The Avalanche

As the vibrations died down in the laboratory the big man arose from the glass chair and viewed the complicated apparatus on the table. It was complete to the last detail. He glanced at the calendar. It was September 1st in the year 2660. Tomorrow was to be a big and busy day for him, for it was to witness the final phase of the three-year experiment. He yawned and stretched himself to his full height, revealing a physique much larger than that of the average man of his times and approaching that of the huge Martians.

As the vibrations faded in the laboratory, the big man rose from the glass chair and looked at the complex apparatus on the table. It was complete in every detail. He glanced at the calendar. It was September 1, 2660. Tomorrow would be a big, busy day for him, because it would bring the final phase of the three-year experiment. He yawned and stretched to his full height. His build was much larger than that of the average man of his time, approaching that of the huge Martians.

His physical superiority, however, was as nothing compared to his gigantic mind. He was Ralph 124C 41+, one of the greatest living scientists and one of the ten men on the whole planet earth permitted to use the Plus sign after his name. Stepping to the Telephot on the side of the wall he pressed a group of buttons and in a few minutes the faceplate of the Telephot became luminous, revealing the face of a clean shaven man about thirty, a pleasant but serious face.

His physical superiority, however, was nothing compared to his immense mind. He was Ralph 124C 41+, one of the greatest living scientists and one of only ten men on Earth allowed to use the Plus sign after his name. He stepped to the Telephot on the wall and pressed a group of buttons. A few minutes later, the Telephot’s faceplate lit up. It showed the face of a clean-shaven man of about thirty, pleasant but serious.

As soon as he recognized the face of Ralph in his own Telephot he smiled and said, "Hello Ralph."

As soon as he recognized Ralph's face on his own Telephot, he smiled and said, "Hello, Ralph."

"Hello Edward, I wanted to ask you if you could come over to the laboratory tomorrow morning. I have something unusually interesting to show you. Look!"

"Hello, Edward. Could you come over to the lab tomorrow morning? I have something unusually interesting to show you. Look!"

He stepped to one side of his instrument so that his friend could see the apparatus on the table about ten feet from the Telephot faceplate.

He stepped aside from his instrument so his friend could see the apparatus on the table. It was about ten feet from the Telephot faceplate.

Edward came closer to his own faceplate, in order that he might see further into the laboratory.

Edward moved closer to his faceplate so he could see farther into the laboratory.

"Why, you've finished it!" he exclaimed. "And your famous—"

"You've finished it!" he exclaimed. "And your famous..."

At this moment the voice ceased and Ralph's faceplate became clear. Somewhere in the Teleservice company's central office the connection had been broken. After several vain efforts to restore it Ralph was about to give up in disgust and leave the Telephot when the instrument began to glow again. But instead of the face of his friend there appeared that of a vivacious beautiful girl. She was in evening dress and behind her on a table stood a lighted lamp.

At that moment, the voice stopped and Ralph's faceplate cleared. Somewhere in the Teleservice company's central office, the connection had been broken. Ralph tried several times to restore it, but failed. He was about to give up in disgust and leave the Telephot when the instrument began to glow again. But instead of his friend's face, a lively, beautiful girl's face appeared. She wore an evening dress, and a lit lamp stood on a table behind her.

Startled at the face of an utter stranger, an unconscious Oh! escaped her lips, to which Ralph quickly replied:

Startled by the face of a complete stranger, she let out an involuntary Oh! Ralph quickly replied:

"I beg your pardon, but 'Central' seems to have made another mistake. I shall certainly have to make a complaint about the service."

"I'm sorry, but 'Central' seems to have made another mistake. I'll definitely have to complain about the service."

Her reply indicated that the mistake of "Central" was a little out of the ordinary, for he had been swung onto the Intercontinental Service as he at once understood when she said, "Pardon, Monsieur, je ne comprends pas!"

Her reply showed that "Central" had made an unusual mistake. He realized at once that he had been connected to the Intercontinental Service when she said, "Pardon, Monsieur, je ne comprends pas!"

He immediately turned the small shining disc of the Language Rectifier on his instrument till the pointer rested on "French."

He immediately turned the small, shiny disc of the Language Rectifier on his instrument until the pointer rested on "French."

"The service mistakes are very annoying," he heard her say in perfect English. Realizing however, that she was hardly being courteous to the pleasant looking young man who was smiling at her she added, "But sometimes Central's 'mistakes' may be forgiven, depending, of course, on the patience and courtesy of the other person involved."

"The service mistakes are very annoying," he heard her say in perfect English. But she realized she was hardly being polite to the pleasant-looking young man smiling at her. She added, "But sometimes Central's 'mistakes' can be forgiven. Of course, that depends on the patience and courtesy of the other person involved."

This, Ralph appreciated, was an attempt at mollification with perhaps a touch of coquetry.

Ralph realized this was an attempt to appease him, perhaps with a touch of flirtation.

Nevertheless he bowed in acknowledgment of the pretty speech.

Still, he bowed to acknowledge the charming speech.

She was now closer to the faceplate and was looking with curious eyes at the details of the laboratory—one of the finest in the world.

She was now closer to the faceplate, looking curiously at the details of the laboratory. It was one of the finest in the world.

"What a strange place! What is it, and where are you?" she asked naïvely.

"What a strange place! What is it, and where are you?" she asked innocently.

"New York," he drawled.

"New York," he drawled.

"That's a long way from here," she said brightly. "I wonder if you know where I am?"

"That's a long way from here," she said cheerfully. "I wonder if you know where I am?"

"I can make a pretty shrewd guess," he returned. "To begin with, before I rectified your speech you spoke French, hence you are probably French. Secondly, you have a lamp burning in your room although it is only four o'clock in the afternoon here in New York. You also wear evening dress. It must be evening, and inasmuch as the clock on your mantelpiece points to nine I would say you are in France, as New York time is five hours ahead of French time."

"I can make a pretty good guess," he replied. "First, you spoke French before I corrected your speech, so you are probably French. Second, you have a lamp on in your room, although it's only four in the afternoon here in New York. You're also wearing evening clothes. It must be evening where you are, and the clock on your mantel points to nine. So I would say you're in France, since New York time is five hours ahead of French time."

"Clever, but not quite right. I am not French nor do I live in France. I am Swiss and I live in western Switzerland. Swiss time, you know, is almost the same as French time."

"Clever, but not quite right. I'm not French, and I don't live in France. I'm Swiss, and I live in western Switzerland. You know, Swiss time is almost the same as French time."

Both laughed. Suddenly she said:

Both laughed. Suddenly, she said:

"Your face looks so familiar to me, it seems I must have seen you before."

"Your face looks so familiar. I feel like I must have seen you before."

"That is possible," he admitted somewhat embarrassed. "You have perhaps seen one of my pictures."

"That's possible," he admitted, a little embarrassed. "Perhaps you've seen one of my pictures."

"How stupid of me!" she exclaimed. "Why of course I should have recognized you immediately. You are the great American inventor, Ralph 124C 41+."

"How stupid of me!" she exclaimed. "Of course I should have recognized you right away. You're the great American inventor, Ralph 124C 41+."

He again smiled and she continued:

He smiled again, and she continued:

"How interesting your work must be and just think how perfectly lovely that I should be so fortunate as to make your acquaintance in this manner. Fancy, the great Ralph 124C 41+ who always denies himself to society."

"Your work must be so interesting! And just think how perfectly lovely it is that I was lucky enough to meet you this way. Imagine, the great Ralph 124C 41+, who always avoids society!"

She hesitated, and then, impulsively, "I wonder if it would be too much to ask you for your autograph?"

She hesitated, then asked impulsively, "Would it be too much to ask for your autograph?"

Much to his astonishment Ralph found himself pleased with the request. Autograph-hunting women he usually dismissed with a curt refusal.

To his surprise, Ralph found himself pleased by the request. He usually gave women seeking his autograph a curt refusal.

"Certainly," he answered, "but it seems only fair that I should know to whom I am giving it."

“Sure,” he answered, “but it seems only fair that I should know who I’m giving it to.”

"Oh," she said, blushing a little, and then, with dancing eyes, "Why?"

"Oh," she said, blushing a little. Then, with dancing eyes, she asked, "Why?"

"Because," replied Ralph with an audacity that surprised himself, "I don't want to be put to the necessity of calling up all Switzerland to find you again."

"Because," Ralph replied, surprising himself with his boldness, "I don't want to have to call all of Switzerland to find you again."

"Well, if you put it that way," she said, the scarlet mounting in her cheeks, "I suppose I must. I am Alice 212B 423, of Ventalp, Switzerland."

"Well, if you put it that way," she said, her cheeks turning red, "I suppose I must. I am Alice 212B 423, of Ventalp, Switzerland."

Ralph then attached the Telautograph to his Telephot while the girl did the same. When both instruments were connected he signed his name and he saw his signature appear simultaneously on the machine in Switzerland.

Ralph then connected the Telautograph to his Telephot, while the girl did the same. Once both instruments were connected, he signed his name. He saw his signature appear at the same time on the machine in Switzerland.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed, and added, "I am really proud to have your autograph. From what I have heard of you this is the first you have ever given to a lady. Am I right?" she asked.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed. "I'm really proud to have your autograph. From what I've heard, this is the first autograph you've ever given a woman. Am I right?" she asked.

"You are perfectly correct, and what is more, it affords me a very great pleasure indeed to present it to you."

"You are absolutely right, and I'm very pleased to give it to you."

"How lovely," she said as she held up the autograph, "I have never seen an original signature with the +, for there are only ten of you who have it on this planet, and now to actually have one seems almost unbelievable."

"How lovely," she said, holding up the autograph. "I've never seen an original signature with the +. Only ten of you on this planet have it, so actually having one seems almost unbelievable."

The awe and admiration in her dark eyes began to make him feel a little uncomfortable. She sensed this immediately and once more became apologetic.

The awe and admiration in her dark eyes began to make him a little uncomfortable. She noticed immediately and became apologetic again.

"I shouldn't take up your time in this manner," she went on, "but you see, I have not spoken to any living being for five days and I am just dying to talk."

"I shouldn't take up your time like this," she continued. "But I haven't spoken to a living soul for five days, and I'm dying to talk."

"Go right ahead, I am delighted to listen. What caused your isolation?"

"Go ahead, I'd be delighted to listen. What caused your isolation?"

"Well, you see," she answered, "father and I live in our villa half way up Mount Rosa, and for the last five days such a terrible blizzard has been raging that the house is entirely snowed in. The storm was so terrific that no aeroflyer could come near the house; I have never seen such a thing. Five days ago my father and brother left for Paris, intending to return the same afternoon, but they had a bad accident in which my brother dislocated his knee-cap; both were, therefore, obliged to stay somewhere near Paris, where they landed, and in the meanwhile the blizzard set in. The Teleservice line became disconnected somewhere in the valley, and this is the first connection I have had for five days. How they came to connect me with New York, though, is a puzzle!"

"Well, you see," she answered, "my father and I live in our villa halfway up Mount Rosa. For the past five days, a terrible blizzard has been raging, and the house is completely snowed in. The storm was so fierce that no aeroflyer could get near the house. I have never seen anything like it. Five days ago, my father and brother left for Paris, planning to return that afternoon. But they had a bad accident, and my brother dislocated his kneecap. So they both had to stay somewhere near Paris, where they landed. Meanwhile, the blizzard began. The Teleservice line was disconnected somewhere in the valley, and this is my first connection in five days. But I can't understand how they connected me to New York!"

"Most extraordinary—but how about the Radio?"

"That's extraordinary, but what about the Radio?"

"Both the Power mast and the Communico mast were blown down the same day, and I was left without any means of communication whatever. However, I managed to put the light magnesium power mast into a temporary position again, and I had just called up the Teleservice Company, telling them again to direct the power, and getting some other information when they cut me in on you."

"Both the Power mast and the Communico mast blew down on the same day, leaving me with no way to communicate. But I managed to put the light magnesium power mast back up temporarily. I had just called the Teleservice Company and again asked them to direct the power. I was getting some other information when they connected me to you."

"Yes, I knew something was wrong when I saw the old-fashioned Radialamp in your room, and I could not quite understand it. You had better try the power now; they probably have directed it by this time; anyhow, the Luminor should work."

"Yes, I knew something was wrong when I saw the old-fashioned Radialamp in your room. I couldn't quite understand it. You should try the power now. They have probably directed it by now. In any case, the Luminor should work."

"You are probably right," and raising her voice, she called out sharply: "Lux!"

"You are probably right." She raised her voice and called out sharply: "Lux!"

The delicate detectophone mechanism of the Luminor responded instantly to her command; and the room was flooded at once with the beautiful cold pink-white Luminor-light, emanating from the thin wire running around the four sides of the room below the white ceiling.

The Luminor's delicate detectophone mechanism responded instantly to her command. Beautiful, cold pink-white Luminor-light immediately flooded the room. It came from a thin wire running around all four sides of the room, just below the white ceiling.

The light, however, seemed too strong, and she sharply cried, "Lux-dah!" The mechanism again responded; the cold light-radiation of the Luminor wire decreased in intensity at once and the room appeared in an exquisite pink light.

However, the light seemed too bright, and she cried sharply, "Lux-dah!" The mechanism responded again. The cold light from the Luminor wire dimmed at once, and the room glowed an exquisite pink.

"That's better now," she laughed. "The heater just begins to get warm, too. I am frozen stiff; just think, no heat for five days! I really sometimes envy our ancestors, who, I believe, heated their houses with stoves, burning strange black rocks or tree-chunks in them!"

"That's better now," she laughed. "The heater is just starting to warm up, too. I'm freezing. Just think, no heat for five days! Sometimes I really envy our ancestors. I believe they heated their houses with stoves, burning strange black rocks or chunks of wood in them!"

"That's too bad! It must be a dreadful predicament to be cut off from the entire world, in these days of weather control. It must be a novel experience. I cannot understand, however, what should have brought on a blizzard in midsummer."

"That's too bad! Being cut off from the whole world must be awful, especially now that we can control the weather. It must be a new experience. But I can't understand what could have caused a blizzard in midsummer."

"Unfortunately, our governor had some trouble with the four weather-engineers of our district, some months ago, and they struck for better living. They claimed the authorities did not furnish them with sufficient luxuries, and when their demands were refused, they simultaneously turned on the high-depression at the four Meteoro-Towers and then fled, leaving their towers with the high-tension currents escaping at a tremendous rate.

"Unfortunately, our governor had trouble with the four weather-engineers in our district a few months ago. They went on strike for better living conditions. They claimed the authorities did not provide them with enough luxuries. When their demands were refused, they all turned on the high-depression at the four Meteoro-Towers at once. Then they fled, leaving high-tension currents escaping from their towers at a tremendous rate.

"This was done in the evening, and by midnight our entire district, bounded by the four Meteoro-Towers, was covered with two inches of snow. They had erected especially, additional discharge arms, pointing downward from the towers, for the purpose of snowing in the Meteoros completely.

"This was done in the evening. By midnight, two inches of snow covered our entire district, bounded by the four Meteoro-Towers. They had specially installed extra discharge arms pointing down from the towers to snow in the Meteoros completely.

"Their plans were well laid, for it became impossible to approach the towers for four days; and they finally had to be dismantled by directed energy from forty other Meteoro-Towers, which directed a tremendous amount of energy against the four local towers, till the latter were fused and melted.

"Their plans were sound, for no one could approach the towers for four days. Finally, forty other Meteoro-Towers had to direct a tremendous amount of energy at the four local towers to dismantle them. The energy fused and melted the four towers.

"The other Meteoros, I believe, will start in immediately to direct a low-pression over our district; but, as they are not very near us, it will probably take them twenty-four hours to generate enough heat to melt the snow and ice. They will probably encounter considerable difficulty, because our snowed-under district naturally will give rise to some meteorological disturbances in their own districts, and therefore they will be obliged, I presume, to take care of the weather conditions in their districts as well as our own."

"The other Meteoros, I believe, will start directing a low-pressure system over our district immediately. But they are not very close to us. It will probably take them twenty-four hours to generate enough heat to melt the snow and ice. They will probably face considerable difficulty because our snow-covered district will naturally cause some weather disturbances in their own districts. So, I presume, they will have to manage the weather in their districts as well as ours."

"What a remarkable case!" Ralph ejaculated.

"What a remarkable case!" Ralph exclaimed.

She opened her mouth as if to say something. But at that moment an electric gong began to ring furiously, so loud that it vibrated loudly in Ralph's laboratory, four thousand miles away.

She opened her mouth as if to say something. But just then, an electric gong began ringing furiously. It was so loud that its vibrations could be heard in Ralph's laboratory, four thousand miles away.

Immediately her countenance changed, and the smile in her eyes gave way to a look of terror.

Her expression changed immediately, and the smile in her eyes gave way to terror.

"What is that?" Ralph asked sharply.

"What is that?" Ralph asked sharply.

"An avalanche! It's just started—what shall I do, oh, what shall I do! It'll reach here in fifteen minutes and I'm absolutely helpless. Tell me—what shall I do?"

"An avalanche! It's just started. What should I do? Oh, what should I do! It'll reach here in fifteen minutes, and I'm completely helpless. Tell me, what should I do?"

The mind of the scientist reacted instantly.

The scientist's mind reacted instantly.

"Speak quick!" he barked. "Is your Power Mast still up?"

"Speak quickly!" he barked. "Is your Power Mast still up?"

"Yes, but what good—?"

"Yes, but what good...?"

"Never mind. Your wave length?"

"Never mind. What's your wavelength?"

".629."

".629."

"Oscillatory?"

"Oscillating?"

"491,211."

"491,211."

"Can you direct it yourself?"

"Can you direct it yourself?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Could you attach a six-foot piece of your blown-down Communico mast to the base of the Power aerial?"

"Could you attach a six-foot piece of your fallen Communico mast to the base of the Power aerial?"

"Certainly—it's of alomagnesium and it is very light."

"Certainly, it's made of alomagnesium and is very light."

"Good! Now act quick! Run to the roof and attach the Communico mastpiece to the very base of the power mast, and point the former towards the avalanche. Then move the directoscope exactly to West-by-South, and point the antenna of the power mast East-by-North. Now run—I'll do the rest!"

"Good! Now act fast! Run to the roof and attach the Communico mastpiece to the very base of the power mast. Point the mastpiece toward the avalanche. Then move the directoscope exactly to West-by-South. Point the power mast's antenna East-by-North. Now run! I'll do the rest!"

He saw her drop the receiver and rush away from the Telephot. Immediately he leaped up the glass stairs to the top of his building, and swung his big aerial around so that it pointed West-by-South.

He saw her drop the receiver and rush away from the Telephot. He immediately leaped up the glass stairs to the top of his building. He turned his large aerial so it pointed west by south.

He then adjusted his directoscope till a little bell began to ring. He knew then that the instrument was in perfect tune with the far-off instrument in Switzerland; he also noted that its pointer had swung to exactly East-by-North.

He adjusted his directoscope until a small bell began to ring. He then knew that it was perfectly tuned to the distant instrument in Switzerland. He also noticed that its pointer had swung to exactly east by north.

"So far, so good," he whistled with satisfaction. "Now for the power!"

"So far, so good," he whistled with satisfaction. "Now for the power!"

He ran down to the laboratory and threw in a switch. Then he threw in another one with his foot, while clasping his ears tightly with his rubber-gloved hands. A terrible, whining sound was heard, and the building shook. It was the warning siren on top of the house, which could be heard within a radius of sixty miles, sounding its warning to all to keep away from tall steel or metal structures, or, if they could not do this, to insulate themselves.

He ran down to the laboratory and flipped a switch. Then he flipped another switch with his foot while covering his ears tightly with his rubber-gloved hands. A terrible whining sound rang out, and the building shook. It was the warning siren on the roof of the house. It could be heard within sixty miles. The siren warned everyone to stay away from tall steel or metal structures. If they could not, they were to insulate themselves.

He sounded the siren twice for ten seconds, which meant that he would direct his ultra-power for at least twenty minutes, and everybody must be on guard for this length of time.

He sounded the siren twice, for ten seconds each time. This meant he would direct his ultra-power for at least twenty minutes, and everyone had to stay on guard throughout that time.

No sooner had the siren blast stopped, than he had seen Alice at the Telephot, signalling him that everything was in readiness.

As soon as the siren stopped, he saw Alice at the Telephot, signaling that everything was ready.

He yelled to her to insulate herself, and he saw her jump into a tall glass chair where she sat perfectly still, deathly white. He could see that she clasped her hands to her ears; and he knew that she must be trying to shut out the thunder of the descending avalanche.

He shouted for her to insulate herself. He saw her jump into a tall glass chair and sit perfectly still, deathly pale. She pressed her hands over her ears. He knew she must be trying to block out the thunder of the falling avalanche.

He ran up his high glass ladder; and having reached the top, began to turn the large glass wheel the shaft of which was connected with the ultra-generator.

He ran up his tall glass ladder. At the top, he began turning the large glass wheel, whose shaft was connected to the ultra-generator.

As he started turning the wheel, for the first time he looked at the clock. He observed that it was just nine minutes after he first had heard the gong and he smiled, coldly. He knew he was in time.

As he began turning the wheel, he looked at the clock for the first time. Only nine minutes had passed since he first heard the gong. He smiled coldly. He knew he was in time.

A terrifying roar set in as soon as he had commenced to turn the wheel. It was as if a million devils had been let loose. Sparks were flying everywhere. Small metal parts not encased in lead boxes fused. Long streamers of blue flames emanated from sharp objects, while ball-shaped objects glowed with a white aureole.

A terrifying roar began as soon as he started turning the wheel. It was as if a million devils had been let loose. Sparks flew everywhere. Small metal parts not enclosed in lead boxes melted together. Long streamers of blue flame shot from sharp objects, while ball-shaped objects glowed with a white halo.

Large iron pieces became strongly magnetic, and small iron objects continually flew from one large iron piece to another. Ralph's watch chain became so hot that he had to discard it, together with his watch.

Large pieces of iron became strongly magnetic. Small iron objects kept flying from one large piece to another. Ralph's watch chain became so hot that he had to throw it away, along with his watch.

He kept on turning the wheel, and the roar changed to a scream so intense that he had to pull out his rubber ear vacuum-caps so that he might not hear the terrible sound. As he turned the wheel farther around the tone of the ultra-generator reached the note where it coincided with the fundamental note of the building, which was built of steelonium (the new substitute for steel).

He kept turning the wheel, and the roar became an intense scream. He had to pull out his rubber ear vacuum-caps so he would not hear the terrible sound. As he turned the wheel farther, the ultra-generator’s tone reached the building’s fundamental note. The building was made of steelonium, the new substitute for steel.

Suddenly the whole building "sang," with a shriek so loud and piercing that it could be heard twenty miles away.

Suddenly, the whole building "sang" with a shriek so loud and piercing that it could be heard twenty miles away.

Another building whose fundamental note was the same began to "sing" in its turn, just as one tuning fork produces sympathetic sounds in a similar distant one.

Another building with the same fundamental note began to "sing" in turn, just as one tuning fork makes a similar distant fork sound.

A few more turns of the wheel and the "singing" stopped. As he continued turning the wheel of the generator, the latter gave out sounds sharper and sharper, higher and higher, shriller and shriller, till the shrieking became unendurable.

A few more turns of the wheel and the "singing" stopped. As he kept turning the generator's wheel, its sounds grew sharper, higher, and shriller. At last, the shrieking became unbearable.

And then, suddenly, all sound stopped abruptly.

And then, suddenly, all sound stopped.

The frequency had passed over twenty thousand, at which point the human ear ceases to hear sounds.

The frequency had passed twenty thousand, the point where the human ear can no longer hear sounds.

Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and then stopped. Except for the flying iron pieces, there was no sound. Even the myriads of sparks leaping around were strangely silent, except for the hissing noise of flames streaming from sharp metal points.

Ralph turned the wheel a few more notches and stopped. There was no sound except from the flying pieces of iron. Even the countless sparks leaping around were strangely silent. The only other sound was the hiss of flames streaming from sharp metal points.

Ralph looked at the clock. It was exactly ten minutes after the first sounding of the gong. He then turned the wheel one notch further and instantly the room was plunged into pitch-black darkness.

Ralph looked at the clock. It was exactly ten minutes since the gong had first sounded. He turned the wheel one more notch, and the room instantly went pitch-black.

To anyone unacquainted with the tremendous force under the control of Ralph 124C 41 +, but having the temerity to insulate himself and stand on a nearby roof there would have been visible an unusual sight. He would also have undergone some remarkable experiences.

Anyone unfamiliar with the tremendous force controlled by Ralph 124C 41 + would have seen an unusual sight. But they would have had to be bold enough to insulate themselves and stand on a nearby roof. They would also have had some remarkable experiences.

The uninitiated stranger standing—well insulated—on a roof not very far off from Ralph's laboratory, would have witnessed the following remarkable phenomena:

A well-insulated stranger on a roof not far from Ralph's laboratory, unaware of what was happening, would have seen these remarkable phenomena:

As soon as Ralph threw the power of the Ultra-Generator on his aerial, the latter began to shoot out hissing flames in the direction of West-by-South.

As soon as Ralph sent the Ultra-Generator's power to his antenna, it began shooting hissing flames toward West-by-South.

As Ralph kept turning on more power, the flames became longer and the sound louder. The heavy iridium wires of the large aerial became red-hot, then yellow, then dazzling white, and the entire mast became white-hot. Just as the observer could hardly endure the shrill hissing sound of the outflowing flames any more, the sound stopped altogether, abruptly, and simultaneously the whole landscape was plunged into such a pitch-black darkness as he had never experienced before. He could not even see his hand before his eyes. The aerial could not be seen either, although he could feel the tremendous energy still flowing away.

As Ralph turned up the power, the flames grew longer and the sound grew louder. The heavy iridium wires of the large aerial glowed red, then yellow, then a dazzling white. The entire mast grew white-hot. The observer could hardly bear the shrill hiss of the escaping flames. Just then, the sound stopped abruptly, and the whole landscape plunged into darkness blacker than any he had ever experienced. He could not even see his hand in front of his eyes. He could not see the aerial either, although he could feel the tremendous energy still flowing away.

What had happened? The aerial on top of Ralph's house had obtained such a tremendously high frequency, and had become so strongly energyzed, that it acted toward the ether much the same as a vacuum pump acts on the air.

What had happened? The aerial on top of Ralph's house had reached an enormously high frequency and become so strongly energized that it acted on the ether much like a vacuum pump acts on air.

The aerial for a radius of some forty miles attracted the ether so fast that a new supply could not spread over this area with sufficient rapidity.

The aerial drew in ether from a radius of about forty miles so quickly that fresh ether could not spread across the area fast enough.

Inasmuch as light waves cannot pass through space without the medium of ether, it necessarily follows that the entire area upon which the aerial acted was dark.

Light waves cannot pass through space without the medium of ether. It necessarily follows that the entire area affected by the aerial was dark.

The observer who had never before been in an etherless hole (the so-called negative whirlpool), experienced some remarkable sensations during the twenty minutes that followed.

The observer had never been in an etherless hole before. It was also called a negative whirlpool. Over the next twenty minutes, the observer experienced some remarkable sensations.

It is a well known fact that heat waves cannot pass through space without their medium, ether, the same as an electric bell, working in a vacuum, cannot be heard outside of the vacuum, because sound waves cannot pass through space without their medium, the air.

It is well known that heat waves cannot travel through space without ether as their medium. Similarly, an electric bell ringing in a vacuum cannot be heard outside it. This is because sound waves cannot travel through space without air as their medium.

No sooner had the darkness set in, than a peculiar feeling of numbness and passiveness would have come over him.

As soon as darkness fell, a strange feeling of numbness and passivity would have come over him.

As long as he was in the etherless space, he absolutely stopped growing older, as no combustion nor digestion can go on without ether. He furthermore had lost all sense of heat or cold. His pipe, hot previously, was neither hot nor cold to his touch. His own body could not grow cold as its heat could not be given off to the atmosphere, nor could his body grow cold, even if he had sat on a cake of ice, because there was no ether to permit the heat to pass from one atom to another.

As long as he was in etherless space, he stopped growing older completely. Neither combustion nor digestion can take place without ether. He had also lost all sense of heat or cold. His pipe, which had been hot before, felt neither hot nor cold to him. His body could not grow cold because it could not give off heat to the atmosphere. It could not grow cold even if he sat on a block of ice. That was because there was no ether to let heat pass from one atom to another.

He would have remembered how, one day, he had been in a tornado center, and how, when the storm center had created a partial vacuum around him, he all of a sudden had felt the very air drawn from his lungs. He would have remembered people talking about an air-less hole, in which there was no medium but ether (inasmuch as he could see the light). Now things were reversed. He could hear and breathe, because the ether has no effect on these functions; but he had been robbed of his visual senses, and heat or cold could not affect him, as there was no means by which the heat or cold could traverse the ether-hole.

He would have remembered the day he was in the center of a tornado. The storm had created a partial vacuum around him, and he suddenly felt the air drawn from his lungs. He would have remembered people talking about an airless hole containing nothing but ether. They knew ether was there because he could see the light. Now things were reversed. He could hear and breathe because ether has no effect on hearing or breathing. But he had lost his sight. Heat and cold could not affect him either, because they had no way to travel through the ether-hole.

Alice's father, who had heard of the strike of the Meteoro-Tower operators and guessed of his daughter's predicament, rushed back from Paris in his aeroflyer. He had speeded up his machine to the utmost, scenting impending disaster as if by instinct. When finally his villa came into sight, his blood froze in his veins and his heart stopped beating at the scene below him.

Alice's father had heard about the Meteoro-Tower operators' strike and guessed that his daughter was in trouble. He rushed back from Paris in his aeroflyer. He pushed the machine to its top speed, sensing as if by instinct that disaster was near. When his villa finally came into view, the scene below made his blood freeze and his heart stop.

He could see that an immense avalanche was sweeping down the mountain-side, with his house, that sheltered his daughter, directly in the path of it.

He could see a huge avalanche sweeping down the mountainside. His house was directly in its path, and his daughter was inside.

As he approached, he heard the roar and thunder of the avalanche as it swept everything in its path before it. He knew he was powerless, as he could not reach the house in time, and it only meant the certain destruction of himself if he could; and for that reason he could do nothing but be a spectator of the tragedy which would enact itself before his eyes in a few short minutes.

As he approached, he heard the avalanche roar and thunder as it swept away everything in its path. He knew he was powerless. He could not reach the house in time, and even if he could, he would certainly be killed. So he could only watch the tragedy unfold before his eyes in the next few minutes.

At this juncture a miracle, so it seemed to the distracted father, occurred.

At that moment, what seemed to the frantic father like a miracle occurred.

His eye chanced to fall on the Power mast on the top of his house. He could see the iridium aerial wires which were pointing East-by-North suddenly become red-hot; then yellow, then white-hot, at the same time he felt that some enormous etheric disturbance had been set up, as sparks were flying from all metallic parts of his machine. When he looked again at the aerial on his house, he saw that a piece of the Communico mast, which apparently had fallen at the base of the Power mast, and which was pointing directly at the avalanche, was streaming gigantic flames which grew longer and longer, and gave forth shriller and shriller sounds. The flames which streamed from the end of the Communico-mast-piece looked like a tremendously long jet of water leaving its nozzle under pressure.

His eye happened to fall on the Power mast atop his house. He saw the iridium aerial wires, which pointed East-by-North, suddenly glow red-hot, then yellow, then white-hot. At the same time, he felt that some enormous etheric disturbance had begun. Sparks were flying from every metal part of his machine. When he looked again at the aerial on his house, he saw a piece of the Communico mast. It had apparently fallen at the base of the Power mast and was pointing directly at the avalanche. Gigantic flames streamed from it, growing longer and longer and making increasingly shrill sounds. The flames looked like a tremendously long jet of water shooting under pressure from a nozzle.

For about five hundred yards from the tip of the Communico mast it was really only a single flame about fifteen feet in diameter. Beyond that it spread out fan-wise. He could also see that the entire Power mast, including the Communico mast, was glowing in a white heat, showing that immense forces were directed upon it. By this time the avalanche had almost come in contact with the furthest end of the flames.

For about five hundred yards from the tip of the Communico mast, there was just one flame, about fifteen feet across. Beyond that, it spread out like a fan. He could also see that the entire Power mast, including the Communico mast, was glowing white-hot. This showed that immense forces were directed at it. By now, the avalanche had almost reached the farthest end of the flames.

Here the unbelievable happened. No sooner did the avalanche touch the flames, than it began turning to water. It seemed that the heat of those flames was so intense and powerful that had the avalanche been a block of solid ice it would not have made any marked difference. As it was, the entire avalanche was being reduced to hot water and steam even before it reached the main shaft of the flame.

Here, the unbelievable happened. As soon as the avalanche touched the flames, it began turning to water. The flames seemed so intensely hot and powerful that even a solid block of ice would have fared little differently. The entire avalanche was turning to hot water and steam before it even reached the main column of flame.

A torrent of hot water rushing down the mountain was all that remained of the menacing avalanche; and while the water did some damage, it was insignificant.

All that remained of the threatening avalanche was a torrent of hot water rushing down the mountain. Though the water caused some damage, it was insignificant.

For several minutes after the melting of the avalanche the flames continued to stream from the aerial, and then faded away.

For several minutes after the avalanche melted, flames continued to stream from the aerial. Then they faded away.

Ralph 124C 41+, in New York, four thousand miles distant, had turned off the power of his ultra-generator.

Ralph 124C 41+, who was in New York, four thousand miles away, had turned off his ultra-generator.

He climbed down his glass ladder, stepped over to the Telephot, and found that Alice had already reached her instrument.

He climbed down his glass ladder and went to the Telephot. Alice had already reached her instrument.

She looked at the man smiling in the faceplate of the Telephot almost dumb with an emotion that came very near to being reverence.

She looked at the man smiling on the Telephot’s screen. She was nearly speechless with an emotion close to reverence.

The voice that reached him was trembling and he could see her struggle for coherent speech.

Her voice trembled, and he could see her struggle to speak clearly.

"It's gone," she gasped; "what did you do?"

"It's gone," she gasped. "What did you do?"

"Melted it."

"Melted it."

"Melted it!" she echoed, "I—"

"Melted it!" she repeated. "I..."

Before she could continue, the door in her room burst violently open and in rushed a fear-stricken old man. Alice flew to his arms, crying, "Oh father—"

Before she could continue, the door to her room burst open, and a terrified old man rushed in. Alice ran into his arms, crying, "Oh, Father!"

Ralph 124C 41+ with discretion disconnected the Telephot.

Ralph 124C 41+ discreetly disconnected the Telephot.