"Samarium. 'Sa.' Next?"
"Iodine."
"'I.'"
The message was finished. Bud handed it to Captain Algase. Mallory's curiosity was at fever pitch. He had not been able to piece the letters together as he went along; he had gained but a smattering here and there. He waited. The skipper read slowly, breaking the message up into coherent sentences.
"'Kreuther power behind revolution. Heavy forces now threatening New Fresno—'"
"Kreuther, huh?" growled Bud. "I thought so."
"'Hasten assistance. Lane warns—'" The captain stopped, stared a moment, glanced swiftly at Mallory. There was a tight note in his voice. "'Lane warns Lady Alice, cabal spy, now in Libra—'"
"Lady Alice!" blurted Mallory. The warmth of the control turret suddenly weighed down upon him; his brow felt hot, oppressed, as if some gigantic hand had descended upon his temples.
"'Captain saith,'" continued Algase, "'intensify protection of new secret ray.'" He crumpled the paper. "And that is all, gentlemen. Mallory—"
"Yes, sir?"