"To listen to the details of construction of our space ship. Eyer will hold a couple of classes to explain everything. Then, when we've made things as clear as possible, Eyer and I will take off and get up to do our best to counteract the--whatever it is--that seems to be ruling the stratosphere. We'll do everything possible to hold the influences in check until you can send up other space ships to our assistance." Hadley stared. "You speak as though you expected to be up for a long time. Planes like yours aren't made overnight." "Planes like ours must be made almost overnight--and have you forgotten that Kress was gone for three weeks, and yet had been dead but seventy-two hours when he landed on our roof? Incidentally, Hadley, that fall of his was guided by something or someone. He didn't fall on our roof by chance. He was dropped there, as a challenge to us!" "That means?" said Hadley hoarsely. "That everything we do is known to the intelligence of the stratosphere! That every move we make is watched!" "God!" said Hadley. Then Hadley straightened. His jaws became firm, his eyes lost their fear. He was like a good soldier receiving orders. "All the power of the press will be massed to get the country to back your suggestions, Jeter. They seem good to me. Now get back to your ship and leave everything to me. Suppose you do encounter some intelligence in the stratosphere? How will you combat it, especially if it proves inimical--which to-night's horror would seem to prove?" Jeter shrugged. "We'll take such armament as we have. We have several drums of a deadly volatile gas. We have guns of great power, hurling projectiles of great velocity; but I feel all of that will be more or less useless. The intelligence up there--well, it knows everything we know and far more besides, for do any of us know how to strike at the earth from the stratosphere? Therefore our only weapons must be our own intelligence--at least that will be the program for Eyer and me. Later, when your planes which are yet to be built follow us up the sky, perhaps they will be better armed. I hope to be able to communicate information somehow, relative to whatever we find." Hadley thrust out his hand. "Good luck," he said simply. * * * * * Then he was gone and Jeter and Eyer were dropping swiftly down in the elevator to the street--to find that the streets of Manhattan had gone mad. The ban on electric lights had been lifted, and the faces of fear-ridden men and women were ghastly in the brilliance of thousands of lights. Traffic accidents were happening on every corner, at every intersection, and there were all too few police to manage traffic. However, a motorcycle squad was ready to lead the way through the press for Eyer and Jeter--two grim-faced men now, who dared not look at each other, because each feared to show his abysmal fear to the other.