Now and then he shook his head, like a man just waking from a dream and trying to make himself realize that he is indeed awake.
The others, some to a greater degree, some to a less, shared the major's perturbation.

A daze, a numb stupefaction had fallen on them.
The Master, however, soon recalled them to activity.

Not much time now remained before _Nissr_ must make her landing on the plain near the Golden City.

None was to be wasted.
Vigorous orders set the Legionaries to work.

The machine-guns were loaded and fully manned; several pieces of apparatus that the Master had been perfecting in his cabin were brought into the lower gallery; everyone was commanded to smarten his personal appearance.