But he had the advantage of knowing, some while in advance, of the new
ruler in Vlama; and shortly my spies reported that his armories were
devising a new type of weapon. 'Twas a strange verification of my own
fiction to my men. I could learn nothing, however, about it.

Meanwhile I caused a vast number of flat-boats to be built, all in
secret. Each of them was intended for a single fighter and his supplies;
and each was so arranged, with side paddle wheels, that it would be
driven by the motor in the soldier's chariot, and thus give each his own
boat.

Again discarding all precedent, I packed not all my forces together, as
had been done in the past, but scattered them up and adown the coast
fronting the land of Klow; and at a prearranged time my quarter-million
men set out, a company in each tiny fleet. Some were slightly in advance
of the rest, who had the shorter distance to travel. And, just as I had
planned, we all arrived at a certain spot on Klow's coast at practically
the same hour, although two nights later.

'Twas a brilliant stroke. The enemy looked not for a fleet of water-
ants, ready to step right out of the sea into battle. Their fleet was
looking for us, true, but not in that shape. And we were all safely
ashore before they had ceased to scour the seas for us.

I immediately placed my heavy machines, and just as all former
expeditions had done, opened the assault at once with a shower of the
poison shells. I relied, it will be seen, upon the surprise of my attack
to strike terror into the hearts of the louts.

But apparently they were prepared for anything, no matter how rapid the