The Captain wiped the tears from his eyes and bent again to laugh as the fool reached the last step and waved in triumph. He turned and staggered against the wall feeling his way to the door beyond.
The girls crowded about the Captain.
“Please let us go too!” they chimed in chorus.
The Captain was adamant. They kept up their parrot cries until the crash above came. They heard the blow that felled the first operator—the shuffle of feet, the tiger spring, the smothered cry.
It was all over with the Captain before the cry. Three fierce, athletic girls bore him to the floor and held his writhing body until it was still.
“All right!” Vassar called. “Stand guard now at the door leading from the elevator—inside the door. Let no one pass!”
The leader of his guard touched her hat in salute. He took his place at the operator’s table and answered a call from the tower of the Governor-General’s palace.
“Your wireless stations have all answered?” the machine sang.
“All”—was the brief answer.
“I’ll give you the signal for the Emperor’s toast on the stroke of twelve.”