Only thirty of the squadron of fifty combat planes which had flown out to meet the foe accompanied Roger back to the Capitol. The others, together with their crews, had been utterly destroyed by the green rays. Back in the President’s office, Roger received the commendation of the chief executive with a deprecatory shrug. “It was nothing,” he said. “Easier than breaking clay pigeons with a trap gun.” “I don’t believe the General will ask for any more demonstrations,” smiled the President. “From now on, he’ll be crying night and day for degravitors.” At this moment the President’s radiovisiphone operator appeared in the disc and said: “Chicago is calling Mr. Sanders, sir.” “Tune them in,” said the President. There instantly appeared in the disc, the face of Ted’s day operator, Miss Whitley. “Mr. Stanley, in charge of the big radiovisiphone, thinks the moon people are trying to get in touch with us,” she said. “Tell him to hold them, if he can, until we can silence all broadcasting stations,” replied Roger. “Then connect me with him.” XIII. FLYING REPTILES Despite the mighty bounds with which Ted Dustin pursued the hideous flying reptile which was carrying off Maza of the Moon, the star-like gleam of her head lamp quickly grew more dim, showing that he was being rapidly outdistanced. Presently it twinkled and went out, but he continued his pace, unabated, in the same direction. As he hurried on, huge herbivorous dinosaurs, disturbed at their feeding, raised their massive heads from time to time to contemptuously snort fiery vapor at the queer and insignificant creature that bounded past them. Mighty reptilian carnivores, their bloody feasts interrupted, were more hostile, snarling or roaring hideously when he passed close to them, but he paid no heed to either. Once his path was barred by a great, quill covered creature resembling a tiger, with the exception of the tail, which was a short, thick, spine-covered stub. It was larger than a draft horse, and presented a most fearsome appearance. With gleaming tusks bared, and sickle-like claws unsheathed, it sprang for him. He halted, digging his toes into the ground for an instant to stop his forward momentum—then leaped backward, alighting fully fifty feet behind the spot on which he had stood. Before the creature could spring again he brought both pistol degravitors into play, and although the invisible beams played for but a moment across the huge breast of the beast, it was as if a giant scythe had suddenly cut through it, dividing the dorsal part of the body from the ventral. The claws and belly, apparently impelled by something akin to reflex action, leaped weakly forward, but the head and upper part of the body slipped off and fell to the ground behind them. Without pausing to view the unusual sight of four massive legs wabbling disjointedly about carrying a great, sagging belly, Ted again pressed forward.