The scientist's gasp was plainly audible as he read the dial. "Why, it--it's dropping! Much faster than our deceleration accounts for! That ray--why, it must have magnetic properties! Carse, the asteroid's stopping us!" CHAPTER XIV _The Hawk Strikes_ No surprise showed on the Hawk's face, though the others were visibly shaken. He, at the helm, merely nodded and continued with further orders. "Williams," he said to one of Leithgow's assistants, "get Thorpe and go and dose Ku Sui with V-27. Give him plenty. Then both of you station yourselves, ray guns in hand, outside his cabin. We'll take no chances with him, gassed or not. Friday, open our radio receiver to the general band. Just the receiver, not the mike.... Our speed, Eliot?" "Down to seven hundred, and falling steadily." Carse went to the electelscope, after giving the controls over to Ban. Squarely behind the _Sandra_, and within twenty-five miles, the peanut-shaped body had come. It was an ominous and silent approach. The _Sandra_ remained pinned by the purple ray for minutes while the Hawk studied her aggressor. As he watched the asteroid, the others watched him; Ban Wilson fidgety, Friday clenching and unclenching his big hands. Eliot Leithgow with whitened face and shoulders that seemed to have bowed a little. The forward speed of the _Sandra_ decreased to four hundred miles an hour, and still the Hawk studied the massive body behind.... A sputter sounded in the radio receiver. Carse turned away from the electelscope and listened to the heavy Venusian voice that was suddenly speaking to him from it. "Carse, I've got you! You've seen our ray, of course, but have you looked at your speed-indicator? You're caught--and this time you're going to stay caught. You cannot possibly resist the magnetic ray I have on you, and in a few minutes you will be drawn right into me. I advise you to surrender peacefully. No tricks--though there's no trick that could do you any good! Nothing! I have you this time!" A frosty smile tightened the Hawk's lips. "I was right, Eliot," he murmured. "The man behind the panel took the asteroid to Lar Tantril. He is our opponent." * * * * * Those were his words, but he did nothing. He seemed content to stand with cold, intent face looking back through the infra-red electelscope. The _Sandra's_ speed sank to three hundred, two hundred and soon a hundred, and the asteroid, which was of course also decelerating, crept up remorselessly. Ban Wilson had every confidence in the Hawk, but finally the inaction grew too much for him to bear. "Jumping Jupiter, Carse!" he sputtered. "--aren't you going to do anything? Use our rays! Try maneuvering to the side! Damn it, we're just letting them take us!" The adventurer might not have heard, for all the sign he gave. The Earth-clock on the wall ticked on; seconds built minutes, and the minutes passed. The asteroid was only ten miles astern.