Of course, the execution of the project demanded a colossal effort and a large sum of money. Germany was not the only country where precautions were necessary. It was of paramount importance to organize a system of construction of electro-magnets in several points on the continent, because it was impossible to foretell whither the tide would toss the strange enemy in the near future. Besides, the work would have to be completed in the shortest possible time; else it might be too late. The operations seemed very difficult, indeed — almost beyond possibility of fulfilment — but upon them rested the fate of mankind. It was absolutely necessary to try.

All this was so evident, that it did not provoke any disputes or discussions. After a brief exchange of opinions, it was decided to appoint a commission to work out every detail of the project proposed by Deriugin.

In addition to that, the assembly decided to bring the case before the people and appeal to the government to immediately appropriate an adequate sum of money in order to carry out the work. Similar appeals were addressed to all the scientific societies and to the governments of the other countries, urging them to join in the common cause.

V

THREE weeks had passed. Old Europe was crumbling on every step. From one end to the other, by the will of the wind, hovered the flaming sphere, increasing steadily in size and sweeping away everything that was alive. Cities and villages were burning, forests were aflame, day and night enshrouded the sky with curling clouds and asphyxiating smoke. Meadows and fields in ever greater strips, were* becoming reduced into carbonized deserts, stretching in winding ribbons over the map of terror-stricken Europe.

Crossing the Polishborder, the flaming sphere on the same day reached Torna and, passing over the fortress, it destroyed two forts, several batteries and some large powder-depots. The city proper, remained on the safe side of the moving atomic whirl, but it suffered much from the explosions in the forts; the number of dead and wounded reached several hundreds.

The news of the Toma catastrophe reached Warsaw Saturday evening.

Sunday morning an enraged mob broke into the building of the German Consul General and ransacked it, due to a rumor that had passed amongst the people, that "the Germans were at the bottom of everything,” and that the approaching disaster was intentionally precipitated upon Poland by Germany. In the churches, the bells were ringing and the Miserere was solemnly being sung; people were imploring the Lord to rid them of the elemental disaster. An endless procession, with cross and banners, wound through the streets, and the blue smoke of the censers rose high into the bright sky. East of Warsaw a chain of batteries stood ready to meet, at midnight, the unwelcome enemy with the thunder of their metallic mouths. This was the mobilization of religion and science; heavenly and earthly army.