Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAVA and one from a foreign country we don’t need to mention.” His lips com- pressed. “I came to see that this job is a failure—and such a failure that no one will try again! [I’m going up in one of the balloons, Martel, and leaving you here.”’ He laughed harshly. ‘Up there, I shall tell them a story which will earn me a medal! That'll be funny, eh? And among other things, Ill tell them both you and your communications operator are dead!” Martel struggled, and Hedg- erley laughed again. “Til not only do my job, but make myself look a hero,”’ he said. ‘This is your last mistake.” He dragged the chair to the central trap and pushed it over. Still bound to it, Martel landed heavily on the floor below and Hedgerley looked down from above. ““Goodbye, Martel——”’ He went from view; his footsteps crossed the floor, then came silence. Martel wondered what had happened SEAS TUNNEL to Dave, who had been sleeping too. He began to struggle. His bonds seemed a trifle less tight, and he judged that the fall had loosened them. The chair was of hard-wood. He exerted all his strength, and heard something splinter as one arm came abruptly free. Within moments he had wriggled from the ropes. As he stood swaying and rubbing his wrists, a slight jar shook the machine. Another life- balloon had been cast free, he realised, and was pre- sumably nowrising up through the shaft to safety. He won- dered whether Hedgerley had taken the precaution of damaging the only remaining balloon. Probably. The light had gone out, and he crawled to the centre of the room. The ladder was gone. Drawn up by Hedgerley, he realised, so that he could not get into the control room above. He searched the walls, found a mica observation window, and at last got it open. He 143 conmicloooks.comn