oyed. Several times during the day he had seen
planes take off. All had returned by night.

The vultures were in their nest.

Boom, boom-boom, BOOM, boom.

Craig almost sobbed at the sound. Grenades exploding! Grenades flung
into the hangar by the attacking group. Grenades blasting among the
mystery planes of the Ogrum!

Boom, boom, boom-boom-boom! Grenades exploding like a chain of giant
firecrackers. In the hot darkness Craig caught glimpses of flashes of
light as the grenades detonated.

Boom, boom, boom, boom-boom!

The flat sullen thuds echoed up the side of the mountain. From the
darkness where the sailors crouched a low cheer arose. The men there in
the night knew the meaning of those explosions.

Craig held his breath, waiting. The attack was on. Now, no matter what
happened, it was too late to withdraw. Now it was kill or be killed,
fight or be struck down, destroy or be destroyed. With the knowledge of
the savage sacrifice about to take place within the temple, there was no
question of the urge of the men to destroy. The Ogrum were beyond the
meaning of mercy. Blast them, mow them down, kill them, destroy them
utterly!

Craig waited. Tommy-guns chattered in the darkness. Grenades thundered.
Then he saw what he had been waiting for. A tongue of flame licked out
of the hangar.

Fire in the nest of the vultures!

The flames grew in violence.

"Withdraw!" Craig said huskily. "Get back. Draw them away with you."

He was talking to himself. The men attacking the hangar could not hear
him. Their retreat was the next phase of the attack. Retreat and draw
the Ogrum after them.

* * * * *

They began to retreat. Flames were roaring from the hangar. It was
constructed of stone and the walls would not burn. Leaping tongues of
fire poured out of the open door.

For a few minutes after the attack began, the drum-beat continued from
the temple. The instant the first explosion had sounded, the drum-beat
had faltered. Then it had caught itself and continued. But the continued
explosions were unsteadying the hand of the drummer.

The drum stopped beating. The Ogrum poured from the temple. The moon had
not yet risen. The burning hangar provided the only illumination. By its
light, Craig could see streams of startled beast-men rushing from every
entrance.

For a few minutes, they milled in confusion. Something had happened that
was not on their schedule. They did not in the le