iu»tipa- r . -.i': lielped to accaeM fer •'-"ir mose- iiif at the tiroe the Cirmaot/oif wer" down. T.-:( Yard has a pretty sound idea ib.it these eroi.ks have got the gold, thuogii they haxi-u'l been able to trace it vet. Rut the wiiole jioi'it ri : they can't move until they've f'"iiid out wlitllicr or not the I'nmmiHini^'s b.lhon baa Imeii stoien. Tlat's why we're • 111 'be job. . . ■■ And ivhai nhnnt th.sl chap who was ■ping Hrouud tho de«.'k ? " lluu ol the guni;. you tx-l. I'rnbuMy • I' king as one of oiir dieet- lie s out tu pi'‘ienL our liaviug n look at liiat strong, voo'ii. .\iiywiiy. I'll give Siiiylbies the tip. and he'll probably have a ipiiel viimluoiil of tliiiac of tlie il'cw T lan’t vmii'li for. -Mvan- tinip . . . ynu'xp gtii to get into Uio Ftnnig- II Wits later that eveiiiug. wbcii Jim w.ts pa-uiing the door of ihe wiielcss ruoin, Hint )n» l.earrl ii xidcp within. Sometbhig about il ' ugbi liiiM tg ii halt. )!/' iiwmedlv ho rroiiclied ouIkiiIo so tl- ' . . • » ..% level with lire key Indc. He C2 -■-! _ ' “K.. Boss 1 " and nothing 11' ' - ' U-. -lide back, arid he was ? ',i i.iwTiiicerpedlj- out to sea — leaning i. - t'' rail — when the dour opened and r> • -L.w .-ante out. .' . wat- liitu; him out at (he vorner of Ins never moved. He heard the man maik- u-_ ' ...Liy along the deck, and n few iiunutes Ja'-' Parker, the tegular wireless operator, Jiiv Iwen along for a wa«h," h» •'\- 298 Grim Battle on the Sea Bed plained- "Hue "f the Tndersea SijunA— 1‘entelow's his name — offered to keep an eye on tho rweiver whilst I wiis away. iJatbcr decent of liiin,. 1 libought.” ■'Sure," Jim iigiccd, making n mental note to keep n STUIibftil eye on 1‘eutclow. That " O.K.. Boss." sf.uiultd very much us if the diver had (UiiiUhcd at the opportunity to luiiimuiiiiato with .suinebody .ishorp. Jim was down cnrly neit morning. Crab h.id given him the tip liiat the sooner he was ii'si l- th.ii Miong room the happier .'•'iiiythiea '1..C youngster decided that he wouldn't waste any tune in grtliug inside the liner; I.A'I iiiiiopalrd delay in getting the u.xv- airtylenr outfit into operation . . . but it looked j '■ llec k Jim paused, then— remem- heiing the details of the liner'* hlne piints— I'.irnexl left down the narrow eoriidor that led III the ttrxmg-raom. But oven as Jim leaned heavily against the outer dour, swung it open to see ihe bole in ibe huge e-ife . . . things were happeomg on the sea bed out.-ide. Peiitelnw had born paying little attention to llie lojir. Ill’ was peering around oerroosly, ■•' ;f • Sj-' •-;ig soine raonster of the deep to loce-i out 01 'lie surr'aiudiiu; Maikness. II- was noi •lisMppointed. Suddenly (be tacm edee l--v.x of a small aubmaiine wvie thr-'Wu urtn relief l-y I'e a-,, ; ,n;, x Pentebnv mint quu-klx. Kr . Ins hell he prodhVed one of the pew uu.lei -water guns. Yliei'c was u sliglit. ihslrirbatice in the water. His l•lm|llmi^ll swax'ed fur a nmmeitt, then .slowly fhxiivd to u (it'ipcudicuini ixisition on tlip ai* fli'oi-. 'H«' 7iiliniai ini' bud i-nmc ki ii st.iudxlill mi tl.e-Veige .if tbr darkness A luitih in her stem sio v. ly .-j-- ;;i !. -siid a dozen n.cii jumped to lae -M'.J moved inro (Kai{. wi'h ■•'vgeu ‘vii'i'twr. But 'Uifcl in the band ’-i ’.i,h im-Iei'-water gun. IV;.- tek'W bai'.etie Tie sulimariue. lyiug partly in :be shadow, might have been mistabe-i l.'r i-nt •'/ tbi ’-r.k . . . h,-,I Tb* b"-! •• I ling of anything iiiiloxvird was wbi N II, .i' .111 slaitcil to spin rmmd slowly Itae a mp. .Anil, as he ttiriird, Ins legs liegtin to -.I'C - . . slowly, very shixly. . . . 'He dmp)»d lipbily to the dek, end started to elide ihixxii Uie .xlnpiiig planking. Jim nml coothei ilivi'i iiiriiuiged tu gro-'p biin, iind it xvBS thru tliiit ibc yminustt'i suw Ibe lell tnie hole ill the iiirlid'aim . . . jiitt ii'mivc liio lirabaiii I, ml hveii shol— shot diuvn ibiTc . . . n thoii'uiiid feet In'ucalh the sen ! .As J‘iii 5traigbl'’m'd up. » hknk hlotib npiimiTd aljrufiliy ml tin* yello'A idaiiking uf the deck . . . iiijiking t'.i- sixit xxhere an undei.xxutei' huUet IukI nitnvd a sjilit-sei'ond 1>efi'rr. Jim ai'lpil '|n|. kly. He S|inke into the Iran emitter. ‘ Hallo. Tel! every man P. lie fi.xi on de. k- argent ! ” fine 1-v one. j.« the message reaclred bis compaiiKuix from the operator above, Jim wablted (hrtn drun face downwards. He •' H.illo. We're on the promen- ade deck, starb'd sole, leiwcr .% huiiih of iinder-walci* guns. . . and fiurrv * " Whilst he waited fer the guns .lirn cau- tiously raixc'l bis lieaxi uiiil spurcbed Ibe sen- bed below • • . tlruinlng his eyes to dylevt the hidden sniper, Tlieii he doti'cted a moyemont alnioet HireuLly uliead, right on tho vergn of tho blackness, He stared at the ejjol, nnd gsEjii'd rs hu suddenly made out tfie dutaiis of I he sub- nfanne. Huly smoke, if lids w.-is wluil old Crab i-allrJ " plain iwiililig "... He uw the I’lidy r,f the ilivei' lying sti-utched on the sea-bed by the keel. Un I oald guess xxl.cie I’eolclow was. . . . Thiuga l>eaan tu hap}>r'j oiler that. Out of (lie blackness above descended a xveiril some- thing (hat at fiist glance ioi-kcd like an urtopno. Tfaeir, oi il '’ame into the radius of their lielniet-iainpr. they ie-i>gni-xMi it IIS a b'jiidle of under water guns. One uf tho divers got to hU feet to reach for il. "(let doxvn, you fool! ’ Jim screamed into his transmitter . . . bnt only tiui operator shove licK'd the xvord.s. Neat momeul tho diver had slumped Imxk with a. bullet thvoogli ihv gbss of his futr-piecc. Jim spoke iiiiix'tiy to tile //'rruf'i'. imd |]ig bumlle of gnus sxvnng rluocr so that lie xvus able to rem h ibein willimn presenting too tempting a lurgi-l. He detarhed the weapons and, lying flat, passed tlii'm on to his >ioni{iauiout. Tlmb was better 1 Something stirred in the sliaduw alieod ; .Jim's gun spoke silently ami (lie shadow moved no farther. Lying there, wailing for the nest axive, the youupster tried ti. dis- xover the reason fur the submarine. Then lie tenwRibeml that " O.K. Dossl " of Pentebiw's. Tlist waa ii — this was the rronki* desperate bid t-> pteveiif the /f-rru/ea from discovering to prc'-en*. the divei.; from getting tia.sed and, other Ih.an oe- , .sioiial shots from t' • ’‘bad'Xvv of lli’' sub* .oanue, there was notbiug tw -daauirb iLo siiliueas of (he Undersea. But lleinrirh knexv (hat every sriund .rou'itcd. Bei'kouing in a dozen of Ida men to fiilliiw liiin, liB liiid brukvd uilo tho dark- iiv-'. l’'.•Il;;llI ilk- Milimsiiiio Olid i.uih'cmniy made ii hnlf-virde until !io oame uui i.ii tho p'jit side Ilf l!io liner, Pcutcluxv hud told him Ibul the ropo still hung from the roil . . tIuLt llii'v . ..j| th.'.xe few of bis arcompticex who were left to foll'.v him. The gangsters were id retre-vt ' Jim thought quickly. They were tibxiuiixly making back to join the others at llie sul^ marine. With only three of his own men left, lie eniildii't 1io|h' to hold out mui'h longer. Jim spoke inlo his transmitirr : " Hallo, //•■ri iiltf. This is urgent. Tell {[/•till on nt fwit oj hrxl pogr) .April It, 19.31 — SCOOPS

Page 11

(CREATION’S, £)OOMl The Fall of Mankind: Destructive horrors of the Future: A World ruled by Insects: The End of all Things World Ruled by Insects ^ V 'in j’of ‘b^amr'r !’ic"a! t'li 'S’Vmij'.'* fl'l iiS Spiiiilis DEATH DIVE 1 ... ., bwfvalK.alaDJt«keadypth . ; . -...iiis out lu u dii-i'ct Ime fruiii the sLam oi t ,r H,,ruh>. Tell liirn to aauge it for i.... liuiuln'H fallioms. Hurry P' Kiat oil llip ilerk uBaui be walelied Hie furJ. \: .j ■ .looks wore Iruiniiig it im tlie t. '.- l.-ck of llie r.wimnflnrc/ They : .u to blow thrill to L-teniitv. He saw viSsirifkrsH . .I'S . fi-er M-- side with a grim smile. SCOOPS — April lA, 1934 ^ Chaii Browiiiug bud two goesis ui uinner in itooks nun nuarueo a sutimurino. U Beenied sSSSHSS E—3ESSS “-"ae. i:... ..i-„ •• ThuiiUs, hot I’ln .still mil di-nr ni, otn. or .7im W-keil up wilb a griu : tv.-o tbiiifiv,- Jim said brsi;.mlly. " Li Milled, '‘Yuu'iu Idling uia 1 " 299

Page 12

With the Armies of the Moon he Challenged the Earth MASTER iHE WORLD RALLIES to Fight the terrific Forces and the ghastly instru* ments of War from the Lunar globe FIGHTING SCIENTIST COMES BACK XI'TAIN NICK CHAXi .liKflvFTH lliat hi- i-tMmy. Hr, M.-1 ..f the Moon. haJ orgaaited MTi-.l fur Ilie of Earth. rflo.no7,!un'irw'ru™T/^rf-^^ nf t!:e M-Jn, into heiievmg that I- «-s Irpliexn him ai.mrietl. for ll.e H11I1-I1 pimner5 hail M.-.I iha with a Jiitkv shell. heli.viiiK it to he a h.x-tih- rraft. It !«n.imil, imleeil, that Cii|.tKm Nivk rliniu'O i-dulil lint estiipc' a tecrihh- ilrath hy ilmwniiig an ill.. .Vf/.-.r phmKpiim of a deadly liquid luo. Eii-u.'h left ..xer f- r-i the «mstiiMiwi of

S'- -lul birmliing hi TI-. iKipiie.l spuro , sr“is., 'is; intis’., . When aliil...! in ihe engim- il lu.l we ..ill the iininilsiie urge. 'Ih.a 1- t.i d\pril U. 1931--SCOOPS 300

Page 13

A Fighting Scientist Prepares For of the MOON " we havf iliil to tli« feas of Mii»n mplal oo Ilic Mutm which tliat iiirnd, III. Marian, has set in niotion. Il is drawing liiB MiMiii towards llic Karlh. Thp only way il In smash the OiiUs of Machinery uu the .Muno. Ves. that is the only way."' l-'inning and frettin« lliinit[h he was. the 1ii-iml(iil space advouliiicr fnired liimself lo |Mticm-e until the clestinycr .siglilerl Pover. Ily tliiil lime, however, tiic cnplfti!) iiail I me liiisy, Imprcsswl liv ('aiilaiii Nick’s »l(iry, he had liroarlcusl nijiu me.-tsa;;i's. and a iiifitor launch conlaitiinii iin|H'rtaiit W.ir liflii-t- officijils put out to ■••ert tie- destroyer. " The Moonmen hare l.imled on SAlishqry I’lain," lie said in tragic tones. " Our armies are iu Uie field, imt .sre puwerlevs tn siem llie tide. Gentlemen, this is the grave jKisiliim SVC have lo consider.” Tlicvo were tense, stailled inliike.s of liveryone was silent, acutely alcil. as if li.sieiiiiig for the drone .mil linm of Uie avetigiiig nuu'hines frum the Moon, Tun hiLD tlicy realised the lingiL- blunder llial had heen made, when Captain Nick Cli.iii-.' had Wen shot down into the sea un his leiiirii from the Miriu with naraing c.f .\cnl I aplain Sick ( haue. the intrepid, mi Wiuili-1 skipper of the «; ..ce ' . '?el. h.s.i gi.il- 1I..W11 with his ship. True, his * rew of 'p c .j.l. ;« .and I-"..! ,\l,;. rii .ii Ty.'..rd- I' c i . . — wL- THE BaTtT.e'\\TtH the' MOONMEN ^ h’NTLEMEN, we miisl prepai-e f.u Vjrilii- ivDi-sl. Tlic Mcon fleet is sailing to I 'V l.tiiidaii." 1'" I’rime Mii.i'tm- ';a)ke hnuriiply- of face. Sir .iohii Slmiiwava • 1 I’c world ilclegBiea galheird in tl.e - k jp.inelled • aft-iei;. •• i-.im of 10, I ' - S; n-et . had 111 I imipiiuled Mm on his trip to tlie had heen picked up. It was liugic. however, that they should h.ive hcini luiMaken lor a l.oslilc i lail More liagK still llial CapUiii Nick slioiiH have g.iite down With the Jisaited vessel, hue he al.ne knew the sei’Tla of that siiiis'er g. r.ius, the mientisl Dr. Hugo Merian. who lis.I maile himself .M.'t.. ..f the Mirui and w-is w.vging ihis War ou the woTiil. He alone knew bow 1.. . ..uutv.-a- 1 Ihe dll 1 1 IS h do I. cs of ili'b .Icniirii di.i tor. ,\ml now It w.'f Ivo Ule. The M.»oniiiefi hid himh-d. fuller iiiie.' had hei-ii inzed tn Ihe gioiiiul. Loiidini itself was iiecame giey and Icrnir- etrirkeii. "This cniifereii'C should he dissolvcil." sniil i.iic hai-slily. “ We make ourselses * on- spicii'iiis heio in the seat iif (I'lvciiiim'iif. Simply liirgcts for the Master of tin' -Mtiim .\l llil.s point Loril .-Mgy inlin-veiird. He gliiiicijil in turn at the spnce-SKilor.s, tliv giiiii lii.iiig. Samlm and Sam I’ike. Tlim liu S'ri'we*l III liis iimiu>i.le anil 'pnke. Viii Imiind to eniMrse llml," lie said quietly. 'We happen to know we re IlllJei the .Moon- Master's eye. He’* l•lii■lwed ii.,.ts.eij ..s f '. .leilh j*retty Out' k. T’c '-r*l ] '. e n. I - k will 1-c this hifildr 4 il f *h- -04 rwxlded in je- "Thn it'i every man for himself.” de- • laicl >Mie dele^4ie. rising lo hi.s f-ei ” J 1-rg we n'ljijum this meetrnu.” ■ \Vii4t?” hiirst out the i’limc Miiiisli-r of Knglainl liarsihly. " Siiall we holt to oiir lioies Ilk" inldiits? Genllcnien. Iieie ,sie nssemlilrd the best bra*iLs of the wocM to iiilisidcr wlut is lo be ilone for Hie woiid's safely, .iiiil iu> talk of rimTiiiig to Imling.’ nas a liushed, ireatlttcvi pniis". I'^olilieih and slaU-smrn siil with rigid lai gripping ilm edges of the table. Vet . . Uiere was al'iiohil ely imlhing to .\iiii h*-fi'ie many mimile* had jm.sscd it '.ciiir.l .-"ifaiii that the hniiding woiild ha ■ tiii-k I,. ,1 t-arinl dfiiitcgi sling i.-iy thnt vi.iilM Miiiply pulverise it. 1 rash It in mins 'I I' ■ ' '••l.iieis and sljtestiieii. U -i. :.-i»‘:e*l nmnietils of sen.'ir.;. It teeni'd nujuevs to remim. and yet .'Suddenly there came a kuoiHt at the door, and a uniformed War Office attendant entered l>earine a poli'hed woculen I>ox, whii II f p.iii Its sliape and design, might Iutb lieen u radio r^llfe^cn^■e Thru lie n illidiew. and .'sir .lolin Stni iiuays tore open the envelope. His I'vebiowa shot up. "Why. It’s fic.ni ( aptaiii .Niik fhanco liii’i.ojlt," he eai-laimed tensely. The sjare sailors ami L*»t*l jMgy ev- ihangcrt sturtleil glances, 'int were ijiiirkiv r* |i!a.e.| bi, .IcligUted grins. Il im- jHissil.le, ami yet Nil .1..' . -'‘tuiuwavs was r.-n.liri, I' • letter ai..m! Mv IVar PTime Miiit'lei, V .a see I ni'i ..live after all. m spit.- ..f ,,ubll.- s|iilitcd attempts lo dioirii m.- iin.l sii.l. ■ny ship. Moreover. 1 time ol.iaiuel vifliicnt supplies of tl*r 'n.nvvlloiis M.s.ii metal. I hope, to I '.iiihal the .unnd li.i. .if the Muon. I will esjiluin my jilana wlu-n I see It iH impiJitaTil tliNt 1 .1.1 i.nf come into tin; open until the iiioiinuit nnivi-s to striki*. for though tin* Mnrter of the Mmm lliiiiks I am dead, In- is fi.i eici anarrhiar{ llinnigli the televisi.m remi. You mil And me on Salitliiiy I'iam. f'oinc immediately, anil i.ring witii vus iiiy spate-sailflia and i.-sed Tjford. TJierc is not an iustai.t |o ks.-.- lu the meantime — ami l’-.> I- 1 :;<e 301

Page 14

The Battle on Salisbury Plain utmost importance — I enclose a mndiiiio uo Ijiggev than .i motor-car magneto, ■which, hu-sevev, gencTaleii a piotect.ivo rnj woh capahio of safeECiianSiim the whole of London ft'om aerial which ia imminent. vS* ‘ Yon must gel your consulting eiigineei-s on the job — at nnct. The power has to bo transraitteJ lhn?ugh tlio iminuuSB net- work of wives wi\icb gird Loudon — tele- graph and tplepliono wires uud cables. Evei-y big eleclricity plant in London must be hariicssed U> the woih. Elec- tricity miii^t he cot off from all private liofucs and piiliJic sei vices during llie ucst lialf-hour, and tlie forces utilised for the elci tvo protective lay web. I await you -with tbe ciliiioid anxiety, Nicholss Cha.vce." Wlien this Bstoiinding epistle hail been read but half the del^ales were ou their fm, bnlibliug with excitement. Within the next few minutes all was sclivity. Biiaaera rang, and all maimer of othcials came in and hui-ried out with iu- siriir'lioBS. The defence of Loiiiloii was being put into action. " We are motoring to the theatre of war," said the Prime Miuister, li.xing llio spuce- saiiors with Ins eyo as he struggled into his overcoat. "Wa can only hope that we get through safely to join L'liptaiii Nick Chance. Everything depends on him. Iteports tuui.iig tlu-ijugh state that Ulings are going very badly ffilh lire British forces m tliu lieui.' Lord Algy screwed iu his monocle, his heart hcaliiig madly. "Wo'U have to look out for the Master of the ,\looii, sir,’’ he diawled. "ilcil be wntchiug for us on the teievisiun sitvoii, and hull po*ttVain Pike soraiiihled out of iJte car to greet liiitL Their |.joaisure al seeing llie fip.irded .timce advcinnrer again was uiidis- Beliiuil ’liiin loomed what apjienred to he a Kfivuige-lonkiitg Army lank, with cater- pillar wliccJs t'liytain Nick jerked a tiiuiiih at it. .ami on hi* fin e there wa.« a grim snoio. "Men,’’ he ciicil, "w. vc going lutn netior agiUiiRi ilia riiiihiie Moormen. 1 \e prmipJ nil niy hopes on tmikv.'' be rnliu'l fierci-ly. " lint look ” E\ 'll ns hr spoke llie other two saw an ui'iiiy of Drill'll lank.s I'rropiiig over baiis- hry-y I'lniti towards the .M.,uli forts, .'tudririily ilic scene wna lit weiidly as their gnus liciehrd Her. Tl was II fire Ibal wuk r.-liinifd in ilrv.ists- tiiig fa'ihiun. Tlicre v.a-' a .sinlrlcii while siiceliiig III light f'lxim the toweling .\h.,iin fort-i tlnil riliiided lUid Imrt tlic eyes. It |•o^l;llllled for nevciu! nii'iuhis, and even llieii eornimioiis fiirkcd lignliiiiig seemed to piny iivoinid III.- jronii towers Bin ns Lord Algy i-aw Me havoc that llio Mtioiniivu uiiiJiiiTiig the tewci's lind wniiiglit iimoiigsi the gnlliiiil hrig.^vde of tuiiks, he ’’ Lc'.ik ! ’i'lipy I'o fina.shiiig them u)'. We must go out!" lie eiicl m.itcntly. ’‘Dash it, we're not sturuhng fur this. ' Tbe liaardctl spaes adveuturer looked at him qiiirr.k-.illy. '• \Vc stiunl a good cLaiiee of never sw-iiig tlie light of day .ogaiii; your Lnrjlsbip,'' he, remiadeU tlie other. " But after all, my own tank's jnade of Momi-nielnlj and we'va got a shmik inside, for 'ani Lf-l’a go," EivH m'lnntes later, witb I'liptii.iii Nick driving, the strange lank was lorc'hiiig over the gionnd on its catciTillhir wheels, whilst T.ora Algy and Suhniariiie Sam Pike erniiched over strange-iookiiig guns within, their faces grim and net under the steel helmets lliey were wearing. 'I'he utliers wero left witb the ear. ,\.s they rniiilrkd over the ground, f.'uptjiu &iek explained tbiil the biig- nmrrJed gnus were his own luveiilioM. Tpoii them lie placed Lis whole rciiaiiee in check- luaiing the mvasi"u fr-mi the Moou. Tlit-.v projected a liquid fire generated frorn ibe Moon metal itself, luid this. Captain N'iek Chanre believed, Id* enemy luid Ivcen mielde to ai-eoiiiplisli for all liis in- ventive genius, lie had also advnratcd tanks as the most, effwelive weapons .against tho hfoiin invasion ; lint now it would seem tliat his linpes and bis rcpiilalioii were to he slmtlered, for hk the tank cont, lining thn space ndvonturnr.s iidvniieed slowly il p;.B-cd at cvei-y yard tc-rrihle evideiifm of fliti futility of llio World’s retialniu-e to llie invasion fram tho Olio thing h.TiJ hee.ii done hy the Earth's forces, however. The (iroieetive ray web barrage had so far been clleutive in keeping the Mooiimen awny fr.iiii London — tlie I'iiy that the ^faster of the MiKiti iimst tlssin'd to Tile grmmd wn.s .'Irewn willi lli.i v.re..kiige of -shatleii'd and broken tanks, TIi-’ noble brigade thal Uni advBiieed in nms-s fijiiiiiitioii ■ii»ii tho -Mi'iiii towm WHS broken iiiid slliiUei'ed, Still a few of ihe Brilwli tanks vvev-/ . veep- iiig foiwanl over ihc gruiiiHl, but sin-cly llicy kmw wliut thcii fate iiiual ho. Tho air rolled and sluv'k with the lliuioler of guns. 'Ilie huge Mo.'.ii lowci'.s remniiied uiifOHched. lEouiid llipin like forked liglitiuiig llie wliiU- tougiic.s of the proiee£i\e viiy baevap,!'- fpiivc.tod. proierwug tlmnv in- viohito from the slioils Ihut screumed mid whined through (he air. TI.c siii-lU o1 111.. Bi'ili'li giiiis were doing iririi. I', liable damage to llicir own I'oi'.L', for iieiiig d.-flis-lcd hy the ray iierrage fmiii Ihe Mirin triwei-s they fell iind Iniisi iipun the tivwk*. p.mslng iiiorw wrsi kage- aH'l slevigliter than thi; niy gnu* from tlie Moon forts thciii- I/(ii'd .Uiiy. sreiiiy alt il-is in the nnciiVtlily ghje. ti'ji spread over Silisleny I'lain. set Ins u-etli. ills iiicuili we-i so diy that hi* evmlil 111.', speak; ins whole l.nilv tingleil .nid quivered witli tbe figlning iiistinrt. •'Wait till we get «iiir guns tin ’em." gritled C'apl.iin Nick, his linn I'.ol hein.! jnUiiig iiEv’.rcseively. la/rd .\lgy glinired at .Siini I'ilta. The Siibmiiriiifl man was uinni|Hiig on his figai- ,-is he iismehed at the hiri'.'h of one ol llin gmiR. liar! his eyes were iicrrowed lo sinning 'Ihe tank tidiniu'cd slowly Lot smvly upon oui’ of tile forl.R, wlileii sizxl.’d wilh ivvy gnu fire from its many enibni.*nres. As Lord .•ilgy .saw the gyriwinpe niiiii In-iiigiiig down leiiil’ureeiaeul.s troiu the ll.ialiiijt pliilforjnH liiub ahuvr. be wmi'lei’ed how .t v,uuld*ii]l If only tlip lirilisli guns wunhl .^..icp ! Lii'd A!;^V gi'uancil. of tlunu were tiling hiwl cone WMiig. for lh,i tiiiiks hud rdi.inr'H int.i the same ni the l.iiriuge from their (iw-n g"ti=. It was one uf Uie tr.igB'lies lint ii.s if ill au.swer to his own thoiijflits, 'iiiiddciily the scveaiQing of ".hells dituiinsWd . The gun einpliitieiiieiils within .i radiiiH of a hundred inUes biul been sicnalled rit whnt vviLs happening, uiiil they foil silcnl. And now Captiiiii Nick’s tiuik was .cmiiiig williiii c-fTcr;tivo gim range, of one of the Muon forts. I,ocd Alpy'a lieavt heat f.'st. TUioii^h a jaii'tbolc he saw that h.-liind tliuir lank wero .lYj.iil II, I9.J1— SCOOPS 302

Page 15

space Captain Sends out his Blazing Metal of Death CiUi»rs, Bnd Briliitli inxms witb liajrnnrts BiIvdDting Moalthilr do fool. Ii was evident that Mi* Moon mptal tank Vav tVp last iu>pe of Ihe British. In a solid ]>}isl.«l juitirti. lar was the Moou-melal tank superior to those const! u-ted of »tee! aud iroiiT Lord .Mgy »as soon to learn. In .1 iiiomeot he sevr that the ray guns from the Moon tower were direoted ujmn their ot\n tank. This audnrious tank liad cirpt too iieur. It must lie destroyed, L'lril -Aigy tlistinclly sow t!ir mur.rles nf till' my Runs lifting u'rd moviiig like hrasls sucniinp prey. And (hen snddenlv he heard n loud i-lifk tvlin li \wis follow. 'll hy s fieri'e rrnrkling eounii that seeniod tu lome from all rnuiid Iho Hr R.ized onL asl-junded. A proteniiisive niys met d'fenr.te wel.s — then the hissing dieil, and epfe'el f.iiked liciitiiing seemed to play I il ■ M ion tower ns its power ‘it; •' 4 t ifk was unh-iii.ed. la-.rd . —1 h- i 4 ,.jt - j^avW S ew" — Sew that gyroacop* train ’ ill ;• * Wal. we'd smash it up."’ L • .t -> •itnwduUlT coocctitrat^ an his f . • L mar moao- train was swirling down t asj^ arsenal bish al>ove in a • k, « -f iigat, its every window manned by • . - • Mooeineo. firing with their liquid fire fir- a: ihoae soldiers who still staggered f -. er :he scarred battle ground. Til- lank dipped in o great shell hole and came up. And Lord Algy. sighting his gmt on the nioBa-tioin, suddenly threw his weiglit on Lite breach lever. lie was answernd hy a bias as of a thousand snakes, and hy n blind- ing. aearing light spearing out a'lrvid of him. It haal its twin in the idare that wmic from the gun workenl by Siihinariiie Snm Pike. -A lioarse clieer lame from l*rd -Algr's thrn.it. The mono train hod colWpsed in ftaires. Those alioard her nuist have d.ed a swift death as siie fell crashing to Earth. Lord Algr was busy at Ins g’lti rroin the Moon tower upon wlJch the tank was advanc- ing there cam* the vinous thrum of intrtiate, powerful ms.hines — a thrumming that rose to a veritable scream. -An.l then aiiddeniy from the Moon tower ( 'urged the Moormen. They had tliorgsd previously, hut that w.is l•efore L'lid Aigy and the apoce-sailors had arrived on the some. They had charged, bending tlia lines of khaki reeling baik in confii>i”T! and disiirder, The Mu.ilei of the Moon hud beeu keeping lliein ill reserve, however, until he hud sub- dued tlie long-range guns. Now in desjiera- lion he was seiutiiig hi* shock troops out a^.iin upon the obdurate tank. Ti.c scene was like that of inferno, making ’ . -'3 reel. Thousands of Moormen ' • I ..lit from the great doorways of the I •= i‘ released fumi tuighiy SCOOPS — .iprU II, 1931 Can it be DONE ? Things the World is wanting PAPERlkBREUA' An bexpensive emergency umbrella of waterproof paper WsttlAs! \ ’ sadden sbowee — no ambrella ! Huadreds ch as those lltnstrated. ttaa It be done * lloodgates. aud came pounding a.vo&s the plant. 1 hey were elmrging upuii the tank, mantted hy Ciiptuiti Nick and hla crew, aud the tiiiR- liiig tuvupauls fc-lt that uiiihuiUtedly lliera were coming the most decisivo niiim’cnls in this staRRiTitig wiir with Iho .Mmiiiiueu. -A myriad spiteful beams from iwy gun.s Hashed ut the I'-ihint tank, and ('-Rpiiiin Nick and his two cuinpanioiis were hailicd in an ijucai-thly fire as they rrourhed over their guns. _ ■ Wail (ill I give the word," cr.vckled the red. headed *iv..j .aptain. •' .And pray ihe fates tlidl our cay weh will hold out its slrfii-il' The devil aliunt it is t|.,i! they evpend so much power " But the iwy v.ch still iiarkled aU around them, and i-onimued a sure dciriire. " Now'" shouted Captain Nuk Cliani^. Flinchinz. despite themsrlv-s. l,..i.l -Algy and Sam I’lke tlucw over the luearhes of their alrange Runs, direcliiig them upon the •.iiargiiiR muQsIer* from the Moon There was a wdd hissine. A flood of m- candf.weiil white fire ifapl from Loid Aigy's gun ill It lung stream like water ejected from a pnwei fill fire hose. .And the same Imppened With Slim Hikf's guu. Tlie slreoins splashed u.gAinst the elmrging hnsl* fr.im the Moon. The effect was rlevastating. Those niulten slieains stupped what had seemed a terrible, irresistible forte. Tim hid-oiia creatures from the M(»n were lost in s sudden, roBring while holocaust. It seemed os if molten hills of metal, fluring while, hi.is.ng, running in tivuiets and slreanis, had suddenly aijjieared i.efure Lord .Slgy's eyes. Wild, inn untrolJnble eheers rose In the lips of tlie sjiii.'e adventurers within the lank. C'tiTM.s .Nic;k I'n.tsiT. wiiH shniiliiig to make his voice heard. " Lo'.k 1 'I'he British tronps are equipped with the guns, bwift aeiuplanes aro hrmg- ing more Moon-metal over, tnd the world will souu he fully equipjied to smash the in- va.vioii fiom the Moon. It's the nM story in war -mniiitions win. Well, we've got Ihi^ right kind in the liquid .Moon-rnetal 1 " It wa* true. BrilUh toldiers with strange cylinders were charging upon the remainder i.f thn hosts from the Muon. And the effect as they pte.ssed the uozzles of then strange guns was devastating. " I'll say you did well to pel tml of that wre. k. Caji'n." grinned Submarine Sum Pike, shifting Ins i igar from one comer of hit inontli l«> Ihe other. " 'Diat was the Immp card y.jii played." But ('«|ilaiii Nick liad suddenly hreome glim, " 'J'lie haltk- is not won y-t," lie said iu his clipped loiies. '■ Remeinher, danger lu the Ecrtli comes from the Mniui itenif. Those Moon se,n kept in tnulicm hy th« llalls of Machinery are pulling the Lniiur disc nearer to Earth, anil causing disruption and chaos. That menace must be smaslied, Uur work is not dune until vre have completely crippled th-i power of the Master of the Mwo." More (bHIItog adveetnreo la neat week's fin] episode ot this aataalng strtee. 303

Page 16

He Ruled tbe Undersea World — DEVILMAN the ★IN THE DEVILMAN’S POWER I M\BK ST.VNMUIIK iiiMBitird In- km-w M'lisHticm tliiit deep sra cli\iiii{ ..■'u givf. Hill iii'i'- li» ITS’ exi*"en.T- ' .1 Tie«- cmolion.' Ki«iiig irain itir liotioiii vi tlic Sfa iix iiiilrs (Wp ppfl t'lp' id SnulL Aiii'ii-:a.. he l'»d Tio fetiin|5 irf pir-M-ir^ . AikI rising «t tli» pasy t-l-- wpip tm I'vp) i.rinipauiotui, ButwT Kp!U *uil A'pit I'oi iiwaU, at«o pii.loaPd m ilrnn* drpsses aiipl V iih a li'igp bulikir ol hiv •pnriniii»liQ" rac !i. I lipir drrttsps svpio p*i liie kind tnai U»n-.talil 'Hpply of air. I hi Ifpiiv Ka.ks wtTP .»lr.iip|n J Ikitps containing vip])ly tirat wtiiild luii for lioitrs. and tlio fXVitPii p'iiina amomalically ihroiigli a itoa/lo t iniii ttio bai k nf tlipii kcIiiiHa. Til .Sinnuiiu'f his ciinipaiiiiius locikcil like* lipctlrs cui'liwed in ii gloiio of air, nml lo lliom ha iinrtniilptciily looked the saino. Tlipy pouM no), 'nniiimmicsfe wiili raiii nllioc, of coiir-ir*. Iml Sliinmoi'p's iiiiiiil was it sp iantilii pidp. Hvety imuiiMit his brain was spokiiig 1iuto liact. ip notii^d A MIGHTY CIVILISATION under the ** Strange ^lnd Terrifying Race of Fish-i? but for the Steel and Iron that only Man SPDt filib- auii biiu^ Sea flight Flifihl’ '■ parried Slajimnrp; 'I then, witliout wailuifC for an aoswei*. rnshed on with a torrent of words. Wp‘*m is tl-. mcaniiii; of Ibis? Whal right sou mi|>el III lo ipmain in your anlpniartne w'priJ ? Wlieip aiP inv p’ompaii- ' What ii4\e VppU done with (hem? " ■ gUnppJ nrmid find saw (hat (he ip- Voiveis ipf his companiiTu slill lay im Hie door of the ijtern where tlu'v had been (hruwn by the utat;- netic power. The rliving gon- dola by wild h lih-y Imd come lo tliiH siiange 'U>rld lay soni“ distance off. p wall had lippn (linist PI ii- jp[.i birriicotling cai iiig till' (putiblos 111) Ills p'Oiitputiioiis lir woiibf bp spent 1 all toond ill' p -iiipauinns. and him- .\p(f i; tins; dm fi-ielioii w.i- \v iiwiiy. l)y (bo linm In » tpnp'bi'd liip siiifai'p (tie : und the hulpblcH ginio. .\iiii down Iflow, .III (lie lip.l of tie ••■‘e.4n from whjp'Ii limy rcii' li.siiie- the lish-iippri whom he bad m-tii. wliose dweiliiic 'led just li fr. Vpp-e imewwre of tbeii »Tpaim. 1( scciii--'l herdiv ciedihle that tu the Urpllis d >-e Ihpr. was a comniniiity ol liilcIIiitPIit imp .2> Iinknoen lo iuaii, tl:livini> Mild Ir.iii): under tin- iidc of this uonstri Known a' Devilmaii. Vi ' Ic had -een thee.* Iliinps. he had talked v.illi dicm. be had .'lain some of tliptn j'ist as thi-y had i.ic'i to Steniii'irp's di'uiglils v-ore ▼.Idriinj' :ii d:e e(p iy he wolliJ bp al.lr (ip piespiit ■n- ni.- ih- (ppiiip'd WK-i.-tips of l!'c world wlmii be was Uliip to tell III' III. lie piciuiPil the B-l-Mii-shmeut, (he ciili- • Km. dip iiiiPHtiimiiig. llir scoffing whli tihii !i bin talc woilM be Ks'f’ivcd. [Iiid lie seen liiPiii? ill' wn.s this meiely Ct .li cam of a ilisoi'dt'wl iiimglimtion ? Wmilii up, Im lir Wilke up and find liiiiiself on boat'd ili-s vessel safe iiiid sound ! .\ dsik objpil tloHlrd up from the void mid passed lipfore bis fiii'i'-pUiss, blottliiR oiil (he vision of liis (uo i imipiiiiiuns. Staiiinorc's heart missed a Imat as a second iuriii Hoated up. llicti a ihiriJ, a fourth. Ills upward progrpsp. was snddeuly ar- rested. Up saw 3 fsm of eyes fieeriTiff a’ him diio'jgb die sphen of air around liini. Up saw die si’nii-lmnian faces of fisli-nien all For a iiioinpiit he himgalH-ie. all movement sjsppiided. .Viul thill ids brsiD reeled a« a • load seemed to dissiputp in trout of him. It was as if he had irieived a soundiese blow : a: toon ilie senses rr-oni. ntarilv from him- I'p past him lot blanket of air Siislied like siptUi -f his Ulackoeis ca.'up I’^mu luin When he opPiied i; .1 I'xky piatemu suit iho lieimet luid Ic-eo He gasped at ihi’ .ill tHiil and heard a disiaiit riimlilii. was fist ami ciuiklpii, sb.ii'i pKo hi-arpl 11 gniiil -f slilisl'acticui. l-onkiug ,, iw dip Dm ilimiil wiitp'liiiii! liiiii. 'Vlio.v sverc idi.iiiB in ii chaiii'pcl'p lln: I liainber into whiiii hr uiui Kells niirl I iiiii wnll had lieeii tukeii on tlieir Ili'sl de.sient. " .S'ow diet yon an m overppl." said Hu Desilnian, ''you wiH spc' llr.it it is lin lHx.sil.ple to es.apr froiii iiip. %'et 1 liav* .-[laied yiiur life lro.-aii.pap I need ion. " .‘•lannintc sat up aiol laigaii to wriggle lui his dress. 11 Dovilmaii went o ' Who gave y, helped you t.j i> donnuiiii.f ? '* .'•taiiiuoK- threw j,.pi!p 'lie pl'p- his banrls to Ids head, wiiirfi wa intensely. "Where are luy eomjianic'tia ? 'lat liclil his eyifs p all these fait". Thu s'lip from which he liad oiiRinaily dev-ended was al-o widiin the cavern. It ley balanced on its copper bottom aud'caiitetl aaaiiist dit* grnnitp wall to sloripo.ird. its shcntliiiig gleamed lu the dim light that pervBilpd the p!a.-< i • 'lit Uic vessel h-sd not come {••.pthlesii ihit-.i'gti ll.s two masts, fore and aft. I.ad biwkeii rrfi at their hiitt*. Itv wirvlrs* aerial Uy • ivei the biiiwa-ks! lU de. k cabins v.hcp stnasticd and the roofs caved in. A f.inilness rame over Slaniiioir lie lealistd that he was alone with the Peiil- man. lliat Keiis an.l I'omwall were protialily orisoiiers. or .le.Sil ; that he was j.ia.-lJcaUy iielples.s liefore this nionster. wh.ose tlesigos he I'.iiild n«p{ peuetiate. DevilniUB. who iiatl ireeii wat.'hiiig Istau- 304 April H. 1931- -SCOOPS

Page 17

Our Great New Wonder Serial ► EEP nitless depths of the Ocean. A I who would travel to the Surface, a give them. Horror waits Below more rloM'ly. iu-». l» l.n ln-itM »nd Tli^ tigSi n tl.- ■ avetn grew Ijfight^i Staunioie ' '• -iniazenimf. Itial shiitl^rs tif rotfc li»d liesid* ill* vjlls I't t"c di>od u( lilmiiii.g iaiiia;i>in .ave an w»ll as lit it. Hf >a> . tuo, «liat lish niPn wir* >unduii: m groups ai inlsrvab*. Tli^y weie giiHnls sui lomidiiig (Isik jiassagM tliul miglit '’f III llis cliffs, A nii’nii'iil CM IviO lulei- ihms rmei-geil from uiia uf (liw .-Isffs ill lh» rork twu liriii-- «liiili i-.iiv. .1- advamad. orre eimrOKiU" slmll-. In tl'C They jd.. e l ill' 'iHtlls c«i l!>p si’iui^J lirfi-.-e Staiini ife «iid ccilhdrev-'. ■ Tl.at is ‘ ssi'd Dffrilinsn. ’ KjI il .111J regain you; sliensriti. 1 i.sfd ymu stintgUi. f’-i not l» aliaid to p.l." ratnis'ifd as Ito *«-. Slaiifnoic iil'tsd aC'tiK ■ the food in his liand sod ate a little. T- hi* sntpnse flip fHstp n.is v cviUi-ttai'd ilir nuR\ l-lighi ii|i qiiiikl.v. ‘I'iion ivii' 1''- ijiie.tioil I’niiiii lliniat at liiiii, till' snnic I|iipstraii, Uie lintiir liipuuiilH- tipiiiild it, U'l. KcvilinHii vii.s uiiiiiiiiig. He Imd liuuiKhl, )iv Uip Riiddi'U Ivisl ill 1’;e runvri ijticm, t*' t'.iriiit an uiu-oii'' tuns »'lmi.*-iuii. n liiiit III'- .-iis))ii-iou, ' Did you tiot "Po Tuv totiiM-iO ’ be ifi'U'ri'pd. “ lliul il:e ouir iisli-micii we 1 am- i.'lii loiitH'l witli. split [roni yonrself. l>rvi!- mmi. was that ihiiiz I.mqs in lie l-a'' "f oiu ^■■ndi'lal Wiin is FTigKt 1 '' ,V neat parrv. Iml lievilinaita glass** ^'.p* flashed a look S'hiiiuoip roold not fathom. • Vnu will soon and know Tell u i- iji:.*; Was It Se» Flight who taiteiied In. t-pr arin on niiup la yi.ur gondoin T i a*e you tlie saine [lOwer? .Stamiiore !>a*r i!n' reason for the qnestlun* iiig then. Drvilniaii wa* not fiuro of the power* of linmiiii heri jr. hiit he wauled to SCOOPS — Vpril II. 19;il on his guard. Il Pevihuati disiuveivc) Ihe limitations uf himsell aud his eompHiiimis he would know their fruilty in this new o.oilH, for the iitomeub Deviliiiaii eiia.''-mg I Hiid Ills Ilia aicie. Tlieve li'iitliery sidu wlu i il . hut tlip wuimd There fla-hed ii he had alniusi huiigiiig liiii|il.v hy S' Ivalla'a biiliel had ilpiii'd was aliiiust henleil alrpaily, ltd .'^lamnore's mind .1 fio t> .gotten ,is liu gar.pci u r that had snnieiliing of the idmik in his nature and this fn kill you. n.:\ilinaa.' ho said >lowly, " I would not Iiavp eanghf. yoiir arm. 1 would have iimpjiecl tlie rlnead Thci look of fear tliut paused m.i tin* iiioiiatei'a Cbco told lliut Starnnovo had hit ihe target; buC the look |iassed as swiftly ii* it had cHijip, aud m its place tlipre rose a siilltm expression. Tleviliuau tiiimpeted again. TIiP two lisli "leii f»ni» ami renio\ed the ahpiU iiow liial Sls.iuiiurp bad riilisbed his meal; but tliec le. moved more than Ihe shelU. .it a sign fiiim Dp'ilnian they j„>ked up the knives and the reyolMia that li.id low.i ptuikesj fiom hi* and hi-i lompauiims h.>iid>, 'ITiese weaieiii* !.»d lain where ihe* • }!.i- ,=■1 • ii.rial lo him. il, a diffeiHu in lh> , , sees WIkii- is-!t.re they li.-id heeii dim they vi-.i- ti.jw blight with u Middy gl.i.e Tin shulteiw of roi'k hud been slid bac k and ii .seemed ns if there were fimiaces lilaziitg uii' the very edge of tlip oaves, These slniftevB moved gratingly, nml ns Staiiin,.iie w.is taken to Ihe inninist i-ucnii lio saw the wholo plnie piielusod in u l inle of The heat of the pl.no \va= gieal, lui! not in .,m1oi(alile. Jl seemed as if Siniiiiioie • n,,’Iltd s.'.liUli biie, i.sajNy] imd aorid MPokr i -sc and .lisApfuiai ed iiji hidden l•IliirITlPy^ Tlie gii, i:i.I wa* * aim under his f.ei. He suiffed ipii i.i\ at the .'dphnrc>ii* udom. and • l.ken ill all tbi* when f • men apfwared. In ihei, somroRu Walking. ,~.'.t.,i> Hardly l.a.l midst iheie wa ,*^tatiT>mis.*.< hpait lea|u*d al the though* Tat this might he Kells or Cornwall. A ;,i"meiit Inie, he .saw it w.is Sea- Flighl. THE REVOLT OF THE FISH -MEN NUW the i,i\eili he.-auir aliva with li-.h- meii. Tiiey eame li.-rn Ihe roof, from iiiiircnvN oe 111! siJi-s, from behind, man lung ill fr,,in the mitei eaves. But they culleolcd in a in»«s hehiiid the two giouj/a, in the ■ •'••lire of wlii'h weie i^ianmote aiul Sea I ti^ht. Thrr, fileTiie, Mt\e feJT llip niiid'liog .-I'lerfoot. Tr,e voh-e of Il'vUmau rcse high. rii Ihro'lgh the .icein. • Sea Kliglit isui, lii;,!. He is a.Mise.J..f I elpiiig the Kailhinen tn t‘4*ape. He ,l,e* not denv. Me does not affirm. L." hn.. aiLswer before the fish inoti. S«» Klia'' -I*" you plead aoillyj ” Not a scHiiid from Se.% Flighl. lie « ■■■,1 •.'.ilh howpd liead, his a**nii folded i and Stai. 305

Page 18

fastened across his cheat with t-aiids. ■■ Tliiti is Wlaniiijrc, the mmi who was l>'sder of the iuvailevs ! " came the voice of Devil- man, as ho advajiied to the centre of the floor. " What does he snyT Did Sea Flight aid you to leave the eaves uf tlie fish-meii? " istamiiare's ryew rauglit those of Rea Flight. There acenicil to he .1 duuih apiJeal in the latter’s glao'e. Staiiiiiore preiuicd Jiis lii« together firinlv.* If Sea Flight had heen loyal to him, lie was bomni In Iw Inyal imw to Sea riighl. He res'ilveil to take liis cue from the fish men. Half a mlTiiite ijsssoJ in atleie.v. Devil- moil mnie into view, stopping softly lorwaid, towering above the others. Hi.-, face wore a "oak of grim triumph. •' Since Sea Flight refoses t-i answer, he riay he judged guUty. I. Devilimiu, ruler of the i-nverni* of the deep, give sentence." He ptmsi'd and threw not his tong aim towards the firoa that leaped like immense i'liinacca before tho captives. '• Death 1 " he said slowly. " fa.sl him in 1 ” Again a ailencB for u split soi-ond, and the band of fish-men who surromided Sea Flight Devilnmn’s voice rose again in ordur. The lish-nnin laid hau js on Sea Flight ; but nt tliiit moment n small ohjeot fell from tho roof of tho cavern and n-a.shed 011 the floor. A cohinin of smoke arose, and there Was n hliudiug ibisli, a roar as if Uie earth had rent in two. • The Jiab-nien were Uuwii atross the cavern like wisps of straw, the place wn.s fdled with yells and screams of pain. Stamiioro had been thrown down with the otiicrs by tlic loud explosion. He lay nn the gmimd. suiToimded iiy liia guards, stunned and deafened by the ciash. The esplu.-iu>S' some di.'- taiii'e from him and beyond where Rea F light stood. He crawled towards the entrance to the cave, wliera the ico-woU was open. He was conscious of a pungent smoke that sluug his eyes and face and caught him at the lie lieatJ Dcvilinau screaming orders. Tii the smoke that pervaded tlic rayem he couM see nothing for a lime, llo cmJy licaril Uio screams nf fear and aguny from tlie n.sh-meii. His iii-um reeled at that tevorliemtiug ev- plosion ; and ns he crawled he fell a soil sucker-arm tcmch liia ItanJ. .A voice snoko : •• Lie still, Earthman. Lie still. Wlill ” It was .Sea Flight who lad iTawled neit to liiiu ; Soa Flight who was blinking and shak- ing ids head Wi clear his ©yes from the iwiid " Loosen my bood.i, Earthman 1 " In a raotiieiit StuniuoTB's fingers were un- tying the seaweed with which Sea Flight was hound. Ho cast off tho la?t, laahing and saw the flgod fish-mail rise tu his feet. A liftavy Bhndaw fell across Stanmoro, and Deviiraaii's voice screamed. " I will kill you myself. Sea Fliglil 1 ’’ He had crept .tfler Sen Flight through the smoke ami miw lifted the fisli-man in his great suckers i but Soa Flight's right sucker liad already fastened on the nioiisler's neck. Back tottered Devilman, heaiiiig the fish- man in his arms, but Sea Flight clung the closer, arid now his second atm wns vouud Devilm.tn’s throat. Stenmore Raw it feeling frantically for tho spot at llie base iit Devil- m.vu’s skull, that vital square inch where the backbone jaiusil the skulL It was a fight of giants, for Deviliiiiin li.id all the hrnte strength, hut Keu Flight liiid .all tlie agility of his race. ■' Help 1 " cried Devilman. " Help 1 '' Rtanmore tiiroed his iicaJ. The smoke b.id lifted, the flsh-mcii who had survived that explosion were coming to their nilei's aid ; anil then a second missile desceiulcil from the It n-ll lietween the. fish-mea and the struggling combatants. A blinding flash rent 3oa The Fight with the Fish-men llip air, a tlnindernus I'otir i i'aslieil out, more smoke filled the ciiolnbor. Tlie flulii-iiien seemed in dissipate in that cxplosiou, They were blown to piecps. and Stanmorc. wlm had risen to his feel, wa.v thrown nsido and volleyed agniiist (he bulk of Devilman. Down went the three of them, all struggling for a hold, .and as Stauinorc'-i hanils gripped the shoulders of Deviluuui hr felt a blow from that nionster'.-i arm that opeiiwl his forclipad .is if a lialchcl lisd struck He sank tn liia kuces ; 1ml even llieii he saw that Sea Flight was still !inldiiii5 to the I'cck nf the munster, still gripping wTieie his sucker had tniiclied ; and Devilman was claw- ing desperately to free himsrif. They rolled over and over in the ''•■ig of the smoke. And Lhen Devilman's weight 1c- gnu to tell. He was on top of Sea Flight. He put ail his weight into a terrible atle'iipt to crush the other into obliviou I'p went his great shniildera, his arms caught Sea Flight iiy the chill. He began to farce back Ski Flight's head with iiresislihle pressure. A SPY OF THE DEEP SLOWLY tlie pressure told. Ben Flight’s S11 -kev came away from the nape of Devil- man's neck. His 'arm fell limp, but the other hand held a moment longer. Then it, loo. came away. ‘Weiglil was telling. Stanmore ro.se tn his knees, tho Mofwl ctveaniiiig from liis face, his head diazy, his ryes filled with tears that rail down his ciieeks so that he could hardly see. But through the nii.st he saw Ben Flight’s peril. Wilh .m eSort he launched himself at Devilman and clung to the monster's arm. Twice he slipped off that leathery mass, but three times lie gripped. IIU face was close to that of Devilman. The latter gnaaluBil his tooth at St-anmore, tvyiug to bite him with his fearful tusks, " For this attack, you die, Earthman ! ” h« gasped; hut .ill'll Stanmnre liuug tn Uat- He saw that Deviliiiau's sucker was ciivling the neck cf Sea Flight. Already the latter was almo.sl past help ; nrd the thniight nf the muc'ler taking place before his eyes setil a tremble ofTage ihrongh Sl.imnore. Fp went Ins fist. lie dashed it wilh all his forco into the glnml-like face of Devil- mau. Again he hit wilh ail his strength. A third time lie lushed out at the ruhber-like cou nteniinee. Each time lis struck, the Load of Devil- mau jerked buck; and then Stnnmore ceased to strike. He threw Ins arm amiiiirl the leathery neck and dug his lingers into that spot wflich Sea Flight had sought to hold. He felt the soft skin yield uiMler his fingers. He felt the soft bone below, the l0|i verte- biie of the supple liackhoiie. fii vain Devil- raau tried to a&ake him off. Staiiniorc held on. grim as death. Davilman's gurgling screema. Stanmore saw that great linvoc liar! been made by the iKiinbs that had descended. \Vlio had thrown the liombs? His mind conM not grasp the situ.ition just then ; all he know was that bonnha hud been tlirown. He knew the hninbs, too. They were bombs uses! by the British Army, filled with a gas that blinded men with toars, hut did not kill except from the force of tlie explosion. Tear gas bombs ! 'lliat’s what tliey were. But who threw the bombs, end where did they come from originally? All these thnuchrt.s niii through hi's luvvd as he clung to Dcvibiian's throat, ami as he glsnueil ai'ound and bbw the fi.sh-mpii who had escaped -death ctiming towardH him. He knew he could not hold miicii longer, Hi.s strength was giving way. Deviln1a.11 was as slippery as iin eel. The fish-men would kill both liiiiiself and Sc» Flight, Stamnore thought. Bn', lis wanted to kill Devilman first. Hitw he wanted kill tills iiionalev 1 A soft Imud tnnehej liim again. It ivius the sucki'i' of a fish-man. It grabbed at Iris neck. He ftdl the oozy softness of the thing. He saw the tenilile faces of the fish-men bent ou his ds'itructiuii ; aud then the hand fell away, '.riie Irsh-inen drew l.ack, Mora scrpaiiui rent the air. Al tlint mniiieiit Devilmau itlrnpped. The pi'esHurc of St.imuore's thumb and fingers had done their work up In n point. Devilman was not deBd. hot he had lol- lapsed under that grip; and lip fell on tlifl body of Sea Flight with b slitlieriiig inove- numt that brought StAnmure down loo. The fisH-meii were screaming ami i-etreut- big. Wliy hail they not slain him when they had the chance! Stiinmore scramhlej l-o a .sitting ptwlure and looked round. Next momeiil his hair rose on end. Nn wonder the fish-man had retreated. lIu saw ihcui escaping through the siile doors nf the rave us f-ist .is tliey could crush their way; but the ptiaic only impeded their escjijie. Staiim we cried out in terror. Past him a gigaiiti- iu.Jy had iinveil slowly. Ibiowing out ilA long amis pulling itself alung the floor with a series nf short heaves. And ixiiaing through the ice wall opening were other* of this awful sjiecies. They were gigantic oi'topuses. His gaze riveted un Die monster limb liud missed him aud was making fur the fish-meii. Slamnore s-st stupidly, uiiahle to move a He .saw the leader of these pi'isonoiis creatui'es reach Hie fish-men who crowded by a jmssage. He saw the long tentacles thrown out. They fell on the tish-niBir. hear- ing them down nnd curling round them in terrible emhnico. Out went another tentacle, and more fish-men went down. But Klunmore wa.s galvanised into life at. the sight of hoiTor. He bounded t-u Ills feet aud was ivboiit to rim wlien be glanced at the foruiof Sea Flight. Tho latter’s eyes hail opened, De was nut dead. Quick as tluiught Staoniore lifted the fish- man, threw him over his shoulder, nnd niudo fur one af the iiariow iiot.unges. He in- tended 111 Uke bis rluincp with the fish-mcii, hut saw that it was impoRsihla to get throiigh. The fish-men were stricken with pamc. Their natural foes had invaded their caves and were faking toll. Btaumote luriiecl to make for another open- ing, when a fish-man dashed out of a dark ■'This way! TliU way!” Without qiioslion Slaaiuore followed ; and as he was aiiout to enter the opening wliicli had suddenly appeared before him, he burauie aware that the fires surrounding tlic i.ivem were darkened suddenly. Eveiy nhutter hail been closed, the rocks grinding their way across the face nf the furiiaceti and fiilling into place with thiiils. He saw, too, that immediately lie had eutered the- passage tlic fisli-nian who bad directed him pushed at a rock. The opening closed behind them. All was black. Tlia fi.sh-maii's hand felt for and sank into Stnii- " Do out fear, Earthman, ” ho said. " Soa Flight is our leader, Wo are his fulLwers and the enemies of Devilman. This wuy 1 ” Blumbliug, but still bearing his burden. Stiinmore did aa he was bidden. He climbed a sleep slope, his feet striking against ledgc.v that dripped with water, his head n.iw and then eommg into contact with the roof. Where he was being led he did ucL know, He' at last became conscious that lie was on » level, A faint light burned dimly in the distance. The fish-man sliU held his hand, as one would lead a child. What seemed to he a curtain wiis raised unci gave entrance lu a sinaU cove. lu tlio centre of the cave an oil lamp hurtled, an.| on the flour were blaiikeU and skins of n kin.l lliat Stanmore had never seen before. Ha noticed that there were books un a alirlf, April 11, 1931— SCOOPS

Page 19

War in the Ocean Depths that & sliij('s hiTinaoIo slooi! hi a covncr, aiiil tlicra were ciLiitr signs of eivilisalion. " Place Kea Flight here, EarChrmin 1 ’’ The lisli-inaii liomfed to a lieafi of skins iu n I'umev, and Slnnniyre laid his Ininlcn liowu. Then he eat down mi (ho rugs nltrrly cs- liausled, and gazed in wnndei' at this new abode. Tliefish nian paid no atlention to him. Ha ■was licnrling over the form of Sea Flight, examining. probing, massaging genlly. Several inimilcs parsed. '■ He will Jive," said the fish-man suddenly. "And now what aio your injiiries? " He iiiiide Stanmoro iio down, and -wkli those 5'ift suckei’s. gentle as a woman's hand, he went over him. His suckers pvessed on the cut' that, had been made on Wtauumre'a face. The blood censed In flow. " Yon will he as strong ns ever in a very short lime." said the fisli-man. "My name " Healer ? ” " Yes; I am what you would rail a doctor, a piiysician, Imt T use different nieflinds from ymir Eailli doctors. I am the I'rientl of ficii Flight. This is his secret, hcadquartors. Not even DevUniiin knows of its existence." " I'm getting more bewildered tlia.n ever." " Briefly tlio situation is this. Sea Flight is our real ruler. Devilmaii deposed him. Rut there are many wlio are stiil loyal to Sea Flight. Now that Devilman has Uied to kill him. there is but one outcome.’' " What is that 7 " " Ilia revolt which was simmering has liiokcn uut. It was I who restrained sume of n-viliiiaii's followers fioin killing you when y^j writ- fighting him down llieie in Uie -ev-. Blit I .. .U lint hold them long. So 1 let loose l' - enemies Ihey fear tuio> than .-.iiythir.g. It was i who lirmight Uie •iclopaaes •'B.it ! could jnn do that? Do llicsa ..N "T'.. -m:. of ail f';' m.-n. n • V.- and looked at Fli.^ht. i age.i fiah-inan’s linil-s • - • Healer niassagnl again T' r-.-r Flight sat up. When he saw - :• 1 - nrstvbrd out lii.s hand. I ;.;y life to you, Eaidlitiian," he ■ 1 r.-.ve mine to yon," replied Rtnmnure; and ibnn ho added e|iiickly : " Why diil you 1. siti'Tii wiien Devilman asked yiai to p.c-ui giiOly nr not, guilty? " " It would not havfl Jimtuu'i'il wliiih wuy I [licjiiled. He liad intended to throw mo into the crater. You were to be preserved." •• Why? " ■' Becaufio ho wants to know how to use yonr guns, and svlicii ho knows that he will kill you. Wc have no guns down line." "Bit what .nbniit the homUs Hint were llirowii? I recognised them ns tenv-gas bciubs " " They were Dirowii bv one of my sup- portci's ul niy biihling. \Vc have a sinre of s'li'h nmimiiiitioti. taken from the wrecks of pliipa that have been sunk by Devilman, You will see onr store chortly.” What about my lomiiaiiioiis ? " " They arc prisoners, but their evnet posi- [inn is not Icnowu to me yet. Devilman bokla tlicm." "1 have fish-mim searching for them now." said Healer giiietly.' " When you feel like travelling "’o shall eoutiuue the saircli." " I am ready now." Healer gl.niiced lit Sea Flight and the latter notlded. " You will be safe with Healer, Earth- man," he said. " I have work to ilii here, so will remam. It must now bn u light lo the death iictween Devilm.iu and luy.selt, bo 1 must develop a campaign, (.'an I rely on your help, Eiirchtnaiif " "In every way, Sea Flight.’* " Thanks, Then I will promiEe that if and when we arc victorious you will iVgaiu tliB E.iith from which .voii came, and your companioua, too, if tliey are alive,” He stopped speaking, for Ihcjc came a sound of sliiiBling feet be.yoml the curtained doorway. fiRli-miiu enlorod and bowed. " Highness," he said, aildrcsHing Sea Flight, “the war 1im begun. Devilman 1ms po.'ted sentries by every ii-o wall to tnuko sure that tlie EartJiinan will not escape. He is gatiieriug bia forces to tind you and put you to death. The octopuses lutve all been slain by fire. Tlici'c is a price on your head." " Whnl is the price? " " The right to govern nest lo Devilman." "Very well. Go hark to yonr post. I.s there any sign of the other Eartlimen ? " " They are to be embalmed in molten 'Hie fiah-mau luincd and wa.s ahont to blither oB when Staniimre leaped forward, Htid with a quick mnvemert swung the creature riiiiml so that bis f.tce was illuiniued by the lamp. ■' Is this one of your followers, Ses Flight? " ho asked shat'piy. ■jtTERROR OF ROCK TORTURE The lisli-mait sliiank back nt the aci usii- (ion; but Stsiimorc held him by Ihn shoulder. " I know him," he contLiued. “ This is tho Csh-mati who laid liis sucker on uiy iiei k just before the nctopuscs -appeared and fright- rncrl him. 1 know lits face, bee that scar across his i beck I i cuienihcr that seal' " The fifih-ntan dropped to bis knees, crying for meicy. Far a moment them was no sound ill the cave. Sea Flig.Kt lifted his head suddenly, us if listening. Then he went lo the door and lifted the cuitain. From ontsido come the auft swish-swlsb of distant feet. Sen Flight turned to iTie fi.sh-nmn riuickiy and seized him, dragging him to hia feet, " Spy ! " he cried ; and si that iimiitent tho sucker nt the iibh-uiiiu flew towards Sea Flight’s head. But it iitisaed its aim, for Sea Flight dodged. Next moment his arm shot out swiftly and suddenly like the leap uf a snake's tongue. It canglit the traitor sipiaro iu the forAeudj hung for a nioment, and " Me Tohmlccred for service. Why do you ubk ? ■’ Btuiimorc bit bis lip. Ilia eyes scanning tha features of the lls-h-mati Keenly, "Ask him. if he is mie of your folJowera, why lie was about lo kill me when i fought Devilman 7 " Sick with loathing, Stanmore flung his arm round the leathery neck of Devilman as the monster of the deep sought to choke the life from Sea Flight the scientist. SCOOPS — -4pril 14, 1931 307

Page 20

llten was withdrawn. Tlio fish-maa's hudj" crmiipled »iiJ full in a hu-ap. Vtuj spa tiow Dpviliiiaii iisps these puoi' fufils." Wild Sea FU^lit ReuUy. ''TKal i (lie pull and tug of belt* and shafting. “Do not be siirpiiscd." whtspeiid .Sea Flight. “ The whole of Uie nmiinlain in whi- h we live is bum-yivniibed with passngep ami c-aveiiia. I nluiie know riery liaik. Healer hnowa IU‘«t. Devilmau know* loss Ilian we." He Bti'OU'hed out hi* hand and laught nl !i oidile that strelrlied aslant Ilit' iniiss of Jiiwuhinery. 'Follow lue." he said, "IVe shull slide tluwn (Iris way." Down the cable lliey went, hand over liand, above tlio macbiTir-iy, oiiil Btiiiunme lour veiled nl. the enormous appaniliis ns he itas--eil He iiEerd the giunl pumps snikini,’ uiuJ furc'iiig the air from Irt-low, He sun iiutni.-.l fiii'iieres in the depths, from which red imt flnnies glimineied and gases rose. He was balnnr ed over the moutn of a living volcano, iiiul 11 I'i'jfe into the depths showed linii an iufeniri llial seethed duuii to the very '■viiliv iif ihc EiirLli, They swung fli'ioss llm 'net pit in wliieh the maHiiiievy was woiking ami laiidcil im aiiotlier shelf Jume ili.ituiicB dnwii. Thru down more sta’irinses unit tniilings, iiidil Sui Flight fe-iive Hit' order to halt. ■■ Tlie emhiiliiiiiig hail,'' he wliispered, end pciiiitcd to a jiitijiig rodi.. SiiiiniKire crept along ami looked rmiiid tl.e elbow of Imt sloiu'. Hr wo.^ oii Iht- t'llgc of Jii nmpliithealri' a» large ns Hu' -\lbcii Slall. 'I'be siilto of it were loriowed and cal iutu grooves, mnl sinirdiiig on ihrse fur- j'.ws lujil grooves were iUh inen ; hut Ibry well' different from ihose he had slrraijy Tliry had sinanci' lioilies. i'o.ii"!ei' skins, idriiosi blur'k in enh.iu'. 'riirir Iiej'ls wera ib'fiinlrU' rish-eiia|iri\. but thek arni'- v.cre I. r . like hiiiiiim uiiijs. 1 I ilo' middle of the ampliitliralie Ibr ,ioniid I m.I bii'ii wiiin away until it sc'mwi lo reu''h u iecp. April It, 193J — SCOOPS 308

Page 21

The Coming of the Female Robot The IIIOH SIXTY.FOOT METAL WOMAN, of Face, brings Terror to the Swamps. An Iron Joan of Arc Quells a Native Rising. THE COLOSSdS OF THE ISLAND TilR Viurly. broaiJ-a)iQliW«‘red bos’n ol tho Ucfaa Hoi't leaned over the rail, his mahogany face turned towaids tho ragged coast of Fang Islaiid, which lay off the atarboaril quarter. It was only -i. little after dawn, and in the misty light the island looked grim and mysterious. In the batkgi'oniid the desolate Welsh laiasi was even more vagiie, Frestoii Thomson, the third eiigiiicer, stuiiding henidn tin’ bus'll, was iutcigued, Why had Ciii'shni (Jraiid's magnilicent yaelit ancfioreJ off this lonely islnnil on a ejiring dawn? Auii what was that vast structure of steel soiLflolding and wood wliicli reaied itself ?r\enly feet into the air trom the centie of the island 'f Ever aini’.e Tlioniwiti had joined the stB\uinli company of the Orrnn lUirri he Iind been thrilled. For those who seiwcd the f.iintm-s TnilliontiiL’o never knew what he wiis going to Every nfficer aboard the yacht, and every Tiieiiiber of the rrow. was alone ni the v>*oihh 'I'lLai wa> one cundiliou of einployiiiciii. 'i'lte veastd was their home ; they had no othvi'. uml no ties aslKjie. ■' Wliat is 11 'f ’’ ftsked Tlionisou- " Ax me anotln'r, ' loluvned Ben. the bos'll. That there lower is a inyste-y, sonny. Blit if U. O. Joi-s a thing it's right. Ye've only been with us for a couple of v'yages. but I've served Oaiston Grand for twenty yeiu.s. and ho'a the Biiest man os ever drew'breatli ! ' "Glad you have aimh a good ojiiuiou of SCOOPS — April IJ, 1931 me, Ben,” intemipted a smooth, cheerful Ben Earley swung round, his jaw iigape, Ifastily he saluted. “ !Jo help uie. Chief, I didn't ineiiii to take DO liberties," he alaminered. " It'.s all on ai'Oduiit nf youug Mr. Thomson line, axing me his fool qiie.stioTiK. " He is not the only tme aboaid wlio is nirioaa," «aid Oaiston Oraud, .1 Iwiiikla in his eyes. He. too. was looking id the island, and he stood there niulionless. Six-foot lo an iiv h. Ih« niilliuiiaive wss broad in jiroportion ; his sliuiig. kindly fat e was cltian-Nliaven. mid Viis tycM were as .ste.ad y us crystal quarts- and at times tliey could he as liiiid. Who had not heard of Gai'ston Gra.iid. ijiillimiaire-ad vent liver, raving niotni'isl — he lipid the woi'ld'.s speed reccii’d — explorer, luuiter? Tire iiBivsp.ipeis willed him “The Man tif a rhousaiid .'iilventuiES," and tho ni'ws|ia|)ers were right ! " 'I'ivn yeiiis of striving, two yearn of cciLseiess work. " lie said -soflly. “Girk will he elated this moniing." Ills exproasiou linruened. ' If all goes well, tlic wandur •-reatii.il Iiiddcu by that scafTuidiiig and wr.i'.ilwmk will sotni be off un a missiua of peril and iiiuh advonliire.'' .Vbrupily lie turneil to the young eiiginet-r. " I tiiive a special job for you, 'Thoniscoi," he went ini. his voice hevoraing crisp. Fi\p minutes later the yavlil'a powerful motor-litidl was .--pci'diiiff towaida u rocky COVE in tlio islinuh whertf there was a jcti.v — tempi II ary. but strong. At liie top ol the steps .stood a tall. le.iu nmii with bony, ianturn-jawed features. This was Dirk Metnvlf, ilia niilliuueire'9 chief engineer, a mart wliu lived for notliuig but mnchineiy. “Ready for us, Piik?'’ naked Gnrstun Grunil as he sprang ashore. ■' It's for you to give the word, G. G., ' replied Dirk Metealf, in short, sfnevato accents. “She's gone throngh hrr ItiuK U.E.. and slie's the woild's eighth wondei They walked inland, towards the gre.it slruvliire wliivli towered skyworil.s like [lie voveniig of some lonely niomuiienl. (farston Grand liad invested fiftv thousand sterling in the thing of steel whicli was hiddeu li.v this wunilwoik .svaffuldiiig — aud GarsUm Giaiiil, lor all his uhUioiis, did not iuvest riu.iiey recklessly. Soon ihe.v stood beneath the elriu-tiirr. Two great ilooi'S were open, and the early iiioriiiiig amishioe gleamed upon an iiivi'cililik vreatien of sliinimcriiig metal — uii Jruu Even Oaiston Grand was bo lost in wnmier tiial he Imltcil, arrested by the Ktavtliiig sigiit. Preston Thomson gasped. “ Tt works l'“ asked lliu ludlioiiau-e bluntly. " It wiirks, G. IJ, — as no jmiii-Jiiadi' Robot ever worked before," replied the nigiucer. The iron Womiin lenreil her sluel-lipliiieled hejid nearly sixty feet into the air. The iiuinster creation of metal was a |H'vfe,.tly pniportionKd reiireseiilalHni of iv wnmaii in armom', like s> volussal Juan of Arc, .Sim lied legs of sliimuiei-iiig striel, with feel measuring ten feet I'lMiit lue lo Imc-I. Hr ; iirnis hung naliirally, iiiitl at her wnist ilnne Wits all iipelliug, pioiected by a clui iuinin •Uiove. hruast-plites gleamed. The few, tilmosl human in its expression, wax full of 309

Page 22

The Risiug of the Natives jigwev. 1‘ie.itc.ii Tlioiuson MgpHy fuilowi'J tiip inillioimii'C iiilo the slierl. He was strangely mill LOiigraniluteil himself niv liaviii(f licpii chosen for this' special duly. fiUuJmg imineiliiilely beneath the metal giuii(.i-ss, lio fcilt smiiigoly ilwarfeil. '' This way, ('liicf,'’ said Dii-k briefly. He pressorl a liitlilen switch in the’ right, leg, iimi iiirtal rungs niitomatically appealed, up wlin:h the cuKiiieer l•lllllhell with ease, Oarstuu Urniid folliiweJ, and I’rpsloii "J'hoiu- soii hriiught up the mu-. Williiu a iitiiuitp they wi .Woman's waist, iiiid on llie ilii'omium rail. Preatoii sa’ coiisiiipv.ahle size, containing levei.s, lie knew, then, that tliii ciiatiibei mn.sl he llie lOntrol-rooni, " No need to show you the gadg' C. tl,," said Dirk Metcalf. “ Everyllung When I get back to llie i"i, Bcht iTI pi’ve Then yourself.'' Williont another word he went down the ladder, and Preston, full of questiuiis ypi without the nerve tn put tlieni. looked llitough a grillB in the Dootiiig. where iu oauglit a glini(jsi3 of gleaming ni.uhinery. ■' No. there's no eiigiue-rumii, Thomsen." said (larslan Oruiul, a.s though reading bis thoughts. ''Driving motors and inai.liim';-.- yes. Hut if a ‘ vessel ' of this type were i. cany her own motive power, it would t— ,r. cinnliprsome lliat she would l,e robtied or ony possible utility." ■ Do y walks, sir? " u.'kcd tin- incrodiilniisly. " Ji .so, wlit-re ij the mot:---, oil'd the "•■•’mi ^oivr." replied tlars[.,'i flrand. nnli a nod tow.urd* lln- ya»dil. ■' An eltilricai geuerjl- ;- of great force has been installed, sad ns power van be transinitted wilhout wires to tlie motors within the Iron Womau. In a wurd, the heavy, bulky mapliinei'y is tarried (iti the vncUt, and without tlie mot’liPr ship the Ivon Woman i-amiol operate, It is a form of remute cuiiLiul, mid, iudppil, one of the lutp.'it deveioprueiits of j adiu trausmis- ait'll. But here we url- tnuHinitling. nr,t Miiiiul. but jiower. 'Viiii'll suou sue iinw it Preston saw the iiioli:,r-i,uai r-.'-,li the ynclit, and ii miiiiiie alter Dirk Meiialf had liiiulird iitioard eleclviu lights spiaiig into life ■within the Iron Womau. Uazrng down lliiuugh the grille iu the conttol-room flour, lie saw tiuit there were many lights there, too— gleaming code, pistons, gear-wheel*. . . .• Look ont,' said Uarsloii Clratid briefly. ll-.T Land was on the control lever, and Preston was irresistibly riniiiiided of an eleciric tram. Ju.st us ilmt prosaic vpiiiclu gel^ IM power from the oveiiiead wire, the Iron Woman was getting iier iniHer ly in- visible waves from the yiicht, II" leaned over the gl.rmiug r.ail, uid lieliiw saw the great steel kgs luovifiK— de- JiliPiatcly, with powerful strides. 'I'iie body awaypij rliylbmically to the motion. The Iron Woman moved out of her Bhed, and then comiiiencpii a circuit of the litlls i-l.uid. Serenely, she strode over grasslaml ami rocks, tlnrsloii firnncl direited her to- wards a clump of stunted trees, mid she went « la-liiiig llirough like an all ccuqucring Jug- gpiTiniit. t-iip's good, Thomson — mighty good," . '1 I I he i.iillionaire, his eyea gleaming. " She can be opeiulod up to a distance uf ten miles ironi llip yaplil. Dirk tells me that lie'll be ahl- 10 increase the ludiiis of power to fifty imIp- before long. But ten is snffleieirt for 1 I. |-u>ent purpose," bat is nnr present pui-posc, sir? " that later," replied Iho I .shall need you as eiigincpr- Dick must remain at the con- " I don't sec what you can do willi a crea- tion uf Lhbi son, sir," ohjecU-d Preston, wlui pos.sessed a practical mind, " Did yoo iiutica how wp smasluid our way through tbn.se trec.s juBt now ? " " Yen, and I was pleased," aaid Clarston firaud calnily, " Of CDur.se. for use in any civilised cnvmtry the Iron Woman is impos- •sihle. She would destroy roads, tear up telegraph wires and clectiic cables, and creute thousands of pomids’ worth of damage in the shortest of jouiiieya. Hut as u meaua of Iravelling in wild, imcxplorcd country— sn long as she is within the radius of her con- trolling power — there is no limit to the lion Woiiiau's possibililies.'’ .\s pvoot of this he dirflcLoJ tlip monster's foutsU'ps to the very sea itseif, and, to Pres- ton's amazement, she plunged out towai'Js the yadit. The wafer was not very deep in shuic, uiul thus lla- Inui Woiiuiii cmild walk right iiji to tlia side of the yacht. Dirk .\lct- tuTf Was waiting at the rail. “ (let yimr gpiir gtiiug. Dirk, iind ship her aliiiard," said the miliirumire. " Wc leave at Later, (i.rrslini Grand collcLtcil the men The Iron Woinan stooped, lifted the two canoes, and, eyes gleaming, hurled them back into the waters ol the swamp. together. They stood lined up on deck, Pieslmi Thumsnii amutig tiipiii — virile, hone-i faced men wliu had faithfully served llieir miliioiiaiit-euiploycr fur years.' ■■ B'lvi. Ihere'.s work for ns." said (rarstoii Urand, in his direct way. " Ppvhups you've heard rumours of the tiwulile with tho'Seinsi tribe, on the West I'oast of .\frica? Tlie natives luive revolted aud set up a Hcpiiiilic. The President is the .Semsi chief, aiiaivngaut rascal kuowu as (Ibogo. lib- fir.st act was to murder the Blilish Conimieaioncr nt Semsi Port and capluie every white tiadet. These unfortunate men have heeii Inkpci far inland, where ihcv are being kept ns hosingps," " Wliat's the Navy ihiing, sir? " hioko in Prestoii impulsively. " Why Unpsn't a biiUleship go out there? " " Bccaujie there arc peculiar goographiciil dilTicultieis,” replied the millionaire, "'i'he vrtini coa.slliiia of the Semsi unniU'y is flat, with deii.-iB juiigla growing uliiicist to the Wiiter'a prlgp. The sea is so shallow that even tile ordinary trading stt-aniors are coiiiijcUed to anchor three miles off shore. "Two vveeka ago a British WiU'shin sent lilue,;ackets and marines asliurc, and llie viii. 14, 1931 — SCOOPS 310

Page 23

The Terror of the Iron Woman fortunulA tn*n vieri Dioweil duwn l>y loai-tune from tbe jungSe thk'krts aa »ouii a» Oi«y set fool on the beoih. Tlieie no other entrance into the Seinsi territory, for it is tHiimded on all sides by prute. lurales ’woii.h sir under the admuii'traih'ii of i-(I>er coun- II I"*, and lUi-se ctmntrien refuie |.i alkiir the [>. ..ip-o of nalil..y for.es ;V- f.ai of stirring up Ituulile Uieir own teiriloiii-e. ' Sj I’residi'm f«U>eo lii» s.ei-ytbing Lis m. ti w^y. lie flc.nt.s Briiisli eulliolity ;ind ■I,'', il- S'st7 to do iH 1 nm pio- l»-ifi: to lalu the Iron M'ohmii ehm£ back rs cbasr. vhh a cigar sHeMsig Ovt ot C -'-rner rd hia niontfa. he langhcd with con- rtirig pretty." lie declared. . are fall, an.l we've f -t tame that they’ll r»t out of iii.r : —ill in the cause of lilierly! " r • . . men who Were with him gviuned i-.. ..i.j. .. lali.m. They were Mull Kassner .. I Al P.opan — licih Aineiicliu pcugslers. Here, in the Seiiisi territory, under the leaili-isliip Ilf Murk Veese, Hicy hud iirgaiiisrtl I'r. .ijciit (llmgo's ''iiiiiiy'’ lui Hue gain;; ' I guess we'rn taking chmu’efi nil the some, bn.ss." said Kassner. "I’lie RiUisli aulbmUies may be qoiei «l. iLo moment Koiget it!" iiitornipled Veese. with eunleni|il. " Tbe la»t time those fool sbUiks i-amc ashore ws shot 'em up. didn't we 7 l.en«iwu\s. the niggein did. We're keepiug out of It— and when il comes to a show-il.iwn ,.iH p.-t what's toftiinp ic, him; we s''de into ol^'urilr. leavimj the ini:;;rrs to Kinrit every iminl of view it was a goad plan — Judged hy the crooks. The native Cite' tilwigo. was bloatml with his new pow.'i In deference to his great dignity, be bail bi4-n uliteed in one of the Kunipeati biiiigaliiws. which was now his presio'eiiuol .Jusil then llhogo himself ';am« swaggering ill — 3 big, eoal-hlack, coarsc-fcatured iiegi-o. Jlf- wiiio an ahsuid iiiilitary uiiifoini, and great ilisuuimls dangled from hi.s ears. Nice uf yon to drnp rmirid, I'lbogu." said Murk Veose cordially. “ Sit dmvn. Have » drink. We’ie honoured.'' iiliog'i'a uiiimai face parted in ti grin. " Me lha Bic Noi.se! ’’ ho said, ihunipiug Lt- " M'liiri, him finish. Him jua' SCOOPS— Vpril n. 1931 allot by order of llerululionary ronncil." The crooks ei.'hanped glanres. M'Loti had been iIip witch doctor of the tribe, and before the mnlution even Cliief Obngci had held Uiiii in awr Veeae wondere.) if the presi- dful hud .tiled wisrly — fee ihe inl'csmen v.cr.i stij-eistitiuiis. s >urrcuder.‘‘ ■ hi;! a'nniild tcH rne." .Me. I tell iiolwdy." rVki1i. tell me the I.cnublic Is liaii.iiierlKiiie. 1 kill him. Mr-, I •hi nrj lhiuR ' " \ pcsi- gluiice.! .H Kassner an.l Bugaii. and tbi’.v iiudei'slooil. They movid tittt.iids iLu .liinr — iiiU'iidiiig to go mil amongst ihc unlives tn liiid out if Oliogu's drastic lutiuii !mil nr ousel uiiy uiuest. riiil iiefnre they could reaJi the ihioi they hcai'il n illaiant tumult. .There rame tha s.iiiiitl Ilf iimiiy ihoiitiug voices, utul u grew like B ia|iiy, wit'.: stalk terror pa his ■. j;- 1 iu the •ii>eiiiiip. " llig g'n't woman. Boas! he gasped. '' !b* giinst woman, u-r* from *ta ' ' Mai'ii Ve(-adily. Fu; ■ • t.'. I ••agn.. in the heal-tji2e. a t oold Is: mn. The sanshine gl-aiur-t >ci ilv duaiinp balk, yet it had a ahadow.r. anr«a] appanneo ta the inisl. It was the figirre of w wotntii in arnmor, and it was sniding slnsrewarda, the great p-vrt of its n>u.ss well out of the wat -r, f>;r the sea was imusiially shallow. It’s rnijioraible '. '' graUd Vers* -oivape'.y. " It .niisf he .1 mirage of some kind.** •All n.iiml Ihi’iii the i-einsi natives were niniiiiiff li*-i'i’ mid there like tenified lahbiis. Half naked bhir l.s c.snic pouring out uf the wan-lmii-cp. niid mit of the n.-»liv» litils. imd nil WPie slre.-imiiig mhiini. slinritmg, gealieu- latiiig. Tli-y wvu- utru-ken voih iiiav'iisalB "f diiu't know wlint il i- — Init il’.s no ghost!" mill l.•|•.•ll \ eese_ his eyes hulgiitg. "It's niiid- .-f imii! Jjiok irt tu uilddle! Theie'fr a kind of i.-peiitiig tlieic, and iiu-ii. By now lire Tir.!mstTi.v>s aiipaTiiiuu was •'Lee insh.irc Fa.-.iokted Ihc tlirce men watched il as it plunged ou through Ibo shallow w-airr. There had b«Tn no hope of .stoppn-g lire natiivs' stam]»ede. Eveiy hlaik hod s.iui'hed - — into Hie t'MCSt. Sk-msi Port was t-inply, cv'-etit toi the ihvee erooke. Mark Veese's gun had spoken, ai-il iha bnllfl whiiird }«st flarvii.n Grand's e-v, to strike against the r:g! t i-., -’ jlutr -I the luHi Woman. ■^Surrender— never' " r'l-.-atnl l -esii. .Vnd ilieii broke nfl in ■ o'. i uf leririr: for. sinldeuly. llic lion Wui, .. . ; .id held her knees, riir.l one great sti.I ! md r.'a.’heJ forw.vid. Grapnel jirougs -hoi .,ut from the fmgei-s, and Murk \ cent w.i» i«-d mill lifted l.y the Ivun Woman. The next mumenl iliu hand rose fiivly feet fiuiii the grounif. Verse hung flieiv. «ilh a duatli (Imp on evei-y snie of him. 11.' wn.s mi the sniiip level ns the control ,-a(;in :iiid f.siity .'lose ut hand. '■'I'lirnw your gun ituvni. Veesi - ' inm- mande.l G.vi'etnn (ri-aud. ids voice i-nlhni; liko a laaor- ’’ I f you dun t (In- Iron U uill AVnn Bu uath of rage, Maik A’ec-. il.irw his gun away. lUi tue grcuud. Ka- - and R..IT11I were watching in horrr.i ; but after » '• •'■•wnt they both varueti tail ami fled inhi'id. Now. Vtcse. are you guiiig I.. ho Mmsible. asked ttaut.ia Grnnd. " With the Iron Woman i -.-au sulidiie the Seniei liil'c within twelve hours." "You win, {l.irston Oiaiid.' said Veeio sullenly. ’’ I Terogni'e you now. l-i-l ma down nnd I'll Obogu and U-11 liiiu that the game ia up.'' " Gii. tlu'ii,'' suiil f.Jarstoii (initnl. The Inm Wnmim's liand lowinnl ilself, 'iii.l the gi'cat. knees bent. Maik \'efn‘ wns able lo leiip to the •ntnd, Bui in a nroTnem he rnn for Ih.' denso furwt. which grew to .-lose at hand. .Inothar gun Bushed iu his hand, and lie fiml shot DON’T BE BULUED' L,in :> Ku W9 cbsb TIib BCST «dl-4({i. asAr. PreOnul Lie rf .a.-,- 'J e:!i fee Che fCceder, ete. PRICE Of all oewsaceais and bcok- I ftrolls, or post tree for 2,iW Irom Z^'m^ Yb* Soali Publitber (S>, IS. ^ ^ Hearirlla St.. London, W.C. 2. BE TALL Your Holsht Or BTAMI- bnn»« Free Book ir..„ oiiU 'luoraDlco In niaia seakd cavelov*. ' 311

Page 24

” Oct OU>>to ir you caiv ' " liu slioulril, nilli tv'.l !u>y . Ctl mt U J'ju l aii " ■'I)(‘«tiuy the to»D, 'riiimiaoii.'’ futirl (hirslwi (iVuiifl grimly. •' Otjiifiu unit his li'lll'ls |ll■t'l| II Icsuoii.’ -Uiii'nl U'forp lie lluil I'f.ssi’il sfiCTiUiiig the Iiijii WnjNrtii was ill mrjveuiimt ; elie St rode f'lii'WMil. imil the lesiill irun stnugeviiiu. ^\llll eieiy striili‘. tin- Mrel giante.^s rru'-heil Jip*' feel llii’iiugli the native hulx. The hiiiliinUfS were sliatlen-i .nnl Ir.sn.'I-h'il •diifi lediiiril to mjiti'ltwuo- s.ne.1 titil the Eurujiean I anjil..w» uinl S’ The i.ut;v. i. ' v. f hv' u the uigHly ani'l lliirsli'-i I II Ilf 1 tljllK’’ 'I shiill finil the eiiii lio thelii -V-THE PERIL OF THE SW,^MP MM'.flUKCt rnUnd -X. S', If ,. tSiiliiull ST»s t.skilij: le ;■' ; ;.I TliUHcgli the i'.iresi ti.vl Ilf ilesl ruction. •' W (• iri.it'i'Ii on— to Si-li,l I icriMil, " ’liiiil is lliii liiief luht— -.uiil shell', 111) ihiuH. itrili-,li |ii i'tmei's. We ,iu liefi'iie Mil- iiiRiiiueJ iiotiri furlliei till, •III." Fli'iii hi« high ilevrifiim it wn» jmssihie to eei' f'li iii.iiiy mile.- o.ee the fiirexta, I’lv sentl.s . ■ wide lake. wi:!i slugiiaiit w;i!r:. The timi Wunwti ihil nut »U'-s I.ee lurirse; she pluitgtHl ''Itaiyii! on. . . . And then, gradually, the iiiigUty Mridr^uf the ^ini'lest hwaiue aiotrei ; her ureal let’s »C i-teel Mule iik'« voiLe. IIS eiearlv as iLougfi lie were pre*ent. ■ She's pettniK the nmxiiiiuiu as it i- Auv- thhiu nionitl ' " VI uair in tl;e Iron Woman was foiisldeiiiMa* Tliev laid liellovcd her to be iill-i'iiiiqnenng : yet slie hud pmvi'd herself 10 hr uiliiemhle, like every other mnii-innde I'lui'hint', to the mightier foi'i es of Nntiue. What if llm lion Woinaii could nut be fiei'd fi'iiiii tile leiiaciou.s k'''P nl this fester- ing ewMriifi? No machine im eiirtli could diug I hat i.-oloswil iium-tei' free; she luit.sl, i.ly njinn her own efforts or iHsome n rnsty drivtici. ,\nd as the niimilvs jjuvse.I jt was .'leii ili.i' llie level of tlie waUT was ereep- ■ Mg gi.iiliiully nearei‘. 'llie Iron Woman, in 'liort. was slonly but suiely sniklUE — falling Jceuei and dts-per into 'hr ugly clutcl;e-| oi th» -w.vi.p mud. Mvax VrKss seised i'lS iiiann— a iliauce v' ,'i le had never helievvvt po«.»ihle. I'leigo and Ilia blasted Republican .\iOiy I lie lounded np 1 ” he '■aid tensely. K'ls-n.’i, get the native telegiaphs gniiigt M I I ,.M,il Hrea lighted. That infernal lion i‘ 'I li.ij go! stuck — lieateii liy the lint Iron Woman Stands Helpless niiid s«airi|i she tried to cross ' Ihn'l yi e-Mc Viosv we i‘ii‘ Vicnefil I " '■ How I" iivked Ka.'sncn- hluiilly. 5iiri|‘pi>d \’ eiMc. " 'riiv natives think the Iron Woiniiii is II kind of giiost. I’•lll if we 'iin slinw Mil- fools tiitd it's oiil.v b hit of in«‘ hnieiy. ni.innefl Ly whiles, they'd luso A.v ilic linpiini twilight tiiiiirj villi slailling vpei-d illlu iui;!il. M.ilk View In.vl" T I* [''.'pBiBl ii.rjv. II,- jimniigi'd In gel 111 t- 11. ii with " President DU. go." and v.on llie - .Itoicd tni>e»iiieij were Iwiiig csilleried to- -iiy nieaii-s of llivir own luyslirious, I ..ii.-r of durkiiese, hn’liJu'd'. of • • , in.nie ready, und in every e ■ ■'.»egim — fni \ erse ha-J siip|di.*d I night had toiite down inky I '- .V bi-ealh of wind stirred iV- on. ii.e Lea' wa- vdtiy. ojiprevjav r. '1 l-e .... iiiip lake lay like .nin-, Min-pilig. eilgiiig ever i loser’. . . And then, suddenly, Iwin pgM'. Iilared out fiom llie Ihj’i Wniiiaii's head. Hej cyi’' had i-omi- to lii'.- ; fhricfcv and - ream* ani.-e fioin Hif , ;.i ini’ t'lV .Mgllt Wu« lellifying In .S-' rfle. led light llie lion Woma’i stood »-l I’oj-i- gripped Hie canoes wtuoh wrie .sni'-eutraled on tl.e Iiwn iVoniaii's lower limbs, Koi the lower the ge.n , Hie giealer the p'lV.e. — although sjieed. v)i vouine, wimld W sari'.fiv'ed. Ourslon ftiand knew heitet tcari lo qxies- lioii rrestoii further. Tlie loiihonaire went up apiiri on to the ilm k. -\M «n' quiet. Tlip Setiisi niiitves had gniie, ami lb” .swMinpInks wu: bhn k and silent. him liegari quileniig and sha'isitig, inid aud- ■?-oK the very proninnlory on «hi-li In .nid hh- .f’- 'ieil 'iqianious stod I— ipni sliding " 'flie lake— the fiie'" stieamed Ka-»n"i. !; was the fion Woman which iiad xaused thi- unexfievled liorTor, Striding out of llw l.tke, I'er great weight and hulk had iodved caused a minialura eartiiquake. .4 > haimel was fornn-il V' here, ii second previously, thaw had lieen V‘Ud ground. .'Vnd the lake waters raiiie rushing through, lairjing on their surface llie film of blaiiiii- petrol, , . • Due inomenl the three crooks were theie - the next Triuiiienl the flamps had niured rip round lliem. over them, and they were no Through the .imigle walked llie Iron Woimm. lier sciirclitights bluxiiig, thief t'hngii was seen and piclred up. and. haldilmg with iear. (hut. unec-proud " picsirlenl " made n i-ompK-lc surrender. In (hr hone of cleiiielicy from the Biilish anlliorities tie offered to release the im- piisoued trailers at once; and the Ijiiii Woman, advancing to Sisslubi. caused fnrtliei terror anioiigsl the interior ualives, Sis.tobi was raptiirH without a life being lost, and all the Uriiish prisouers were fierd and taken alxvaril. The ailsMitme v,»s over — mid tlie lii.ii Woman, on her firat mUsiou into the imIiIs, bad ailiieved a bnlliaiit sorcess. Blit tlial was merely the first of a long seiie.s of Stirling adventures for Ciaisloii tlraiid's iiuu Woman! April It, 1931— SCOOPS 312

Page 25

A Powerful Story of Mystery and Wonder Voice the from VOID IT V/ a s a ^ Phaatom Ship that came out of the Mists anddisappeared again like a Wraith. But its passing brought te rror to a W^monger. The gleamingfiDgcr of the %euTChlighi caught the little >acht — held If. . . . While Jimmy clung to the tliler, battiiug ARRIVAL OF A SUPEr" LAUNCH • ■ scured ttben they m«f his iarge and (gleaning Phnntriuj KolL slUli’ Hki? a wrarfh thtouiih Danflmreh's niirn'" oiid ancient •tveel. divi at the tj'iaVs'Jc. Br-'cgermaiui j;ui i.iu. Juuiny aipi Mr. Bilks tepie tdiking to JiruTOt s bnatuiau ftiend. AilonV.t, thn niv'ikey. tvaa p1»yi/ig round liie jigging uf had bei’nnie extremely allmhed in tl.e I'oafmaii and liad iMilirelv ilcBertud Jitiiniy, sienifyitig this — when Jimmy en- ciiuuleivd him — by shying !wip apples, one jit. Jimmy and one ut Mv, I’dika, 1-nth ttilli «'.\- treinc nceuracy anldier. w'l'O was staying OU the coast for the good of JiLs health." ■\ stray shot on the saltings, intemieJ for .Timmy, had caught Mi. Bilks'a liowlrc lial, and the incideiii had reniented liio friend, ship. Airy Bilks wus "in " on the adven- Inslruclions had sent Ihpiii Iti Frmice, ami iido far .tiiabia, hot now lliey wei'e back in I hinehnrgli, waiting foi aiivthing that niigbl happen. And at thill Unie Biuggeiiiioii had taken .n bouse in Duriehurgh. too . . , BrogBerniann. Ihe^watmoiiger (o -whoiii the Voice had Ural Broggermann slrafiej along Ihe harbour now. an imposing ligure in while flannels. II dimlde-l.ii'aasted blue coat, imd a. peakejl cap. He Itad all the Pni.saiaii'a love, of iniiiorin or seitii-tiniforui, and wiih Ins mag- uiflrent physiitiie. his large, stitnig fai-e with its rimless luonocJe, be c as certainly’ most inipressive. Beliind liiiii lounged nnoUier naan. He was a lean. In«ad-»h»uhieri'd person witli a Ijard, yi'lcnlless fme, and snineitiing of ii swagger in hjs gait. Broggprmanirs bodygtuivJ aiwnvs carried a gnu, and was always ready In use Then iml at sea sonielliing appealed, com- ing fiwiii the .soutli. wheeling beinitifiilly ivewss the sunlit waler.s, plow lifted above ihe curve of the two seeniiugly .-“.lid ivliitc- lopped waves which swept away biwai-sls ilie slipped alem. .V great cruising motor-boat was i\r,iiing lunards ]hlliebiirg)i al speed, and the boat iiiiiii, snddaiily inlereRted, said she was doing forty kiKiU if she was itoing one. She sliickened speed oft' the tiny havlioiiv, and. handled bfaiililuliy, came sliding in- wards, .She was pure white, with a ihiu gold >tvipc about her, niid her hurricane Je. k Mas - I'lhbfd til the same milky . •Ii.uu. .VI her afjainst wind und waves. Then a shell whined through the darkness. liUings were chroiulnm phtle-I -ind l.c.'iit.l’ul t-i behold. r.ii'.liimuire'a u,v. ap.ii.'ie os ^Ja^li;llg speed, she belonged 1. liinggej- T»o men came fiuin the saloon id,...t Ve wheelliouse as Biicggermann stepped iliip nd right. W-iIlis? The skipper saluted slilHc. "Aye, aye, sir. Spleiidid Foili fnc in Ihe West Swill. '■ “lias ht smiled Tivnageimaiin, "AVp.lI, will you come up to fJip liinise, genllemen? AVallis, you'll sleep abiiiird. ■jou will order suppUeu ashore and jciswil a weekly account. S3 usual. This wn\^ . . They got inio the car and drove to the. -Manor House. Tlie l».st of the v.illnn- l.ad gathered loget'her, the last of those live nieu "ho had sat round the semet table above Ihe K'mfurstendanim in Berlin ou that fateful night, vilieu, foe the first lime, men iieard the Voi.'S fioin the Vuid. ./iimiiy and Mr. Bilks would havn sUolied off. but, iho hnalnmn did one of lhc.se small ih'iiigs which oflwi change tlio desliines of meji. He- loaned over the side c,.f his boat :md talked lo Wallis. "Fine craft ytni've got. sa;,1. " One of the finest I've seen.'' Till! skipper beamcil. He -u.s- p;w,,( w.e Oiip, and ple.-isoJ that aomeliod; .cdinhcl " Ves. Cowes built." " Who's sho hehing (o? '' asked liu ir,-.-. " Thiit gcntlemoii wlio i.-ame abo...,'. M, Broggcvinanii, He's a Geviuaii. ili.. :h» riiliesf men in the world. 1 iM-liorc." Tim skipper spokj vaguely -V great ara.lh iis do lots of poor people. •limiiiy twilJ.cd Mr. Bilks' an- -1 iCrr Did' vo„ hv,-.r tha: •’ " a^ed .lo.,. iv ex- •.iledty, • r.c name, 1 SCOOPS — \prii It, I9;t4 313

Page 26

The Phantom that Sailed the Seas iri.itiii. Anil don’t vou remami.cr Lintutti? WTini 111' was Ittlltiti!' lo ui. Ill- startod lo SB}- ' Bioi:,' aaJ then ho hnike nff junl voluiilein-ut to m»l(c a iUilonu-nk tn iny imrie. 1 wmiiltT if ho nieauf Broj{yr>r- ■■ Imoitiintion,” Sjiiil Mr. Hillis firmly. “It's iin goorl in ihie Lii.niijoss. KurkH »n‘ vlmt «VP w.iHled, riain frn-ki,, nml tli«t, oa J-01I t'iiL;ltt miy, is a fatk itself.” ■ All liAil." inhimil JiiiiMn t rrro,..., oeAho Krom'h say.' ”1 lon'i fare v.'-rt - ,. ili-.liicl I'll I li 0 ploce j riuij .1 J’haiilum Cl ■' If yiiii think. . . bog.m Mi nilk-s. with soiiif hl'.tl. Jimmy iiitorrnpleil liiin. ” yau’rc .a yovrniment iciv.rif. '.^rry, niul yuoAe to wW duty bids. llou'l. {inji'i that. . . . Now 1 otin .aail ti hniil '' Hi- jiuiispil mill mided ; "At Joasl, ii little hil. •tiid I'm pitn^ to liire timl Imatinun's i.'iiUer .and ;;ii nut fo-ni/’l't. IVe raii'l luke liitn. He’s iimniedi ami tht-rr inishl he rink. Be- iidc'. It's n ijne.'lion of se.'vfrv,” '■ 1 iaII It, It tjiwnlkm t>l .01.1 id--.'' -..lid Mr. llilk.t. with gloomy conTietinn. w.iiit me t-' -.1 :n a Imat. do yon ? I've ridden mi .i-;d liown in .aiivoplanra. and driven iitf i-’ 1 • -an. and ■ - ’ ■ ' - l.eit and eXf.t.t me to He Jli il- 1 -- V ».S lot a hwiit aud deep •• •• t^.,, . lied : ••I'd so—er I-" .• n •' Well. j:' Iiioh i ti'l help it." said Jimmy ' This !■ ' i nal. She won't sail for nuts. ' r ■ f. ller that ovviti he. told me he’s won !ier,” protested Mr. Bilk.'. "And • . • • loo. Vethups she's like one of llicni nicrhiiraes that are certain lo win a good race this aensoii — Iwit never do (hin't you keep iiur atill for a minutu and give a ijlokfc a cbmne? '' But Jiniiny cinild not keep her still. ■'•he ' absuliilely refused to he placid. Wlieii iter owner Mas iihoanl. .Jinimv find observed that .'lie went atraiglil oinvurd, lieeliiiR braulifnlly, huMiui; her cuiirse Iniiy. Lehavii.i! like a ]H>rfei.( lady; Imt v ith Jiiiimy’a hand on hei tiller she wav fiaclioiia and iiUerly tiu- t>ue thing llmt voyuge proveil. l.-.vrrv-r, Ihougli iirilhei nf tliem realiae.! it ; and tiiat w.L' ihjt she was a well-ftBiiuI and v-ib Jesiiii.ed ii.ill; f hl'M of (he meaning of ull the niiMgdi'Mi Hd'ta they saw ah-eit tin '.i They iulenried kcejiing the shme light., in view, so th.it they could not Mtav u i" tin' wUlotie's turn round, nnd hnw he was going to manage il he did iicL know. SoUv ha and Mr. Bilk* were very wet. for the boat kept hitting the w,i\es with awful smacks and sending showers of spindrift up over them in a most ilisconcertiiig fashion. Tl'ey held the shore lights all tight, and Jimmy bed just made up bis mind t" try and turn. w*Hen thr big motor bout passed them again. It surgM round tiicm in a great sweeping riisb. nmning terribly rlo«e. and neaily swamped them ui the fan- spreading boil of its wake. As it went, a searchlight on it fluked to brUlbiiit, thirling, flaying life, swept over tliem HJiil mtii.vhfd. lighting them and their ship brilliaiilly for a brief couple of seennds, wht'Ji. with its going, n deeper duik'iejs couie d'uvii over llic dark se.v. .fhimiy whtNlb'd. Bniggcniiiimrs liai! u look ul ii.h," he said. ■' .And if my llieory is correct, he', onr foe. '.Vrry. we might be in a tiosly mess Irefore we’ie finished. I'm sorry wee.tme." ■'AA'Iial d'you ine.niV asked Mr. Bilks, who wa.v silliiig in sererul inches of w'aler and was Siiiiiewhat uoioinfoi table. ” Pu you Hunk he'd run us down? ' •' If he’s Ihe nian I think be is be'J do anytUiug, " ivpli»>lnr-lKiat oii-e nioie crashed past them, running at speed. ItroggeftnaMn wns honoring vtewe, and he seemed to lie anxious to identify them hr y'nil mistake, for vet again the searclilight flayed them, held them, ajtd flicked out. ■' Thiit bloke.” said Mr. Bilks, ' wilt know ns again when he sees ns. Not Llnil he's ever going to sio me again in ik lioiit. But if we hupjtcn to meet ssbiire. . . , Jimiiiy ! l.ook I ' Bis voice iil'teii exi'ileiOy. He cirii loosed bis hold of the boat with one lumd Ui pniiil The I’lmnlinii .‘ lUH sailing tb«Ivc» and oat, now off. Jimmy set hi* teeth. It- was neck or noth- ing, ami he said so In Mr, Hilka. ” Then it'H neck, ’ said Mr. Bilks with rcmTictwHl. ” Bui itOTi'l mind me. I'm hiilf drowned alrend.v with the water in this 'em Ivaat, Bii a diop more won't hart me. 1'vp never had w niueh water ronqd me in my life before . " Ovei went the idlvi'. The Iwat beaded towards the I’b-nilom Ship, and .Jimmy had Abe sense to sbuken tl-e main sheet so Hist It went right out am** her teirt »id eater* still. 'cui get at a steak." Be gioaiied. ” I'd like to have one now. A riii'e juicy steak, a Irottle of beer, sonic cheeso and hi'a'oii.s and i.elery.” He moaned once more. "The miner's dream of lioiiie.” he added gloomily. "Ho 1 put llie the first useful thing you've done I'.-night-” observed Jimmy. Mr rUlk.1 }>erForiiied Ihe. to him, peiitous I'isb of ReUiug -..I the lights aud ilowsiiig April n, 19.^1— SCOOPS 314

Page 27

A Murderer Waits on the Shore tfiem. The searclili^lit still fliiYeJ the s. It was t’tJerBted witii skill, and it left lintilly lb yttd o? the tnniiivis waves wnloMched. So, at laat, in its glaiing brillinnco a spot t fleeting white showed, and was lost . . j bnt wiu picked up again. , , , Brnggei-inaim had bpcii located. Hr wa.s running at terrific speed— all out, •liminy tliouglif — doing nioie than fifty land miles an hour; but tTie liglit held him, und, from the midst i>i iha luvninms muss that moved so fantaatioally over the sea a great red tongue of flame shot, out niui vanished aiuiil a cloud of smuke. To their ears, lolling thiuugh tlie wind, came Uie-deep-thruated boom of a gun. They .saw the water kick high a fathnni to Blavbwmh of ihe big TOfitor-\ji.al. "They’re shelling liitn 1 ” gaspeil .Timmy, " r say, thi.s is murder' ’’ '■ 1 said that long ago," deiharcd ilr, Biiks. " -\nytliiiig to do with boats Is Jiiur- tier, if yoii nsU me 1 " The motor-liont had turneil Cm her heol and w.ts biAting aoulii like a. maddened, nui- liviiUed inci'hor.'M', She wanted to get out (,'t the mdina of th.at Ecorohing light, and ftway from that deadly' gun. one shell from which would spit Jier in twain and send her to the bottom. As she ran ahe twisted aud liirned in all dimliuiis, leaving a wide and Icirlnons woke, niost of whicli sIrovpcI iu the glai-e of the .searchlight. She was ii difticiill mark, but the giuiner was a good one.. Ihme more the gnu l-oomed. A sliell diopppil just astern r.f her, and the spr.iv and uplift of its exploaioii inomentai il y hid her Icom view. Then she leapt into sight .igain, rniining like mad on a straight course. The searrh- light was not showing her rpiiie so distinctly. Solhiiu could hold a ship with the spi'cil . f au evpress tram, and the i'liaiilom Sliip 7i > -- .ned for ihe tiiird time. Tbi- - 1 ahead. The gnnner's j. f- . i_ gaagUig speed was emphasised. Only a heeky shot might ever nt hoiae on the white projectile as it hurtled over the datk waters. ri-. hlight .vtrove vainly to hold her. ■S; ' ir and suddenly it flicked out. The white nKit- ’'oal had run to safely and, wit>- • uiimiie or two, must he back iu I'anel.urgb. And. with this, the riiantom ,‘iliin vanished. Mr Bilks forgot liis ularraing privations, his thoughts o! steak and beer end cheese, and the snugness of the Flying Peud's bar parlour, as ihe phenomenon manifested itself bcfoca his gazo. Where a grotesque liorror had moved over the duik waters nothing now showed at all, tVlieve strange lights had shown, no lighljs were visible. 11 llu; Phantom 'Ship had gene 1“ tile troltcini of the sea she could not havo diwipppiiivd with more completeness. "Welt," he gasped, "it lU»t don't, beat evcivthiu,'. ll'.s a Mibimuine, That's what it is.' A blessed Mibnmriiie. .Ami it immei'ges C'cry time it w.Tule to vaidsh ! ’’ '' ynhmcrgcs is the ward,’’ said .'Iminiy, staring se.iwarils. " 1 don't care whnf the word is. ‘ mid Mr. Bilks with g‘wnd iiwiiffvrcwcc. " But \h«t'a '• I don't think it’s n submarine. ” replied Jimmy, ''Tlmiigb the idea is a very '•ouiicl one, '.\rry. .tiiyliuw, we'd better gc;t back, Tlui'ik yiiu for those foiv nuts,'' said Mv. Bilks. '’ The souuev the better. Vve gi-l wet [lants mid tliey'ie imcniiifuilaldp if YOU don't know it iilri'Kdy. About sliip, and a life c,n the ocenii wave, fays yuii. .More like death to me. but t Mi|ipose ihst don't matter I :„,tbn,1y." SCOOPS — April 1!. 1934 They were running in a deep water ilmniiel, which, for purposes mentioiied already in tSiii cbruiuilp — xcurpose.* of sc-- crecy — must be nameless. It wus one of those deep water ehsniiela oft oiir east coilst which liny good sailing chart will show you. Of course, Ihey didn’t know it was a, deep water channel. The sea was deep all over an far as they were coneenied. 'They had no idea that this weetion of the North Sea was tliovoughfares as a great On they went. Ahead of them, dimly visible in the darkness, luoved a vast mass, slowly, mBiesticaliy. threshed Ihe watei-s and made them Imll ti'iitrlierously. Jiiumy strained his eyes, staring up- wards. He had n momentary gliinpso of Bomalhing on the romided stern — a line of i-(.n:poratively small markings over which jjaint had been slashod, Bui paint does not a.lways cover the things on which it is im- posed. They have first to he erased. . . . 'i'iiB ship went on. 'The wind was iiUiug their sails Quee niure. and they were boolnig suiithwardK. ♦ •liiiimv burst out excitedly ; " ’Arty. I saw some leltcrs wliicb had not been properly covered up. niffictilt to see in the liaik, BO 1 might be mistaken. T'hey were : E . . . I - . . 'i' T . . . A. The mmw of the hhip, eh ? Part of the iianie. Now. if could find u ship with a mime that fita those letters we might hate solvod the I think.'’ Sometliing bit Mr. BilJts’ bowler lut — seat It flying from his head. A murderer was waiting in the d'arkneBS. "Easy,” said Mr. Bilks. "There's only abmil a niilliou ships on the ocean." They held their course. They madn iicj cfioit to relight, their lamps, snd so they ran intci Dariebtirgli herd lighlless. They hiteiied up. made sure all was sccuio, that the sails were lushed down as well as they, in their elumniiiess, wci'b able, to lash tliwu, and, with strange imises of relief i.-lulng frcjiii Mr. Bilks, stopped ushorc, 'And us they did so they hoard a <uihms litllc plop i'vom the shadows uf the meat old tairod shu' k which tho boiitmun used for ilia Btoring of their tackle, and wliich styud just off the liartl about twenty yards iiuMy. Sciiue.thing hit Mr. Bilks's bowler hat |fur if hud loen tii son in that stninge- heiKigoar) with u crash, and down to the stones he went, .Timmy beside hiiil- Fov lliis Mas .it,tcMii[,lcJ murder, ami the mucdo.vev earriod a. siletived pialcjl, aud still iiirked iinseeu in the shadows. Anotlicr lone enii thrllllne instulniecl nl tbis powerful aerial will appear In IICOOP.S atxl week, lloa't miss Ic. ■e 'loady drciuc uf groat ill speeii, Right up, many tlu'.v hod II vision of hrord a ship's aupcvstcuvlnve this big, niiijestic ten thousnud Ions no wiiriiiug of her in tln'ougli Ihe d.irk- _• with ilie BUi'ciic-iS iiosicivctt'.l of an oapHt hand on hot stEeriiig vvliCi-1. .liminy put his tillor over. Ttic grc.it ship nosed up to tiicui. Thov saw the iuiuiense height of her iciworiiig niiovi- Uipju. Her lulU idly. 'i'hoy were liglit up .ilonffside the ship, drifting down liev starboard side. The .ship wins sliding .1111, She sceiiuHl omiless in iier lenglh. mciisiiveless in her height. They liobiiod Hill] dijiped .iloiig her siilo like a cork, S'o they veaclied her strni, wlicvo her pro- jioUe-rt, near the surface — for she- rnn light — 315

Page 28

HERE’S A Scoop... A Weekly S«iew mainly about Oiir- seites and of the Wonders of the WorW ofTo'day «nd To-morrou’ Experts Said Impossible” —They Did It ! IT is the unfortunate failing of many es- pi'i'ts lliat the greatest use to wliitli they pul their knowledge is to say “No" or “ ImpossiLile,’' to suggestions which less well-infoi-nied petijile. make to them. Su h’rllatetl was Henry Ford, the motor iiiilliouairo, with wel-hlimkot helpers u! t1iat l«pc- Ihat he made it a rule not lo get an i'lii iind-oi)t esncH on Ike job, heraii.sp, u he (letiared, ‘'they emihi all give me two liiuidred sound misuns why il couldn't be • I'liir." Then his slniight-thinking heljieis wviii idiciid and QuislieJ tin- jnli. Thoinas Alva Bdison, the gi'eolest insin- 1 ■! who ever lived, haled to he called a '■ Svieiilist.'' He elways declared he was “just ail iiis'enlor," and, indeed, tnany '■ ^':lentisls “ wcmld hardly have given him a jijli, for his arillimcliL was pool and mauy 1 - iiiL-s left him Hoandering. Inil lie always lotind the sohilir.iu to any jcioldein |>uL before liim, his stiaight-lhink- ing .siiccBoding where theories failed. New four Krilisli men have inmfoiinded II. .1 eipeils hy filling a radio set Lii uu tijieii lifebunU Hetvaiise the lifehr.ut w'lia tinder water moat rJ the Lime and owiiic to tha nearness of lie- inotor, Ihc mditi firms said it could not I'C ihme. Rut the four men — they eitme from Hyihe, ill Krill — piTigreased tliwjugh many failure*, r.ti.i i. Vi' iheir iirh definitely limited owing to the fai-t that after a cunipanitivcly low speed n driver is past an "hjeit hpfove his hiain can traiisuiit llie order to Ida hands t'l steer round it. The iiiathine,* progress — but the humaa cJcmeiit seemingly stays the sariiel Putting Discovery Straight P'lL-AIt evploralioa has ulre.vily reathed an advaiicL'il stage, part iuulariy eiiicr the employment of 'planes for ex^ieditionary work, and almost every year some new land is Uisc'ovncd, '' Piiiicess Aslrid Land" was a recent iliBtovery of a Si andinavian there itre crnmlless inaemraties in fnrin and constline whkli liave still to he clcaied u» in connection with llio aht,sily- discovered tciritorifis. covery that a British Antnrclic Evpediti is to Icatc England in Septemhcj.. The expedition, caiisisliiig of foiirlcen m... leil by J. It, Kymill. nf Ihc recent AVatkius Oieciiiaud Exjieilil ion, will travel i Ajitlirctii ill a 12)-ton bhiii, and will * make reci'iiuai.ssnncea hy sludge nnd aeroplane over scvenil h'e-oounlries. Aniimg Uinsp lo be visited .ire I’lrahnni l-.iiul, licur.'t I.niul, iiud I'hdioot Miuul. The partv hope to reliii n to l?ngland m \fav. 1937. TllC cost of Ibis ambitions piojei-t is csliiiuited at £15,000, to wlticli tiie (ftjvDic- ment is cnntrilnitmg £10.000. Tlii-s is a inalter nf imlting Diw ovecy's " house in order. f'>r ihe beoefil of the mniiibeis of the Assn- ciiilioL, but it is believed that electricity plays li big paii in the process. The Fuel of the Future AMOT()R-f,'.\r?,, with ils own rliarcoal gas-jirndticing plniil lo Uiko the phitu Il cau be distinguished from an ot'dinur.y veliide only by tho gas-producing plant, aitoiil the size of u suit case, earned ou ihn lunuing luatrd. The giiamial gas car mns fiftv miles on a single charging of c'nsrcoal, the recharging Isking up a iiiaitvi nf a few uiinutes. and lU fuel rnst is about half tliat of a airailar model running ou pcliul. The engine tins not required any aUcratioos, and could usa ]ielrol if desir^. A wood nnd paper fire is lit and then eliar- ciMii i.s sprinldeil on a rcd-liol grid abnvo the fuel. Il cnmhincs with oxygen in tho nir to form an iitfiatnmalile gas. Nnw » drip nf water falls ou to Ihe gas and enriches it. Then the ga.s p.sssea through n purifying container from which it is diowii to the engiUL'. The amount of chnicoal V'tutnin K T. I* available for burn- £g»M«. li' firm- iu^ is cnnlralled frciui tho driver’s seat. Di'atl - t'lrfnufd ivtr 01 irki'k A* »rtiipa«'i'ipred They’ve Taken the Tickle Out of Wool ARESKLARrH -Associalion run by tl.e AA'oollen Industries has produied a means whereby won] is made unshrinkable and also " Dou-ticfciiug.'' Great as liie first advanlacc undon'otedlv is, the second should have a larger effect ou the salc.s of certain woollen garments, for so many people wlio dislike the prickly effect of wcioi will not wear it next lo Ihcir skill! Aiinlher adv autage of this new discovery is that the li'valment acld.s lustre tn the wind The mctliud is being kept a cinse secret SCOOPS 18, HenrieltB Street, London, ^.C.2, J'ljtinc; Trmp/e Bar 3iJl. Ex.: 42. (13 Uu'i.) SubucrlplICD Rstr*: .1 moruhs— ^39, I r engine may keep i ever hcciimiilg ii. serious rival. AA hen ("'apt.Mii George Evston set lip a new specil record fnr oil-eTtgiiicd cars at ll5 ui.p.ii. Pc nscil a slioamlined soionn rar fitted with ii 6-cylindpr .A.E.C. oil- engine, sitntiar to Ihc^e in Lniidor's ‘hu.ses. All of the record runs were carried out. at a fuel coal of sii|>eiice. and Hie oil bill for the journey from laiiiUnii fo Paris camo The rotupressicin-ignilioii etigiue ran per- fectly and gave no tiuulile, so here is another (laimaiu t” he the fuel of the future. The Cave-man Returns IT SfCina that, some of the prophecies in tho book. Vnation's Doom, whirii in ruvipwed on page 299, ai'o already well ou the way to becoruiiig realitieH. The author prophe-sies that cilies of (ho future will he huilt under ground. And now I’rnfessor Philip Af. Buckv, of Colniuhia. 1 .S.A., has perfected an iubtni- ment, the “centrifuge,'' with whicli he can (range the. fores of gravitation down to «, depth of 6-000 feet aiit] thu.s determina whether it would lia aai'p lo crioslruct vast *' caves c-avea large enough to lioiiso simps, Ihcuties, offices; in short a anhter- raiiean city. AA’itb the femperatnro below ground almost coiislnnt at 62 degrees Fahrenheit .lud with our ever-growing tendeiicy towards condi- tioned air and artificial lighting, tliere seems to be no reason wliy this pi-uject alioiild uot be carried out, ■At any rate, it’s ouo way of solving the lioubing ppoblcm 1 April 11, 1931 — SCOOPS 316

Page 29

A World-famous Scientist fakes you up into— The isliind king pointed into the depths ol the screen, and dradiiailya pic- ture or astrato- "Phere ballonn came into focus + LOOSTN^ "THE PAST il tlt>ikLiuK tiiajexli''S.lly ii-ii>ity uf spa,p a r . lull j|i- Uii- i >ng aatl ilvessPil like a : ' along willi tin**.' spai e Iravellcvi - ; - EarDi towanis n liugi- grt-cn mimii- - ifiat lowered in the ieiitic of liir isljiid. 'ihe tlirra EfU'fhmoii Inirl I'oiiie (o Ifiis .•'ituiTig plare in -itrangc tirruiostaTieca- AV^iile nu a inolui-pyoli'ig liDliday in Eng- anJ tile motOY-i'iike hpiuiiginp In Yirtoi- NtaD()i,,li, file youiigeKl, mriulifr of tiic parly, ' .id suddenly conked out. Wiiii liis two crmujurion.'. I’eter Hundley . •! 1 Pliillip Jijyi-i', Vicliii- luul gone si'ariliing -••I A garage. Tliey Imii cuin* ai'ioss u .ilied '•liicii hiiii.scil ;i piuiit, (lying ijiaiOiiiif, nnrl, • v.iioMty oveTioimiig vIiMd, iliey had investi- gjleci, Wliilst inside tiu' Ing shiji u ilninsy move- I, lent on tlie twi1 of Philliii had released tire •i-eudiag valve, and, williout vrnniiiig, Hie 'pace ship liid gc>ue iitittliiig upwards, i.'on'y- i',c tlie .sfied away with it. Pr'.fessut fUnVer, who iitid hiiilt, tlip »Wp I i-timthrut in seci'cl. mid was all ready for hi- gieat aac-tiit into the siralusplicre, Imd .,rri\ed just in lime to «iee lii.s mighty riva- lien going np into the hliic. B-jt tiis horror was nolhing loniparcd with that of tiie three unwilling triivellcrs, Tciror- •Irwksu, they liied everything tliey mild to hritig the ship hack to ilartlu Init they siio- ,e<ded only ill sending her acieamiiig out iiifu •pare at a Ihousand miles an lionr. .\nd nhat a voyage ! Honor and deadly fK-Til .iwailed tlip liu’ee Eartlimeii on every ' and. More hy luelt than good judgment 1 ill I v-aped from the menace that came ‘ 'lie evil planet .Afara, and liad fmuij themselves hui'tUug towards a floating Ulaitd of space. e Fliillip iiBrl managed to l&nd the big ship, .and the three spare Iravellers had fallrii aiiioiig II Rtniiige but kindly people. 'I'liey wiU'B a luro of men wlio had given np liip c'oiiiroi'l.s of i-ivilisalion und Imd guiifi Imi'k 10 iinluiP. B/ PROFESSOR A. M. LOW,DSr The FitmoH.? Scientist and Inventor But lliBy were- fur iiioie advanced in know- ledge lhim llie iiiliabituiils of the Earth, and es'eii notv the king of these .strange people, the Actons, was leading tlie three space traveller.s towards the greon inountaiii in which was housed all the wonders of tho miglily civiliaatioii. I’liiUip, who wna looking in nmazemsnt at tlio g)*eflt pyrnniid mountain, asked tiie ques- tion tliat had hi'pii in the minds of ail three Eartliuien, “Is lliut n natural nionnisln, or did you build il yoiirselve.s ? ” he qiirfitioncd the king Tliehugo .Ad'on smiled down al Iheni. '■Oiigiiially it wa.s a natural inounl.aiii, nlUmujjh of nigged shape." )ir replied, '• To make d, sviiuUe for euir radio and astvn- iioiniial purposes we set to wnik to emooth its .sides. It is llierefnre .v natural nioimtaiii hewn end carved into ii. shape railier like that of yoiir Tyraitiids. Vou have seen the PyraniiH» of Egypt 1 " SPACE Thrills, mystery and WONDER on an amazing island in the limitless realm of Space All lliroa (.fni'lr l, fur a inoiiient grltiug tlial ll)0 king had nlreinly evpliiined to tli-'ni th.1t ho s.ud lii-i pcojile knew nnirli iihoiit llie life ami liisloiv' of tile Earth. Thu island king siiiiletl agiiiii ns lie noticeil their sud- den sLirpiJsr. ■' \Vb ivaUlu-d tile Pyramids bring built through mir -i"ieiililio iiif I ni- luciils. Il WHS, fur Siivagr Irihi'-, ipiilo ;iii Hi'liirypiiituit. All three men had linir.l Mill'll of thii Pyrainids, althoiigli none id Lliein li.iii ever hcen to Egypt, Thev kiit-w that ieanied nioii sliil squabbled iiti the ipicilUni of liuw they liuil been hiiilt in .liiy.i will'll ( here were iionu of the building and etigiiKM'i'- ing le.iovrcea uf modeni times amilablp. The building of the Pyramids had iiluavg leniuined » mystery. '• Do you rnean, sir," asked Peter, " that yon cm tell us what method the ancient Egyptiars used to place these mighty eloiies one upon the other '! Hnw cnulil they have raised these huge masses of stoue np to the topmast piimacles of the J’yrmiiids? Why. 1 bolieve iiui' mo.i.1 powerful eli.-cLvic crane's I'OiiUI hunily <lo il to-day. It liaa .iNvays seemed to us a luiraculoup .icliievemeiit.'' ■'Wu know every detail of it," ii'tmiietl th.' king, '■We wiilthed it from our island mid even took photographs of it. You siiiili M’itinn .1 fe’ji- aeroiiJs auothey space islander apix'ared and, bowing sliglillv l,i the king. fi.iuJi'd him a largo bundle of photographs. 'JTio man glided away into the dark recesses of the .Mystery iloiiatuiii .is qiiii kty as lie h.lj appeari'd. ■' Here ,ire Ihe piclures,'' said thu big king, etoopiug down. Although the three Eai'llioieTi were iuter- esterl ill the photca, tliey were, in the firat place, more i iiriouB to discover how tlin man who Imd lirnuglit the pliutograplis knew that tliey were required. “ Why," e.vclaiiucd Victor, “ you didn't R»k ior them, yet tliey came instantly I How ■waa tliiil? '■ The king raised Jiis pychi MWi. “ J!y mind ines.'tages.'' lie said iu snrpri.se. " I jnsi, usked one of my brother subjects to liriiig wliat I wanted, and liere they are. I .sene him il mentel request.” This was getting u hir. too deep for the three space travellei's, so they povcil over the photographs and Ihcre, sure enough, thev saw tho I'yvuiiiids in process of constYuclion. .1 glance at the group of photographs was emnigli to almw them exai tly how it had all lieeii iliiii*. Itielead of the slriieture rising froir a large flat base until it finally endwj in the pointed top, it seemed that one wall, SCOOPS — April 11. 19.34 317

Page 30

The Wonders of Space Island Mountain T}i- t(u.e, as il were, had hefii erected first hy E'lUgs ot woi'kiiiPii using a leitiporaiy slcue Tlie.n a second, a third and a fourth slaiiliiig wall was built up. bo that during one i>f Uia final iiimses uf the huildinp of the Pymmida, one gang of -woikmi'ii were buay fiUing ill the hollow which -was to hecome lli>- tiipfjovlitig rjenli-e, tlie lieart of each ryi-amid. (ri'cat 16101)01817 itructmes of wood lield the walls, or fates, in position, while the mass of boulders was dragged up the stone alaimaes h,y teams of men with roiiei. While [lie three men were gazing in wonder at ilie amazing pliotogiuplis. two epace islsaders appeared— obviously summoned hy u thought ine.ssi^e. '• These are Earthmen, ' the island King told them. " 1 would allow them the wonders of the mountain.'' Without replying, tlie two Acrons bowed and stood aside for the king and the three space flyev.s to puss through the tave-like ert traneo to the huge iiiountahi. THE BALLOONS FROM THE EARTH •• T SUlTOltE." the king asked Peter, JL" you are imere.sted in radio? " '• I’atliBt." Victor cut in eagerly, '■ We discovered radio waves." said llie king of the Acroiis, " more tlmn five thouaaiKl years ,igo — five thmisand n£ ymii' Earth yeara — and wa luive mnde it nur slave, linked, some of iny sulijects think il nld.f.ishioiied. and would have scrapped it among other of our scientific discuvoriea long ago. But wiser councils prev.nied, and we slill continue to experiiupiit. "I'ur radio devices," he went on, "are rati.c! luoro advaiiceii than those on ihe Earth planet. Many huudrrds of vear» liave passed sinoe we first discovered televiiioii in colour, a problem which still iiaffles your scientist.^. . . I’erhapa you would like to lake a look at your Irieiids in iluiv. Here they As llio king spoke he moved a sniall switch itiul nil eiinriiiciiis ecraeii ghmn-d mid flickered in front of iheiii. Then a vivid picture of Miir.s came into focus iijion it. mid there iigam was the same bright red surfaiu* wliich the space travellers had seen hefore thiough the Televista machine in the .-lefo- Tliey .«iiw the enormous eutraiUTa to the uikiergroimd cities and the mighty cvfttva- lioiis winch had onre been used by liic JTiir* tisTiH for storing water before they had leiiviied how to make it chondcally. "Now I will show yrm \ enus, ' said the king at last, "The pbiiiet is as dead aa the Mouu. . . . Tiiore u no life upon it, . . . Vetiiis i.s il planet of eleriml .snows." Slowly the planet emne into fi'iu.s and tlio tinvi' space fiycra gasped as they sinv lliii ds'tails ill the picture. Venus, as it was -sliown to llieiii, was a tilimot the surface of which was covcicd ly strange and fantastic shapes, luipiity cJuLSins and enormous uiouiitaiiis. at [east s thousand times as high ns tliose on the Earth. As Phillip gazed with eaper interest, he fui'iied an eiiqnivjiig look tuwards tlie king ol tliu Acrons tiiid pointed to Bonietliiiig moving over the face of tho planet. ■■ Oil, y£ss," till' king Riiiilpd ; " when I said that llicre nas no life. I meant that tliiTC w.as no life such as inir.s. There is ariiiinl life on the |ihiiiet. mostly hinU many limes larger than the biggest iiiiplaiica you have on earth. .\s you ciiii see. they are a» while ns the snow over which they ily, but they ihrnw a curious almdow." I'lis island king made liiiei adju.stmeiits to the apparatus. " It's a Btruage thing," lie said, "that the atmospheie surrounding Venus resomhloa that of your Earlli planet and, indeed, in somr- reapects, that of onr islands, but never- theless no life, apart from those bird- I're.itnres, appears to e.xist tlierc. There are no trees, either, ns yuii see. , . Kn riveis. . , . Nothing but the snow and the I'iviis mid their shadows." The king paused Hiifldoilly, "You avo ill good luck," he said. " tValcli that st-reen now. . . . Can yon see two .specks near the lop nglit-haiid corner ? " 'ihe throe chlmiB looked. At Hist they • oiiKl sec nolhing, but tlieii PhilHii said: "Why. yes, there's acimethiiig tlicro, but they're only s[.>ecks." " Those ' speckB,’ " smiled Iho king, " are. siratosplierc luilloons trying to discover the accretj of the vast spaces. ” ■' Do yon mean they are ftoin the Envtli ? ” askeil \ iclor in exciteiineul. " I don't know," answered the king slowly. " I will try to find out." SIc’wly he manipulated the ccntmla of the apparatus so tliut the picture of Venus faded out Biul the stratosphere balloons were brought in sharply. " 1 lliink they are from the Eiirih.” re- marked the king. " But lliY'rc a long way llie islaiiil king moved away and beckoued lliv ihn.- boys to follow him into a aiiiall cubii'le where tliere was a tiny screen. "Here," csplaiiied the king, "we ran bring in anytliiiig we want to see in closer dcluii, just as ymi on Earth enlarge ii photo- graph or part of one iinii'i' closely in inspect a particular object. The big sciceii gives a general jdeture, but we use this snnilter oiio when we want more iletail. Here it is." As the threo space udveaitureia watched they saw the two stialospiieie h.illoon-s brought inlo vivid focus, 'fhey even saw the faces uiul clothes uf those who Ofcnpied A braided mail and two younger men were I'learly vi.sihle on tlie screen, and the tlii'ee fiieiiils liad no doubt Hiat. they were from the Earth. As they giuied into the S( recii riiOUp gave a start, " Nuw I think uf it." he faid. " I remember that there were oilier people plaii- tilug In make an ascent into the straloKpiicie iilnive the E.rrtb before Pi’ofCHSur .Sluiet . , . . Bill what about the other balhaiii. May we have a look at that ? " More adjustment, and then the second bal- Oiily one man m.vopied this balloon, and he W3S of tiny stature. ■■ 1 know who that is,” said rrlev quickly, ■■ alihoiigli we ean't see him clearly enough to recognise Ins fine. He js Piofcssor Kmitli of the Expeiimeiital Laborutorv at Chiu- bridge. He always said he would make an eseeiil by liiiuself ami would he Iho first to discover the real secrets of tlie slralo- The island king sraited. " I’ui iifiaid Uiat neither of those Imllooiis will ernne within a liuiidredlli part of tie lueasuve of success you have achieved, because they are nut liroperly dciigued." " Bull they are quite near tis," said Victor, “ami seem to bo coming this way." " That, may seem to be so," was the king's reply, " but artiially they ara iiitniy milliuiia of miles aw.sy from ns .end will never get any uetirer because tiiev aie siiiiiily gas b.'igs. .^s a matter uf fnrt, tliey are no more than a hundred miles above tho Earth, and that height is useiesR for Llie pui’poBes of invoBti- giiliiig .space." At that inoineut tlie attpiition of all four was arrested by something that was happen- ing to the filet strut'Uspliei'e balluon, It appeared to be droppuig at a tevvifio late, HJid the chums saw wlial seemed to iiSr* n srnn.ll object detaching itself from tha baUooii. W'hiit is happening ? ” asked I’eter cs- Tha island king paused gravely. "You ate just witnessing the end of tho strato- spliere balloon." iie .said. " Tiie gondola has broken away from the rest of the structure, . . "That means that Hie people in it will be killed ? " exclaiiiiud Victor. •• i am afraid so," cunie the king's grave reply. " I am sorry, but if [leople wdio wish to venture into tlie stratosphere and siiaee do not lake Miffieieiil precautions tliey have inily themselves to blame for the lo'nsequences. The crew of that ship are falling to their death, and they will hit the earth at an appalling speed. Tlie balloon is floating away tmd will probably explode." "Yes,'’ cried Victor. " There it goes!" "That hliie flash," continoed Ihe island king, "was the end of the halluon. , . . it lias floated into stratosphere currents with which it could not cope, and the gas inside il has e.xpioded. The Professor who de- signed your ship, the Arroiiniiticua " Pliiliip looked in siin'risc at the etrango kii.g — amazed that he knew even the name of their Bhip, for it was not written anywhere or. Ihe structure, but merely entered in the direcliiins and the log-book. Smiling again, the i.iland king continued : " Your ship was huilt on sound lines and the mmd behind it wus a brilliantly clever one. Otherwise the ship would not have been able to withstand oU the pressui-es. electric- eccentricities and other freak* of space through which you liax-e passed. ” •• It is ceilaiuly a stout ship.” agreed Viilor. " but what i* happening to the other fellow down there? " .\ll four gaze-i intently at the screen and the picture it showdl of Ihe second atialo- spliere vessel. So clearly I’ould they see it that a uurabev, " S. 1," painted in large letters on the bal- loou. were plainly visiiitc. "The people in that aliip," smiled thn king, ■‘lather pride themselves on their acliieveinent. By making their identity mark S- 1 they showed their intention of being first and liighest in the slratospheJS. and cer- tainly the lirat to discover most about il. But you have beaten them easily." Peter looked at tlio islaml king. " I’m afraid," he said, " we can take uo credit for tin ingeniiitv with which this ship wm built. I r. was only (ly tin Hccideiit that wc arc here at all. and the credit must g.i eiiliivly to The ishmd king tiuued to Hie young joniuBliat. "I am well aware uf the cir- rnnistances in which your ascciil into space iK'gan. Il WHS all Pnifessor Slater's idea, but I am sure lie would be proud of you it he IjRii known what had happened.” "But no don't even know him." blurted out " he is a'n entire stranger to na." ■■ That. too. I know," said ihe king, "hut T am sure lie will thank you wlicii he sees ^'ictor'.B eyes opened wide in surprise. " When he sees us .iRain ? " he exilainied. " Then you really ihiuk we can gel bark " I would not RBv lliat," replied the king more quietly, "lln-rc will be hazards and II ncertainliea — Uiings about which wo uui'- sHves know little or nothing, Imt with gum] luck mid skilful management yon mighi. be able to do it. t'nrtainly we shall give you every jiossiblc Ubsistaiice. . , . But poihap.s you wouhl prefer to stay with us ? " Tho three space travellers looked oiirer- tiiinlv lit the big king, "'this islanch" said Peter, "is an en- clnuiting place and one where I am sure wo could luiiipily spend the rest of our lives, but, we have uur people, aud, for myself. I am engaged to be married. Already they must be worried about us. dictiilfiillv wor- ried. I am sure you will understand.’’ "Why, of course I understand," replied the king. “ there is no phase of human velfilioiisliip on the Earth planet that 1 have not uludieil. Tlml is why 1 uiu ilelermiucd Tbe three space travellers meet with more startilag aclventureK on the .strange noatiug Islaml ot apace before they attempt the return jourhey to lOarth. Read the final chapters of rroiessor Lon's amoring serial In neat week’s April 11, 1934— SCOOPS 318

Page 31

Ideas that are Making a New World TARRYING «Hir> IN UFT? A GIANT lift for ships Is the latest ^Xidea for speedins up water transport In Germany. Tliiil.y milcb from Bt'iliii, wlji-rr tljp Hivpv fillin' iiu'rta ihe Holienzoll..nii Csnul. u piant ili'witur haa b^n pus into tirirx'i.'p. niiil bv uii'.iiii Ilf tb;: tlie chancr nvpr vpp'pbi ^>'‘'1111 .iiii'ij ouL in iwecty — ;:ir,i* iiisle.iU ui tv. . . • up 10 1,000 lull# 1 nn liT I arneO t' t Ml. anil In ibe lirsi pln i will b® attaihe'1 to lr.im3 . r.iM-i mr the Soiilli of Fraiur. ' .I'll. '.Mr nave the mil cmiser'traiu. in •• . .--imipra can ernian about all ovev KuiiI.i'kI ami iii'otlani!, sight arcing by iluy I iiiipiiiiur mi bmii'il the Inmi nl. iiiglit iis • 11. ivjiini'il off 111 tlieii' lic.st stiippiilg- I •111 HIP iniius with (11)11111,1.1 ami liroad- : riiL-r.iiiiMips as icgular fraimys. and •; iMu for hufiini-.*« nipii with dicta- I ' 1 . ists in aitciidaii' e. Discoveries that are Foretelling the Future HE TRAI'S “ TOWER FROM NOWHERE" A BELGRADE inventor has built a machine which, he claims, will draw electricUy In great quantities from the atmosphere. Tliii ihe sei’unJ ilrvii" he h.‘-.i con- Icii fuf the [tiirpose. aii'l so sinvessfu! iiavp i.ppii tpsti that the inventor hclicTCS if he Sail r-olfiiictit lapiial he eouhl cviiye apjaratiH ■. !u li would draw jiowcr tcfli-.ii - I/,, i,or* /ii/h' i-i 14 uyfd* r- , • . , ■ . r,u ’■ a liM- ftorrtt for "•/ /-’Irol trvjn •in-tlict and ptnt. r.at been inrrntr.l l.,j 1‘rvjtftor 'TATE OELP.f; THE .st lENTlST Though the number of seienilsts en- gaged in industrial research do not amount to more than 2,000, their re- searches affect industries which have an output of £640,000,000 a year. T' • • • la-.-- .'i ihciDj . • — • J. w • . .;tj: vf mCTPjr tO ’* «' 1 tw Baocy wyll sprat, for besides dfs- j many new comiiiodilicy and peife-.t- trip scientivt , partu-iilarly .. • .5^ i;r.g iaiirg lu the .rits in •1 . : bwn perfected whereby the • ■ " ■ ’ I'ry haj saved £1.000.CO0 and • . i' .l s:m inihiatry well over that - ' . r -• the scieiitivis gul busy — and y • .1 .f every £1.000 wovlh nf goods juci- l tavh year the niamifavtiircrs have not ••• (lav their reaeanli workers Jiioi'a than 1 ; 7.1 6d. : • 1 " boiy ” rnfunm chanre lot I i.ii Ihr mnriil hij thr Ifum-tr peufiif. ■ I..I Ihe Diiil'.Hr. urujhi nu more than 'I TER LIFEBOVT'i IN spite of the super ships— some of them as big and efticient as gigantic modem hotels — which sail the seas these days, there is still a vital need tor liieboats to go to their rescue when danger threatens. \ i linlioati tl-‘ ■ i... i - f thi liii.e*. hmii new bii.iis whi.h are being built by ’’ a! Xaiioiial Lifeboat Ini'it..' —1 this II III! c.i)..:-;Hie uj.iir. uiij i-.M-meul.*. will he known ,is liw Light Liverpoul ' would givs ani . kit'.hvi u & third H«x>r bakoi iLo ",r , been desTgneii for llie open hwn li. ri,iii)ilrt,> with r of' SCI I'll they will weigh , uud will bo c.ipnlile uf iiiiiseiigers, witli a ei'oising 1.1. Inis of 115 ‘.'liiei iinumg Ihe improirnieiits will be aiUiiring w.Merlight eiigim. Iniilt vo ilial ei I!'- ...i.ni: ports . • .... .^,,1 V-pC'-sed, and s-'.—id a "-..'e fiood the i-o«l il will be able *a olear itself eompletely i twelve seemds. *• - Thoa^K : be ioahU I *»»♦ -Jl... grl built la tw'j euuiili^ hni ;iifJ inet'ea/ulhi pnsinl ntfiroil Air ilinillri/ truh. TKa vmi hine. II /licit hiia Oecn binlt hi/ the /la Iliirilliuhl jx.-aker's voice, and Iben, sealed at a k-iloard, he can lepiod; io the cjj.t iilih and • 240 io,.-- .1, 1'. AiORUrS LARGEST RAll.WAY tvT.ATION The magnihccnl building of the Grand Conlrai terminal station In New York is Ihe largest railway station, both In site and Importance, in the world. •Uiinu ujikI level arc all the ,im,i/iiig h^lb. s-lni|>s. I’l'Miuiraiitv, waitiug imiiiK, sky.-,.'raper Iii'ieln, and liiice ofn-c-', whiie ihi. .actual it.itimis ace below gtound // a in.r r. ia wctiiy fi'i't ilow'i (rcni'Iicl by slniics. not siuiiw.iya) is lLo muiii hue ntulmii. 1 Ills 1ms 29 filntfoims for trains, and more for luggage— 11 total of 42 tracks. •Viiotlicr 24 feet dov.11 is the Iixal tiain •fill loll, who h has 15 platfmins and 26 tiarke. .All the uaiits in this section air electric, and lume of the Liucs are eiteiidvd iu loops sv that thcie is oc need lot treius to reieise ! h'ta it would fee found *•! 4e inoda up lit III, out 16.000 f pofitt pir'tt. NE1 KS.'ITV IS THE .AIOIIIER— The dilTicuKy of charging radio accu- mulators where no mains supply or private plant exists has been overcome in a novel way In an Indian Frontier village. A ond-haud tuotor-iar iigotiiig gciieni- tor liH> bveii an.|uiied for the pui(»re, icd this i> bell driven irum tha javk- 1 np viheii THE PINKAH GOES MEIHANICaL Even India, one of the last strong- holds of the old ideas, is going modern. kgl.= t.i '• ••• ■ 'h. masters tviol giiM- w t > ati vh : . . .iiy-.lrjv< n punkah -wnoh uulur- aJly WD- rMlier cxiieliaive. lint now .laiianeee c.vpoiterv are plulming to Uood India witli riicap elmhi'. funs in plnre of ltn'50 f.viicniiive uiuik.ilm. Lliey will r.'D.vt. about ijs. and no f(|jrjjig driven. Otico woiiiid ii|j, i.hcir rKfhm ri so autoniiiliir that they will in'cl no initliet atteutiun hr fi’icli fail* vlionld !:ave a (renionb.ii- vals in India where there are large '•.'giuu* with- out eJivtriiily, and oiilliaiis vf rjubax-is ccfinct affard ite dearer p j-A • SCOOPS — Vpril II, 1931 319

Page 32

8-ir, Southjmpiou Street, Stmnd, WORTH MANY TIMES ITS COST. Produced In the straightforward practical style for which Che House of Newnes has become justly famous, this worh deals with a subject which is full of fascina* ' ting possibilities for the practical man who aspires to a more intelligent photography Chan that so tersely described by Che phrase : " You press ' do Che rest." Never before has such a practical information on this together within such a small has been, written by a man expert on the subject upon the information is conveyed can be put into Immediate quite safe to say that, to the turn of mind, each part of this work will be worth many times its cost. Get a copy of Part I and you will fully endorse this statement. Can You Answer These Questions ? What steps would you take if the copyright for one of your photographs had been infringed I How long does the copyright In a cine film and a photograph last ! What are the causes and remedies for the following defects In gaslight Black Spots, Blisters, Brown Stains, White Specks, Yellow Stains ? What developer would you use for gaslight paper to give the most brilliant print I What developer would give softer contrast ! What printing process gives prints like oil paintings ! When must a cine camera be held upside down in shooting a scene f When is f/8 stop not f/8 ? How do lamps used for photographic studios differ from ordinary light bulbs i - ■ What is the difference In lighting an Indoor scene for cinematography dlstincf from still photography ! How would you develop ultra rapid panchromatic plates and films I What is the, best type of camera to use for dog photography f jin these and hiimfreds a/ other praerical questions are clcafh' iinstvered in this splendid new u'Ork. ' d by isn Boss. LixiTEU, und Published by the Proprielnrs. G. AhTHni Peaiison, Luiited. iit Pearson's Weekly Uund'L -e 1. W.C.2. ItMisterod at the O.P.O. for Irensmission to Cao.id... Sroow "Vah be seat to any part of th? w”r“d ^ I. ed. lor 6 montha'or 13e. pet annura. Sole averts for .kaetTslia'snd New Steal md . Gbmox epc tiorr^. -I.itotp. Bole iweate fo''SoBih 'C91U1. Krwa -AbHcr, LlvtTza Oemden AsehU . .Gokoos siwiGrnTir. Lixirun. . wku. A%VKKasExisTs roe “ Spoors ' — .-ria — — ~ "-Slat*, C. .tiTHCe Pxanov. LiKiiTO, 17 end !3. Hi-'iiirts Com Genvz. Lospcy. Wi j “ Tevb Bu SU US hwi.