nd stood beside Parrish, who
continued examining the wheels. "We mustn't forget Cain," whispered
the girl to her father. "Oh, I hope he understands!"

But there was no direct evidence that Cain did understand, and Parrish
dared not warn him in "Drilgo," for fear one of the Atlanteans might
understand the language. Cain was standing close beside the boat. But
he was not in the boat.

Again one of the Atlanteans shot a question at Parrish. Parrish
beckoned to Cain, and awaited the translation. He answered.

Each moment was growing tenser. It was impossible that the Atlanteans
could fail to understand what was being planned. The only saving
chance was that they did not realize the possibilities of escape that
the vessel offered. A full minute went by.

* * * * *

Suddenly Parrish raised his head. "I've got it fixed, I think, Dent,"
he said. "I'm going to count. When I reach 'three,' seize Cain and
pull him aboard."

Jim nodded. The uneasiness was increasing. The guards at the
camera-like object were each holding some sort of mechanical accessory
in their hands. It looked like a small sphere of glass, and it
connected with the apparatus by means of a hollow tube of fibre. Jim
guessed that in an instant the Ray could be made to dart out of the
lens. It would be quick work--as nearly as possible instantaneous
work.

"Ready, Dent?" asked Parrish in an even voice. In this crisis the old
man had become astonishingly calm. He seemed the calmest of the lot.
"One!"

Jim beckoned to Cain, who came toward him, his eyes goggling in
inquiry.

"Two!"

Jim reached out and took Cain by the arm. There was a sharp question
from the Atlantean who had spoken before.

"Three!"

With all his force Jim yanked Cain over the edge of the boat. The
Drilgo stumbled and fell headlong with a howl of terror. But
headlong--inside.

What happened was practically instantaneous. A sudden whir of the
mechanism, a violet glow from the funnel, the smell of chlorine--a
flash of blinding blue-white light. The Atlantean guards had fired--a
quarter-second too late!

The thump, thump of the electrical discharge died away. The four were
in the boat, whirling away through space. Cain was rising to his
knees, a woe-begone expression on his face. And there was a clean cut,
with charred, black edges along one side of the boat, showing how near
the Atlanteans had come to success.

* * * *