s futile struggle.

With swimming eyes he looked upon the gathering about the throne,
which, again taking its cue from the madman, way roaring with laughter
at his antics. And again Dick's eyes encountered those of Fredegonde
Valmy.

The girl was not smiling. She was looking straight at him, and for a
moment it seemed to Dick as if he read some message in her eyes.

Only for an instant that idea flashed through his mind. He was in no
mood to receive messages. As he stood panting like a wild beast at
bay, suddenly a filmy substance was thrown over his head from behind.
Then, as his face emerged, and the rest of his body was swiftly
enveloped, he realized what was happening.

They had thrown over him one of the invisible garments. He could feel
the stuff about him, but he could no longer see his own body or limbs.

From his own ken, Dick Rennell had vanished utterly. Where his legs
and feet should have been, there was only the rug, with the burn from
the glass tube. He raised one arm and could not see arm or fingers.

In another moment invisible cords had been flung around him. Dick's
efforts to renew the struggle were quickly cut short. Trussed
helplessly, he could only stand glaring at the madman rocking with
laughter upon his tinsel throne. Beside him, similarly bound, stood
Luke Evans, but Dick was only conscious of the old man's presence by
reason of the short, rasping, emphatic curses that broke from his
lips.

* * * * *

The Emperor turned on his throne and beckoned to Von Kettler, who
approached with a deferential bow.

"Nobility, we charge you with the care of these two prisoners," he
addressed him. "Have the old one removed to the laboratory, and give
orders that he shall assist our chemists to the best of his power in
their analysis of the black gas. As for the other, take him up to the
central office, and show him how we deal with Yankees and all other
pigs. Show him everything, so that he may take back a correct account
of our irresistible powers when we dismiss him."

"Come!" barked one of the guards in Dick's ear.

Dick attempted no further resistance. Convinced of its futility, sick
and reeling from the blows he had received, he accompanied his captors
quietly. There was nothing more that he could do, either for President
Hargreaves or for old Luke, but he still imagined the possibility of
somehow warning the approaching fleet or the occupants of the
dirigible.