d slits, high in opposite walls, gave ventilation; a single tube
set in the ceiling provided illumination.

He was not bound. He sat up and regarded the outflung figure of Friday,
lying to one side. "Something in his look seemed to reach the giant
negro, for, as he watched, the man's eyelids flickered, and a sigh
escaped his full lips. He stared up at Carse, recognition, followed by
gladness, flooding his eyes. The Hawk smiled also. There were close
bonds between these two.

"Lord, I'm sure thankful to be with you, suh!" said the negro with
relief. His eyes rolled as he took in the cabinlike cell. "Hmff--nice
homey little place," he remarked. "Where do you reckon we are, suh?"

"I think we're at last at that place we have searched so long for--Ku
Sui's headquarters, his own spaceship."

It will be remembered by those who have read their history that the
Eurasian's actual base of operations was for a long time the greatest of
the mysteries that enveloped him. Half a dozen times had the Hawk and
his comrade in arms, Eliot Leithgow, hunted for it with all their
separate skill of adventurer and scientist, and, although they had twice
found the man himself, always they had failed to find his actual
retreat.

For those who are unacquainted with the histories of that raw period a
hundred years ago, it will be impossible to understand the spell of fear
which accompanied mention of Dr. Ku throughout the universe--a fear
engendered chiefly by the man's unpredictable comings and goings, thanks
to his secret hiding place. Those who were as close to him as henchmen
could be--which was not very close--only added to the general mystery of
the whereabouts of the base by their sincerely offered but utterly
contradictory notions and data. One thing all agreed on: the outlaw's
lair was a place most frightening.

Therefore it can be understood why, on hearing the Hawk's opinion,
Friday's face fell somewhat.

"Guess that means we're finished, suh," he opined moodily.

* * * * *

Carse had walked to the lone door and found, as he of course expected,
that it was tightly locked. He responded crisply:

"It's not like you to talk that way, Eclipse. We're far from that. We
have succeeded in the first step--if, as I suspect, this cell is part of
Dr. Ku's real headquarters--and surely before he decides to eliminate us
we will be able to learn something of the nature of his space-ship;
perhaps how