now."

"Not till I've questioned him," said Tommy savagely. "He and Jacaro
have started hell to popping, with that Tube design they stole from
me. He's got to stay alive and tell us how to stop it. Von Holtz,
talk! And talk quick, or back you go through the Tube for the Ragged
Men to work on!"

CHAPTER III

_The Tree-Fern Jungle_

Tommy watched Smithers drive away. The sun was sinking low toward the
west, and the car stirred up a cloud of light-encarmined dust as it
sped down the long, narrow lane to the main road. The laboratory had
intentionally been built in an isolated spot, but at the moment Tommy
would have given a good deal for a few men nearby. Smithers was taking
Von Holtz to Albany to add his information to Denham's pleas. Denham
had ordered it, when they reached him by phone after hours of effort.
Smithers had to go, to guard against Von Holtz's escape, even sick and
ill as he was. And Evelyn had refused to go with him.

"If I stay in the laboratory," she insisted fiercely, "you can slip
down and I can blow up the Tube after you, if the Ragged Men don't
stay away. But by yourself...."

Tommy did not consent, but he was helpless. There was danger from the
Tube. Not only from ghastly animals which might come through, but from
men. Smithers had fought the Ragged Men above it. He had chased them
off, but they would come back. Perhaps they would come very soon,
perhaps not until Denham and Smithers had returned. If they could be
held off, the as yet unknown dangers from the other Tube--of which
only the lizards and the Death Mist were certainties--might be
counteracted. In any case, the Tube must not be destroyed until its
defense was hopeless.

Tommy made up a grim bundle to go through the Tube with him: the
sub-machine gun, extra drums of shells, more gas bombs and half a
dozen grenades. He hung the various objects about himself. Evelyn
watched him miserably.

"You--you'll be careful, Tommy?"

"Nothing else but," said Tommy. He grinned reassuringly. "There's
nothing to it, really. Just sitting still, listening. If I pop off
some fireworks I'll just have to sit down and watch them run."

* * * * *

He settled his gas mask about his neck and started to enter the Tube.
Evelyn touched his arm.

"I'm--frightened, Tommy."

"Shucks!" said Tommy. "Also a couple of tut-tuts." He stood up, put
his arms about her, and kissed her until she smiled. "Feel better
now?"