A bell jangled madly.

The crackle of pistol-fire punched dully through the rushing swiftness.
With a curse the major whirled.

Frowning, the Master turned and peered.

_Nissr_, staggering, tilted her beak sharply oceanward.

At a sick angle, she slid, reeling, toward the burnished, watery floor that seemed surging up to meet her.
A hoarse shout from the far end of the take-off drew the Master's eyes thither.