ith
that. I want to stay underground until Astok, their king, returns.
When he comes, we will surrender to him."

"Suppose they operate without giving us a chance to present our side
of the affair."

"If they do, Saranoff wins; but they won't. The more I have seen of
the Selom, the more impressed I am by their sense of justice. They'll
give us a hearing, all right, and a fair one."

For two hours the doctor led the way. At the end of that time he
stopped.

"We've gone as far as we need to," he said. "They'll undoubtedly send
out searching parties, but if we can avoid thinking they won't be able
to find us. The tunnels are a perfect labyrinth. If you care to sleep,
go to it. We'll be safer sleeping than awake, for we won't be sending
out thoughts so fast."

* * * * *

Dr. Bird threw himself down on the rubber floor of the tunnel and was
soon asleep. Carnes tried to follow his example, but sleep would not
come to him. Frantically he tried to think of nothing. By an effort he
would sit for a few minutes with his mind a conscious blank, but
thoughts would throng in in spite of him. Time and again he brought
himself up with a jerk and forced his mind to become a blank. The
hours passed slowly. Carnes grew cramped from long immobility and
rose. A sudden thought intruded itself into his mind. "I might as well
throw that light away," he murmured to himself. "It will be no good
now. The Selom won't hurt us if they do catch us."

He reached in his pocket for the light. He was about to hurl it from
him when a moment of sanity came to him. He stared about. The impulse
to hurl the light away came stronger. He strove in vain to turn it on.

"Doctor!" he cried suddenly. "Wake up! They're after us!"

With a bound, Dr. Bird was on his feet.

"The light!" he cried. "Where is it?"

"In--my--hand," murmured Carnes with stiffening lips.

Dr. Bird seized the light. A beam stabbed the darkness. Less than
fifty feet from them stood two moles. As the light flashed on Carnes
regained control of himself.

"Take the light, Carnes," snapped the doctor. "I've got to put these
fellows to sleep."

Slowly he advanced toward the motionless Selom. He had almost reached
them when the light flickered out. He turned and raced at full speed
toward the detective. Carnes was standing rigid and motionless. Dr.
Bird took the light from his hand. Despite the almost overpowering
drag on his mind, he managed to turn