Jim, dear."

Jim did not question the psychology of this. He pressed her hand
tenderly. Already Tode and the past were becoming a bad dream.

"Did you say anything about the Atom Smasher, Parrish?" he asked.

"No, I thought it better not to," replied the old scientist. "You see,
they know it only as a force that neutralizes the blue-white ray. Best
not to let them know we're sailing for home in it."

"I think that was wise," answered Jim, and just then the rising
court-way came to a stop level with the top story of the great
building at one side.

Smiling courteously, the guards invited the three to precede them
inside an enormous hall, supported on pillars of gleaming stone
resembling alabaster. In the center was a small, low table, triangular
in shape, with three of the low, curved chairs. The guards invited the
three to be seated.

Almost immediately smiling servitors brought in fruits on platters of
porcelain, dishes of cooked vegetables, somewhat like the modern ones,
but seasoned and flavored with delicious herbs. The staple dish was
something like an oval banana, but infinitely more succulent. The
three fell to and made a hearty meal, which was washed down with fine
wines.

"We've certainly fallen into good hands," said Jim. "All we've got to
do is to lie low, and look pleasant, and it won't be long before we
get an opportunity to get hold of the Atom Smasher."

* * * * *

The guards, seeing that they had finished their meal, smilingly
invited them to accompany them through a huge bronze door at one end
of the hall. It swung back, disclosing complete darkness.

Jim felt Lucille's hand upon his arm. The girl was hesitating, and for
a moment Jim hesitated too, half afraid of a fall into emptiness. Then
he heard the footsteps of the guards ahead, and went on.

It was eery, moving there with the sound of feet in front of them,
and, apart from that, utter silence. Then Lucille uttered a little
cry.

"Jim, do you feel something pushing you?" she asked.

"There is something--" Jim swung around, but some invisible force
continued to propel him forward. He moved sidewise, and the force
gently corrected him. The sound of footsteps had ceased.

"What is it, Jim?" cried the girl. "Help me! Something's got hold of
me!"

Old Parrish was struggling close beside them. Jim panted as he
wrestled with the force, but his efforts were absolutely futile.
Slowly, as if slid on wires, h