Twice or thrice, gaps in the cloud-veil let dim ocean appear to the watchers in the glass observation pits; and once they spied a laboring speck on the waters--a great passenger-liner, worrying toward New York in heavy weather.

The doings of such, and of the world below, seemed trivial to the Legionaries as follies of dazed insects.
No further attack was made on _Nissr_, nor was anything seen of any other air-squadron of International Police.

The wireless picked up, however, a cross-fire of dazed, uncomprehending messages being hurled east and west, north and south--messages of consternation, doubt, anger.
The world, wholly at a loss to understand the thing that had come upon it, was listening to reports from the straggling Azores fleet as it staggered into various ports.

Every continent already was buzzing with alarm and rage.

In less than eighteen hours the calm and peaceful ways of civilization had received an epoch-making jar.