Olga Romanoff

ike a veritable bolt from the blue, the challenge contained in the last sentence and the ominou

ost not a moment in speculating upon the strange fate of his son and first-born. The s

d received the message from the skies and delivered several rapid orders through it. If they had been the words

ms of radiance, dazzling and intense, for miles into the sky towards all points of the compass, and at the same moment fifty a

of Radiance for Miles

8

en made possible by the triumphant genius of a race of men, heirs of all the best that

by the blazing orbs which crowned every mountain-peak, illuminated the darkness for many miles outside the valley. In the midst of the sea of ligh

n a huge semicircle, at the extremities of which were the two swiftest vessels in the fleet, almost exact counterparts of the lost Ithuriel. One of these bore the same name a

e somewhat smaller craft, mounting eight guns each, and capable of a speed of about four hundred miles an hour. The chase, either because she could not travel faster or for some hidden reason,

y for her pursuers to keep their search-lights constantly sweeping the sk

se opened fire with her stern guns and shell after shell charged with some terrific explosive began bursting along the line of the pursuing sq

All the projectiles were, of course, time-shells, but the speed at which the vessels were travelling not only made the aim hopeless, but caused such an in-rush of air into the

s all in favour of the chase, which was able to work her two stern guns without the slightest impediment. Before long she got the range of her pursuers, and at last a shell burst fairly under one of the smaller vessels. A bri

amed the Revenge, saw this catastrophe, as the others had done, through her night-glasses. She lowered them from h

ssenski! Did you

self up and sa

ajesty,

d if you[86] can bring another down you shall comma

as Olga spoke, struck another of the Aerian vessels square on the fore-quarter. The flash of the exploding projectile was almost instan

close on either side of her like feathers into space, turning them completely over and flinging them to the earth six thousand feet below. A few moments later they struck the groun

s last shot. "For that you too shall be a Prince of the Empire and command an

e of the pursuers and saw four of the Aerian squadron flying close together. He brought the gun to bear upon the two inner ones, took careful a

gain, q

d shell was sent after it. The very firmament seemed split in twain by the frightful results of the t

those on board the Revenge saw the two outside air-ships of the four roll over and dive head foremost into the dark abyss below

under such conditions meant the destruction in detail of all the smaller ships of the squadron. Those on board

to the rear; our reception has been a little too hot for them. I wonder what they are going to do now. Cease firing

evenge, and the terrible accuracy and destructiveness of her guns, the commanders of the squadron were now co

to court destruction for them in detail. It was impossible for them to use their guns effectively at the speed

was able to keep ahead. The only hope of success lay, therefore, in a trial of speed and[88] man?uvring skill between her and the Ithuriel an

adopted. She saw the converging search-lights of the two remaining air-ships begin to glow b

alf to herself. "Well, we will see if we can lead

ngine-room, and

d miles an h

five," re

gineer. The lights of the pursuers immediately

ed the limit of their speed. Keep to the so

ghtly in favour of the Revenge, thanks to the high efficiency of the motive-power which had been applied to

ugh the air. They passed over Africa and out above the ocean, and still on and on they swept until the Southe

d then they swept northward until the smoke-cloud that crowned the crest of Mount Erebus rose above the snow-clouds[89] that hid

ium, and discharged a shell downwards on to the ice. The explosion was answered by the ris

n a wide circle round the two Aerian vessels, which thus found themselves surrounded by an overwhelmi

ion it would have seemed that nothing short of the surrender or annihi

an vessels lay at their mercy, they failed to take advantage of it, and in losing this one precious moment they reckoned wit

y end on to each other in the midst of the circle of their enemies. Each mounted ten guns, and of these every one was available. The crews of

k like stones through the thick clouds below them; and while the heavens[90] above were shaken with the combined explosions of the twenty projectiles, each of whi

ithout destruction. Twenty out of the thirty vessels of the Russian fleet collapsed, and, as it were, shrivelled up under the frightful energy of the Aerian projectiles. Twenty masses of flame blazed out over the grey surfac

roar of the explosions, and saw a mist of flame burst out round them as though all the fires of Mount Erebus had broken loose at once, and then came the silence

er favourable circumstances were absolutely irresistible, the first shot meant victory for those who fired it, and destruction for their enemies. Odds of mere

extent of the calamity that had overtaken[91] them the two Aerian vessels, darting through the air at five hundred miles an hour, had

she ordered the Revenge to sink below the clouds. Less than two minutes sufficed for the remains of the fleet, th

m than they vanished as completely as though they had melted into the atmosphere; and so Olga signalled for her remaining vessels to proceed to their secret haven in the snowy solitudes of the South, while the Ithurie

had dropped her challenge from the skies, a meeting of the Ruling Council was held at the President's house in order to consider the startling and pregnant events which had taken place, and to determine the plan

in such rapid succession, nor did the President and Council consider any such concealment desirable. There were no demagogues and no po

ed throughout the length and breadth of the valley. Marvellous and disquieting as they were they yet gave rise to very few external signs of excitement. They were gravel

tion in the world outside their borders must, sooner or later, produce some challenge to their supremacy and some attempt to dispute with them the Empire of the Air. Now, after f

news brought back by the Ithuriel and the Ariel proved beyond all doubt that means had been found to build a large fleet of aerial warships without even arousing the suspicions of the Council. And, worst and most sinister

f human affairs it might not be about to come to pass that she who had wrought this apparent miracle might not yet be able to avenge the terrible fate of her ancestor, the Last of[93]

ts empire had done in the Armageddon of 1904. Fierce as that mighty struggle had been, its horrors would pale before those of a conflict in which conquest would mean extermination, for if Aer