"Here come more of 'em out of the forest. They're bringing up the reserves. Hey, this might be serious! They have a new kind of weapon." He peered for a moment into the grayness. "It's a huge thing, seems to be a sort of combination catapult and cross-bow. I don't like the looks of it."
A minute later the first shot came. It struck the spaceship very close to the window. There was a muffled explosion, and a flashing blue flame.
"By all that's holy—explosives! Powerful stuff, too. These babies aren't as barbarian as they look!"
"We've got to get away from here some way." Brownell was really worried now. "Janus, do you think you could make it to the controls? Perhaps by dragging yourself—"
"I'm sure gonna try it! Wait a minute, though—they're not going to bother us any more. They're scared!"
"Scared of what?"
"Damned if I know. They're staring off to the right, jabbering and pointing. Hah! There they go, they're running away!"
Driscoll said, "What did you do, Janus, make a face at 'em? That red beard of yours is enough to scare anybody!"
"Something's coming." Janus was straining his neck now, his face flat against the glass. "I think I can make it out ... yes ... holy blazing comets! What kind of a world is this? Get away from there, you! Hey—cut that out!"
Janus' voice had risen to an excited pitch. "Get set, men—I think we're leaving here!" The ship gave a sudden lurch and Janus rolled backward. His head hit the floor hard—enough to stun him a little.