ffort. But he almost dropped it. The hand was as large as a
ham. He reached for the other hand but could not locate it. A movement
on the part of his captor brought it to him and he made the startling
discovery that the palms were directed outward. The hand had only four
fingers, which were armed with long curved claws instead of nails.
Carnes ran his hand up the palm to search for a thumb but found none.
He found, however, that, while the hands were naked, the wrists were
covered with short thick fur.

"Doctor!" he cried, "there's--"

Again came the overpowering will and his speech died away in silence.
He sat dumb and motionless while his captor moved over to Dr. Bird. A
second animal came forward and felt the detective over. He was not
allowed to move this time, nor was he while a third and fourth animal
went carefully over him. The four drew back some distance.

"Doctor," whispered Carnes as the influence grew fainter.

"Shh!" was the answer, and as the doctor's demand for silence was
reinforced by another wave of the paralyzing power, Carnes had no
choice. As he sat there silent, the power which held him again seemed
to grow less. He found that he could move his arms slightly. He edged
forward to get his gun and light. Before he reached them, a beam of
light split the darkness. Dr. Bird stood, electric torch in hand,
staring before him.

At a distance of a few feet stood a group of half a dozen animals
about the height of a man as they stood erect on their short hind
legs. They were covered with heavy brown fur. Their lower limbs were
thin and light, but their shoulders and forelegs were heavy and
powerful. Their forepaws, which had the palms facing outward, were
armed with the long wicked claws he had felt. No visible ears
protruded from the round skulls. Their heads appeared to rest between
their shoulders, so short were their necks. Their muzzles were long
and obtusely pointed. Through grinning jaws could be seen powerful
white teeth.

"Talpidae!" cried Dr. Bird. "Carnes, they are a race of giant
intellectual moles!"

* * * * *

Despite the fact that they had no visible eyes, the creatures were
strongly affected by the light. They dropped on all fours and turned
their backs to the scientist and the detective. Two of them scurried
away down a long tunnel which opened from the room in which they
stood. Dr. Bird turned his light up and swept the room. It was
roughly circula