"See who's leading them!" called Jack. "The crazy machinist!"
CHAPTER XXIX
THE REPULSE
"Do you suppose they're going to attack us?"' asked Mr. Roumann.
"It looks very much like it," answered Professor Henderson. "But
we will wait and see. Are the electric cannons in shape?"
"Yes, they are all ready to work. All that is necessary is to
open the ports and fire them. They will not kill, but they will
disable the Martians for a time, in case we have to use them."
"I hope we'll not have to," said Jack. "They have been very good
to us, and I shouldn't want to harm them."
"There's a big crowd of them," added Mark. "I wonder how that
crazy man came to be with them?"
"He must be leading them against us out of revenge," was Mr.
Henderson's opinion. "He may have induced them to try to kill
us, and they may be very willing to do so, because we have taken
some of the Cardite."
"I hope not," murmured Mr. Roumann.
The throng approached nearer. In front was the insane machinist,
who was leaping about, running to and fro, and shouting at the
top of his voice.
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