lated,
they had been there. And still the clashing of those jaws rang steadily,
maddeningly in their ears.

Clash-clash-clash. The things seemed as tireless as machinery.
Clash-clash-clash. And into that savage, tireless movement, Denny read a
sort of longing refrain.

"Try--to--es--cape! Try--to--es--cape!"

He shivered. At any time, did he and Jim grow too fearful of the dark
future or too nerve-wracked by the terrific suspense, they could step
into these gigantic, steel-hard jaws. But to be sliced in two ...

Jim stopped his pacing, and stared speculatively at the wall of their
cell. For the dozenth time he raised his ponderous spear and thrust the
pointed end at the wall with all his strength. And for the dozenth time
he was rewarded only by seeing a flake no larger than his clenched fist
fall out.

"Might as well be cement!" he rasped. "God, we're caught like flies in a
spiderweb!"

"Well, you wanted excitement," remarked Dennis, a bit acidly. The strain
was telling on him more than on the less finely strung Holden; but he
was struggling to keep himself in hand.

"So I did want excitement," said Jim. "But I want at least a sporting
chance for my white-alley, too. But--"

He stopped; and both stared swiftly toward the door.

* * * * *

The ponderous, gruesome clashing of jaws had stopped. The two nightmare
guards stood motionless, as though at command. Then they moved into the
cell, straight toward the two men.

"It's come!" said Jim through set teeth. He swung his spear up, ready to
shoot it at the horny breastplate of the nearest monster with all his
puny strength. "We're going to catch it now!"

But Dennis gazed more intently; and he saw that the blind but ferocious
creatures showed no real signs of molesting them. Instead, they were
edging to one side. In a moment, as the two men moved warily to keep
their distance, they found suddenly that the soldiers were behind them,
and that the doorway was free to them.

The glimpse of freedom, however, was not inspiring. The meaning of the
move was too apparent: they were again being herded.

Whatever reigning power it was that had let them penetrate so deeply
into the trap, and then had surrounded and imprisoned them--was now
going to honor them with an audience.

"His Majesty commands," commented Jim, reading the sinister gesture as
clearly as Denny had. "I'll wager we're about to meet your 'unknown
intelligence,' Denny