THE METAL MONSTER

By A. Merritt

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE


CHAPTER I.   VALLEY OF THE BLUE POPPIES

CHAPTER II.   THE SIGIL ON THE ROCKS

CHAPTER III.   RUTH VENTNOR

CHAPTER IV.   METAL WITH A BRAIN

CHAPTER V.   THE SMITING THING

CHAPTER VI.   NORHALA OF THE LIGHTNINGS

CHAPTER VII.   THE SHAPES IN THE MIST

CHAPTER VIII.   THE DRUMS OF THUNDER

CHAPTER IX.   THE PORTAL OF FLAME

CHAPTER X.   "WITCH! GIVE BACK MY SISTER"

CHAPTER XI.   THE METAL EMPEROR

CHAPTER XII.   "I WILL GIVE YOU PEACE"

CHAPTER XIII.   "VOICE FROM THE VOID"

CHAPTER XIV.   "FREE! BUT A MONSTER!"

CHAPTER XV.   THE HOUSE OF NORHALA

CHAPTER XVI.   CONSCIOUS METAL!

CHAPTER XVII.   YURUK

CHAPTER XVIII.   INTO THE PIT

CHAPTER XIX.   THE CITY THAT WAS ALIVE

CHAPTER XX.   VAMPIRES OF THE SUN

CHAPTER XXI.   PHANTASMAGORIA METALLIQUE

CHAPTER XXII.   THE ENSORCELLED CHAMBER

CHAPTER XXIII.   THE TREACHERY OF YURUK

CHAPTER XXIV.   RUSZARK

CHAPTER XXV.   CHERKIS

CHAPTER XXVI.   THE VENGEANCE OF NORHALA

CHAPTER XXVII.   "THE DRUMS OF DESTINY"

CHAPTER XXVIII.     THE FRENZY OF RUTH

CHAPTER XXIX.   THE PASSING OF NORHALA

CHAPTER XXX.   BURNED OUT

CHAPTER XXXI.   SLAG!

PROLOGUE

Before the narrative which follows was placed in my hands, I had never seen Dr. Walter T. Goodwin, its author.

When the manuscript revealing his adventures among the pre-historic ruins of the Nan-Matal in the Carolines (The Moon Pool) had been given me by the International Association of Science for editing and revision to meet the requirements of a popular presentation, Dr. Goodwin had left America. He had explained that he was still too shaken, too depressed, to be able to recall experiences that must inevitably carry with them freshened memories of those whom he loved so well and from whom, he felt, he was separated in all probability forever.

I had understood that he had gone to some remote part of Asia to pursue certain botanical studies, and it was therefore with the liveliest surprise and interest that I received a summons from the President of the Association to meet Dr. Goodwin at a designated place and hour.

Through my close study of the Moon Pool papers I had formed a mental image of their writer. I had read, too, those volumes of botanical research which have set him high above all other American scientists in this field, gleaning from their curious mingling of extremely technical observations and minutely accurate but extraordinarily poetic descriptions, hints to amplify my picture of him. It gratified me to find I had drawn a pretty good one.

The man to whom the President of the Association introduced me was sturdy, well-knit,