th anti-aircraft cannons!

* * * * *

From the shore, Craig and his companions watched the Ogrum loot the
ship. Oddly, they were not interested in any of the fittings of the
mighty vessel. The loot that interested them was--men! They brought in
large, cargo carrying planes, powered by the same weirdly silent motors,
moored them in the water beside the ship, then one by one carried the
sleep-stricken members of the crew to the side and dumped them into the
cargo planes. Craig thought he saw them drop Margy Sharp into one of the
planes. He sat silently cursing, fists clenched. Several times the Ogrum
missing connections in loading the cargo planes, with the result that
the unconscious human fell into the sea. The Ogrum made no attempt to
rescue the fallen men but let them float away in the current flowing
from the river. Triangular fins tore through the water toward these
helpless floaters.

"What the Ogrum miss, the sharks get!" Craig said fiercely. Blood was
flowing down his chin from his bitten lips. The sailors with him were
white-faced and grimly silent. Michaelson, after watching the scene for
a few minutes, turned abruptly and walked a few feet along the shore.
They could hear him being sick.

One by one the loaded cargo planes took off, carrying their loads of
helpless human freight. The fighter planes buzzed after them. The Idaho
was left deserted. Either the Ogrum had not known there were men ashore
or were not at present interested in them.

The sun was low in the west before Craig dared to venture back to the
Idaho. The other exploring parties, who had been watching from hidden
spots along the shore, joined him. Silently the little boats moved
toward the bulk of the deserted battle wagon.

* * * * *

The gas had long since disappeared from the ship. By sun-down, Craig
knew the whole story.

About two hundred men, caught in the lower parts of the ship by the
attack and protected from the full effects of the gas by doors, were
reviving. Most of them were too deathly sick to be of any immediate use.
Mrs. Miller and her baby had been found hidden in the hospital bay, safe
but sick.

Captain Higgins had not been found.

Margy Sharp had not been found.

One man had been dragged, trembling, from the lowest hold where he had
taken refuge--Voronoff.

On the main deck, Craig held a conference with Michaelson and Guru. The
answers to the questi