n the
telephone, I am to deliver a sealed packet which I carry to the
nearest United States Marshal. When reenforcements arrive, either from
the Navy Yard or from the Marshal, I am to guide them toward the spot
where I dropped you and remain, as nearly as I can judge, two miles
away until I get a further signal or orders from you."

"That is right. We'll be over the edge in another minute. Are you
ready, Carnes?"

"Oh, yes, I'm ready, Doctor, if I have to risk my precious life in
this contraption."

"Then jump!"

* * * * *

Side by side, Carnes and the doctor dropped toward the ground. The
Douglass flew silently away into the night. Carnes found that the
sensation of falling was not an unpleasant one as soon as he got
accustomed to it. There was little sensation of motion, and it was not
until a sharp whisper from Dr. Bird called it to his attention that he
realized that he was almost to the ground. He bent his legs as he had
been instructed and landed without any great jar. As he rose he saw
that Dr. Bird was already on his feet and was eagerly searching the
ground with the spectroscope which he had brought with him in the
jump.

"Fold your parachute, Carnes, and we'll stow them away under a rock
where they can't be seen. We won't use them again."

Carnes did so and deposited the silk bundle beside the doctor's, and
they covered them with rocks until they would be invisible from the
air.

"Follow me," said the doctor as he strode carefully forward, stopping
now and then to take a sight with the spectroscope. Carnes followed
him as he made his way up a small hill which blocked the way. A hiss
from Dr. Bird stopped him.

Dr. Bird had dropped flat on the ground, and Carnes, on all fours,
crawled forward to join him. He smothered an exclamation as he looked
over the crest of the hill. Before him, sitting in a hollow in the
ground, was the huge globe which had spirited away Major Trowbridge.

"This is evidently their landing place," whispered Dr. Bird. "The next
thing to find is their hiding place."

* * * * *

He rose and started forward but sank at once to the ground and dragged
Carnes down with him. On the hill which formed the opposite side of
the hollow a line of light showed for an instant as though a door had
been opened. The light disappeared and then reappeared, and as they
watched it widened and against an illuminated background four me