Instantly every one in the projectile felt as if a thousand pins and needles were sticking into him. "They're discharging an electric current, or something like it, at us!" cried Professor Henderson. A moment later every one felt himself drawn against one side or the other of the projectile, just as a magnet draws steel filings to itself through a piece of cardboard. "They're trying to pull us through the steel sides!" cried Mark. "I can't move." Neither could any one else. They were stuck there like flies on the wall. "Maybe they are going to keep us here forever!" cried old Andy, while Washington was too frightened to use any big words. Mr. Roumann was near some levers. He managed to pull one, and instantly those in the projectile felt themselves free. "How did you do that?" asked Mr. Henderson. "I neutralized the electric current," explained the German. "I anticipated that in our flight through space we might meet with electric storms. I provided so that in such a case I could throw a counter current of electricity all about the projectile. That is what happened just now, though not exactly as I expected it. I have rendered their weapons useless--at least, for the time being." "And we can now try ours on them!" cried Jack. "Exactly! Get ready to fire the electric cannons!" called Mr. Roumann. The Martians seemed to understand that something had gone wrong. They were running about, consulting among themselves, and pointing to the projectile. The figure in red and the machinist were talking earnestly together. "He's probably telling them something about the machinery," said Jack. "Man the guns!" cried Mr. Henderson. He and the German were at the cannon on one side, and Jack and Mark on the other. "Fire!" shouted Mr. Roumann, pulling the lever that worked the weapon. The others did likewise. There was a flash of sparks from the muzzles of the guns, and a powerful and disabling, though not deadly, current of electricity shot toward the Martians. Score after score of the queer creatures went down, among the first to fall being the machinist and Zun Flor. "Once more!" cried Mr. Roumann, and another volley was sent out, stunning hundreds. Then came a third one, but this was enough. The remaining Martians, leaving their helpless comrades on the ground, turned and fled. "We've driven them away!" cried Jack. "For a time, at least," answered Professor Henderson gravely. "But I think they will come back." CHAPTER XXX THE ESCAPE--CONCLUSION Nor was the professor mistaken. In less than an hour the Martians returned, in larger numbers than before, and, while the first throng had seemed to consist of only soldiers or police, the next attack was made by thousands of men, women and children. They all seemed anxious to destroy, the strangers. Those who had been disabled by the electric guns revived, and were able to crawl away, but they were too weak to resume the attack.