MAZA OF THE MOON OTIS ADELBERT KLINE Copyright ©, 1930, by A. C. McClurg & Co. Printed in U.S.A. _To My Wife_ Contents I. Difficult Project 5 II. Launched 8 III. Startling Results 15 IV. Moon People 19 V. Ultimatum of P’an-ku 26 VI. Treachery 30 VII. Perilous Journey 35 VIII. Death Rays 39 IX. Vicious Plant 44 X. Abduction 49 XI. Caverns of the Moon 58 XII. Aerial Battle 66 XIII. Flying Reptiles 74 XIV. Note of Appeal 80 XV. Moon Travel 89 XVI. Ted Attacks 97 XVII. Alliance 103 XVIII. Torture Chambers 105 XIX. Dungeons of Darkness 113 XX. Trapped 121 XXI. Earth’s Offensive 131 XXII. Fall of Peilong 137 I. DIFFICULT PROJECT “We’ve got to win that reward, Roger, or close up shop.” Ted Dustin, youthful president and general manager of Theodore Dustin, Inc., reached mechanically for his tobacco pouch, filled his black briar, and sighed. Roger Sanders, assistant to the president, deposited his sheaf of papers on his desk, closed the door to the private office, and sat down in the chair facing his superior. “You mean—?” “I mean,” replied Dustin, flicking his lighter with his thumb, “that in order to prepare the projectile for launching, we’ve spent every cent we had, and borrowed a lot besides. Theodore Dustin, Inc., is flat broke, and the plant is mortgaged from roof to drains. If we don’t win that reward our creditors will be picking our bones in thirty days.” “Mr. Dustin.” A female voice, apparently issuing from empty air, spoke his name. He turned to the radiovisiphone, a plain looking disc resting on a small pedestal at his elbow. It was wireless, and contained no buttons, levers or controls of any kind.