A few minutes more elapsed, and then Billie was experiencing a much
higher level, with the machine flying at what must have been a
tremendous velocity. Shortly it was all but alone in the sky.

After a while the surgeon's eyes made out something far below, which
puzzled Billie exceedingly. It seemed to be a ship under full sail;
only, so far as she could see the craft was resting upon clouds, not
air. It was still a long way ahead.

And then Billie was given a glance aloft, where she saw another
craft, a small flapping affair like the surgeon's. It was just
rising on a long slant so as to cross above her course. And at that
very instant there came a sharp crack, followed by a splintering
crash. The surgeon's flier lurched heavily to one side.

Next second the woman was staring at her left wing. It was broken
about the middle and thrashing wildly. Another instant, and a part
of the thing came loose, flew off, and struck the surgeon on the top
of her head. A muffled cry, and then blackness came.

And the next thing Billie saw was the emergency ward of Smith's
great skycruiser, with the surgeon, blinking as she recovered,
looking up into the smiling face of her big blond rescuer.






V