Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 321: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Gedso climbed through the portway and, glancing over the rocket turbine, threw the fuel feeds and switches on. Stewie dropped down and into the driver’s seat and touched the throttles, letting the tank creep forward. At the machine and fuel shops, Stewie paused beside the crystal chutes and the automatic loaders crammed the storage compartment full. At the armament shed a bundle of electric cartridges rattled into the magazine. Then a footfall sounded upon the slope of the metal giant and the hatch was jerked open. A pair of officers’ ironplast boots dropped into sight and a familiar face was thrust, with startled expression, into Gedso’s. And before a word had passed, General Drummond, inspecting new equipment as a good officer should, dropped down beside his trusty Blufore. Drummond was not as quick in sensing the situation. “Very good, very good. Perhaps they appreciate us just a little after all, eh, Cascot? These seem well built and well armed. Far too comfortable, though, for their ere—Saints!” Blufore had been trying to say something for seconds, but he had an abnormally strong hand over his mouth. Drummond was thrust into a seat by Gedso’s other hand and the hatch above slammed shut, leaving the place lighted only by the sparks which escaped the rocket turbines. “What is this?” cried Drummond. “| don’t know,” said Gedso, “of two officers who could be of more help. | hope you won’t mind. I’m sorry, tn fact. But the Scienticorps appropriated and commandeered this tank before it was receipted into your command. Therefore it is technically my command. | am sorry, but we have too much to do to be stopped. Please pardon us.” “Let us out of here this instant!” brayed Drummond. “I'll have my guard tear you to bits! I’ll get you a court martial CORniclooo SS (SO)