Fletcher Pratt

“ Along and slightly below this walk was a row of instrument boards not unlike those of the mining machine, and at each of these one of the ape-men lay, helmet on head, apparently asleep. “No, not asleep,” the Lassan told him, “they do not require it, like all our mechanical servants. They have merely been thrown into a state of nothingness till we need them.” ”

“ The car made several stops on the way, but Sherman, braced and ready, listened in vain for the tap that would tell him they had reached their destination. At last it came; two soft knocks. He bent, thrust home the needle. The door slid back, and he stepped out into one of the blue-domed rooms. His eyes caught a fantastic maze of machinery, helmeted ape-men busy at it and beyond them the huge forms of several uncompleted fighting machines.
The dancer gripped his hand. “This way,” she said, pointing along the wall past the machines. “Take it easy; don't run till they notice us.” ”

“ As they emerged the viewing plate swung round to show them three of the big four-winged birds go whirring up from some unseen covert, spiral into the air above them and flying level with them, form an escort. ”