me of the mental errors of this
man of the upper earth," explained the Russian eagerly. "It is merely
a routine operation such as you gave me authority to perform."

"An operation which uses power is not routine," replied the king. "I
am told that this upper-earth man has a brain equal to those of my
most advanced scientist. I am also told that you planned to do more
than rectify his mental errors."

"You have been falsely informed. I was merely about to adjust his
memory."

"Then what means this?" The king pointed to the time-ray machine.

"That was brought here in order that it could be used when you
returned," thought the Russian eagerly. "This upper-earth man killed
Hanac when he brought him food."

The door opened and Hanac entered.

"Oh, Astok," objected Hanac's thoughts, "when these upper-earth men
had me at their mercy, with a light, they spared me. They paralyzed me
for a time so that they might escape but they did it in such a manner
that no harm came to me."

"So Jumor told me," replied the king. "Release them."

* * * * *

In an instant Carnes was on his feet removing the helmet from Dr.
Bird's head. The doctor struggled to his feet.

"Dr. Bird," thought the king, "can you communicate with me easily?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, but may I ask that you alter the vibration period
of my comrade, Mr. Carnes? He cannot understand you with his present
low period."

The king stepped to the box with which Saranoff had been working. In
response to his commands the helmet which had been on Dr. Bird's head
was placed on the detective. The king made a few adjustments to the
dials and signalled for the helmet to be removed.

"Can you understand me, Mr. Carnes?" he asked mentally.

The question leaped with startling clearness into the detective's
head. Carefully he framed his answer.

"I can understand you," said the king. "I will now sit in judgment on
the appeal made to me. Dr. Bird tell me your story."

With eloquent thoughts, Dr. Bird poured forth the history of the upper
world. He told of the great war and the collapse of the Russian
monarchy. He traced history to the fall of the moderate party and the
rise of the Bolsheviki. He described the horrible conditions existing
in Russia. At the end he reviewed the long battle he and Carnes had
fought against Saranoff. When he had finished, the king questioned
Carnes.

The detective repeated the story in different words and the