It appeared that the flock had passed, only somewhere from an infinite height still sounded a fitful wailing, as if a lonely bird were wandering, lost in space.
"That is the signalling volor," murmured Percy to himself.
He had no theory--no suggestion.

Yet the matter seemed an ominous one.
It was unheard of that an encounter with a hundred volors should take place, and he wondered why they were going southwards.

Again the name of Felsenburgh came to his mind.

What if that sinister man were still somewhere overhead?
"Eminence," began the old man again.

But at that instant the car began to move.
A bell clanged, a vibration tingled underfoot, and then, soft as a flake of snow, the great ship began to rise, its movement perceptible only by the sudden drop and vanishing of the spire of rock at which Percy still stared.