"Simple enough, Jack." The professor's tone was grave. "When dawn
comes, and the rising sun strikes that--"

"Good God!" Stoddard suddenly understood. "Why, we'll be cooked
alive--frizzled!"

It was only too true. Even now, the pale rays of the moon,
concentrated by the myriad facets of that monumental diamond, were
beginning to focus on them a warmth that was uncomfortable. And by
morning--!

The two men crouched there silent, realizing their desperate plight.
They _must_ escape, before the sun rose. But how?

* * * * *

Studying their bonds, they discovered that they were of rawhide of
some sort, obviously from the hides of animals these strange people
caught on the lower slopes somewhere. But though they strained and
twisted, they could not stretch them, the leather evidently having
been cured to a marvelous toughness in these high altitudes.

Precious minutes ticked by as they struggled there, but they were
unable to extricate themselves.

But before the end of a half-hour, Stoddard managed to free one arm,
and reaching into his jacket he drew forth a small, compact metal
object--his cigarette lighter.

Twirling the wheel, while Professor Prescott held his breath, he
succeeded in kindling a flame on its tiny wick.

If only he could reach the thongs with it! If only he could burn them
through and free himself and the professor before any of the pigmies
re-entered that lethal chamber!

Wrenching around now, he applied the flame to his left wrist, which
was still bound. As the living fire touched his flesh, he winced with
pain, but almost anything was better than the grisly fate that
threatened.

Slowly, a little at a time, he endured the torture, straining at each
application to see if the thongs would yield.

"Here, let me try it once!" called out Professor Prescott, as he cried
aloud with the agony of the ordeal.

"No. I'll get it!" Stoddard gritted his teeth, continued. "There! I
think my hand is free!" He struggled. "Yes. Now wait!"

Replacing his cigarette lighter in his pocket, he drew his blistered
wrist from its smouldering bonds and struggled feverishly now to undo
the lashes about his feet.

Five minutes of that and suddenly he flung them off and stood up.

"Now! Now then, Professor. I'll have you loose in a jiffy!"

Bending over his fettered companion, he worked with frantic haste to
untie the rawhide bonds.

Another five minutes and they were both free