them glance at the bulk of the battleship for
reassurance. The ship was their world.

Out of the corner of his eyes Craig saw something coming across the sea.
At the same time, in the forepeak, a lookout sang out.

"I'm afraid," Craig said, pointing, "that now there is no doubt that Mr.
Michaelson is right. Look there."

Sailing down the wind was a gigantic bird-lizard. With great fanged beak
out-stretched, it was flapping through the air on leathery wings. It was
a creature out of the dawn of time.

It proved, by its mere existence, that Michaelson was right.

The Idaho, and all her crew, had passed through a space-time fault into
an antediluvian world!

CHAPTER III

The Return of the Dove

There were dozens of the great bird-lizards flapping about the ship.
Either they thought it was an enemy, to be attacked and destroyed, or
they thought it was something to eat. In either event, it was to be
attacked. They were attacking it. They would circle it, flap heavily to
a point above, then launch themselves into a glide, fanged mouth open,
screaming shrilly.

The anti-aircraft gunners knocked the beasts out of the air with ease.

On the bridge a group of tense officers watched the slaughter without
being greatly interested in it. They knew that the guns of the Idaho
were proof against any creature of earth, sky, or water, in this world.
They were not afraid of the beasts of this strange time into which they
had been thrust.

The scouting plane was still out, searching the waste of water for land.

The officers of the Idaho were all thinking the same thing. Captain
Higgins put their thoughts into words.

"Mr. Michaelson," the captain said slowly. "I can't argue with you. I am
forced to believe that somehow we have been forced back in time. However
I am charged with the responsibility for this ship. Back where we came
from, the Idaho is needed. I want to get her back where she belongs. How
can we accomplish this?"

The scientist hesitated. He did not want to say what he had to say. He
shook his head. "I question whether or not we can accomplish it," he
said at last.

"But we _have_ to return!" Higgins protested.

"I know," Michaelson said sympathetically. "The problem is _how_!"

"You mean there is no way to return?"

The scientist shrugged. "If there is, I do not know of it."

"But can't you make any suggestion? After all, this is your field.
You're a scientist."

"This is my field but even