Astounding Stories, July, 1931

In the quiet darkness of a South Pacific night, the captain of a weather‑worn schooner spots a flickering green beam slicing through the gloom from a barren, volcanic island. The light spells a frantic SOS in Morse, warning of an imminent danger the crew has never imagined. Intrigued and uneasy, the captain and his first mate scramble to answer, using lanterns and a nautical almanac to mask their reply.

What they find on the island is far from ordinary—a strange, otherworldly presence that seems to pulse with an eerie, alien intelligence. As the crew explores the rocky cliffs, the green fire darts and disappears, hinting at a hidden menace that could threaten more than just their vessel. The story builds a tense, atmospheric race against an unseen threat, blending classic seafaring adventure with early 20th‑century science‑fiction wonder.