king
turned to Saranoff. From the Russian's mind came a tissue of distorted
facts and downright lies. He denied or twisted around everything that
the detective and the scientist had said. When he had done with his
tale, Astok sat in secret thought for a few minutes.

"The tales you tell me are so far apart that I can give credence to
none of them," he announced at length. "There is but one solution.
Although they are never used, for the Selom have forgotten the meaning
of a falsehood, we have instruments which will drag the truth from the
brain of a liar. They are powerful and their use may easily be fatal.
If a man gives forth the contents of his brain willingly, the process
is not painful. If he tries to conceal anything, it is torture. Will
you willingly submit your brains to the searching of this instrument?"

"Gladly," came Dr. Bird's thought and Carnes reechoed it.

"And you, Ivan Saranoff?" demanded the king.

"I will not submit," thought the Russian sullenly.

"You will be examined whether you submit willingly or not," replied
Astok. "I am going to learn the truth though I kill you all to get
it."

* * * * *

At the king's order, Jumor hastened from the laboratory. He returned
in a few minutes with an apparatus similar to the one which Saranoff
had planned to use on Dr. Bird, but larger, and with more dials on the
crystal box. At a command from the king, Dr. Bird donned the helmet.

The king manipulated switches and dials. Around Dr. Bird's head glowed
a halo of crimson light. Twice an expression of momentary pain passed
over his countenance. After half an hour, Astok cut on the power and
nodded to Carnes.

"Don't try to hold anything back, Carnesy," said Dr. Bird sharply.
"You couldn't if you tried, and the process is very painful, I can
assure you."

With the helmet on his head the detective sat for ten minutes while
the Selom king went through his brain. A dozen times he shrieked in
agony but his moments of suffering were short. The king removed the
helmet.

"Your minds agree well," he thought. "Now I will examine the mind of
my friend."

The helmet was strapped on Saranoff. Instantly an expression of the
utmost anguish crossed his face. Shriek after shriek of agony came
from his writhing lips. Relentlessly the king applied more power. The
cries of the Russian grew heartrending. Suddenly he grew rigid and
slumped forward in his chair. Astok impassively manipulate