it on. He swung the beam around
in a circle. Besides the two Selom he had seen before, the light
revealed a pair standing behind him. As the light struck them, the
numbing influence vanished for an instant from the doctor's mind. He
moved a step forward and then halted. The moles behind him were
hurling waves of mental power at him. Again the light cleared him for
an instant, but he got a brief glance of other moles hurrying from
every direction.

"The jig's up, I guess," he muttered. He strove to free himself by the
use of his light, but the tiny battery had done its duty, and
gradually the light grew dimmer. The influence grew too strong for
him. With a sigh he shut off the feeble ray and hurled the light from
him. The moles closed in.

"All right," said the doctor audibly. "We'll go peaceably."

* * * * *

As he spoke the paralyzing power was withdrawn. With Carnes at his
side he retraced the route he had taken from the cell. Before they
reached it they turned off. Dr. Bird realized that they were treading
the familiar path to the laboratory.

Outside the laboratory the Selom halted. A wave of mental power
enveloped the prisoners and they remained silent and motionless while
their escort withdrew. From the laboratory came three of the Selom
scientists. As the laboratory door opened they could see that it was
bathed in a flood of light, and that the moles wore helmets covering
their heads. They moved inside. Clad in a white gown stood Saranoff.

"So, my friends, you would run away and leave me, would you?" gloated
the Russian. "And just when I had planned a very beneficial operation
for you! I will remove permanently from your brains all the delusions
which now encumber them, and for your own puny wills I will substitute
my own."

The power which had held the prisoners silent disappeared.

"You have caught us, Saranoff," said Dr. Bird. "I know the power you
wield and that you are making no idle boast. I appeal, however, to
these others, my friends. The operation you are planning to perform
is not a routine one. It is one that should have the sanction of the
king before it is done. I appeal from you to him."

"He is far away," laughed Saranoff. "When he returns, your plea will
be presented to him, but it will be too late to do you any good. You
are right, Doctor--I do not plan a mere routine operation. Not only
will I remove your memory, but I'm going to use the time-ray on yo