"Almost time we were getting out of here," said Fort, after another look at his watch. As he spoke a warning whistle on Powart's yacht sounded shrilly; and with one accord the surrounding horde of sightseers--all belonging to the leisure class, of course--began to back away from the spot. The workmen, down below, were already taking flight. A moment later Powart, speaking for the benefit of a recording phonograph, began as follows: "Precisely at the hour, minute and second determined by the commission's mathematicians the projectile will be slid into the cannon. The concussion will explode the powder in the breech. This final act is to take place"--he glanced at his watch--"within two minutes. "By so doing, the people of Hafen and Holl, through me, their commander-in-chief, do hereby deliberately take the offensive against Alma." He hesitated, then went on with fresh determination: "Rather than permit them to prepare for the threatened invasion, then, we thus proceed to bombard their roof, in order to so harass them that they shall be made helpless against us." Mona turned her gaze from the dictator, and took up her glasses. The great cannon was nearly a mile away from them now; not a single aircraft was closer than Fort's and Powart's, which were still backing away. The blast was not a thing to be sneered at. Mona's hands shook with excitement. Powart's eyes were on his watch. "The thing is beyond all human power to prevent now. The projectile will be released by clockwork. In fact"--his voice rose, his excitement finally getting the better of him--"it is even now sliding! It is only a matter of seconds; the projectile is lubricated so as to slide easily." A breathless pause; another look at the watch, then: "By this time, my friends, the projectile has reached--" And even as the words quit his mouth, the cannon belched forth. XVII THE DEVOLUTION Mona removed from her ears two tiny devices like collar-buttons. She noted Fort and the others doing the same. Without this protection their eardrums would have been burst. And while the girl was doing this she heard the athlete hailing the dictator: "Good for you, Powart! It's a fine job, and I'm ever so much obliged to you." The dictator stared in amazement. Mona looked from the one to the other, perplexed. Fort was laughing shakily. "You may as well make your apologies now, Powart; you're out of it! I've won, and you've lost! I've done a bigger thing than you have!" Mona gave an exclamation of impatience. "What do you mean?" she cried shrilly. "Are you out of your head?" "Not a bit of it! I mean just what I say! Powart hasn't succeeded; he's failed. And because he has failed, I've outdone him." He was gazing impudently at the dictator as he said this; Powart was leaning over the railing of the bridge, a short distance away, too indignant to speak. Next instant, however, Fort glanced at his watch.