fastened, and screwed up.

He pulled the starting lever. The torpedo glided gently from its
platform, and passed rather slowly away from the tower, seaward. Its
speed increased sensibly, though not excessively, until the
approximate limits of the earth's atmosphere were reached. Krag then
released the speed valve, and the car sped on its way with a velocity
more nearly approaching that of thought than of light.

Maskull had no opportunity of examining through the crystal walls the
rapidly changing panorama of the heavens. An extreme drowsiness
oppressed him. He opened his eyes violently a dozen times, but on
the thirteenth attempt he failed. From that time forward he slept
heavily.

The bored, hungry expression never left Nightspore's face. The
alterations in the aspect of the sky seemed to possess not the least
interest for him.

Krag sat with his hand on the lever, watching with savage intentness
his phosphorescent charts and gauges.



Chapter 6

JOIWIND

IT WAS DENSE NIGHT when Maskull awoke from his profound sleep. A
wind was blowing against him, gentle but wall-like, such as he had