Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Moon Maid Edgar Rice Burroughs

Norton, whose watch it was, had already hurried toward the pilot room where were located thecontrols and the various instruments. This room, which was just forward of the engine-room, was ineffect a circular conning-tower which projected about twelve inches above the upper hull. The entirecircumference of this twelve inch superstructure was set with small ports of thick crystal glass. As I turned to follow Norton I spoke to West. "Mr. West," I said, "you and Mr. Jay will placeLieutenant Commander Orthis in irons immediately. If he resists, kill him."As I hurried after Norton I heard a volley of oaths from Orthis and a burst of almost maniacallaughter. When I reached the pilot house I found Norton working very quietly with the controls. There was nothing hysterical in his movements, but his face was absolutely ashen."What is wrong, Mr. Norton?" I asked. But as I looked at the compass simultaneously I read myanswer there before he spoke. We were moving at right angles to our proper course."We are falling toward the Moon, sir," he said, "and she does not respond to her control.""Shut down the engines," I ordered, "they are only accelerating our fall.""Aye, aye, sir," he replied."The Lunar Eighth Ray tank is of sufficient capacity to keep us off the Moon," I said. "If it hasnot been tampered with, we should be in no danger of falling to the Moon's surface.""If it has not been tampered with, sir; yes, sir, that is what I have been thinking.""But the gauge here shows it full to capacity," I reminded him."I know, sir," he replied, "but if it were full to capacity, we should not be falling so rapidly."Immediately I fell to examining the gauge, almost at once discovering that it had been tamperedwith and the needle set permanently to indicate a maximum supply. I turned to my companion."Mr. Norton," I said, "please go forward and investigate the Lunar Eighth Ray tank, and reportback to me immediately."