"Good land a' massy!" yelled Washington. "Let me go! I ain't
ready t' burn yet! No, indeedy!"
With shouts the Martians piled fuel all about the projectile.
Then they set fire to it, and tongues of flame leaped up.
"Don't be alarmed," said Mr. Roumann. "We have passed safely
through greater heat than they can produce. The gas in the
projectile will absorb all the heat."
And this was exactly what happened. The flames had no effect on
the Annihilator, whereas the electric cannons continued to mow
down the Martians.
The day was now well advanced, and the defenders were getting
tired and hungry, as well as apprehensive, for there seemed to be
no limit to the fury of the little people, and their scientific
knowledge was such that it was probably only a matter of time
before they would find a way to destroy the projectile.
During a lull in the fighting, when the fire that had been
kindled died away, Washington White came around with some food he
had prepared.
They felt better after the meal, but immediately there came a new
apprehension, for they saw that the Martians were digging a great
hole to one side of the projectile.
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