human ants, while from the sea's depths a wave, a mile high, rose and
battered the fragments to destruction. From the crater of the volcano
a huge wave of fire fanned forward, and where fire and water met a
cloud of steam rose up.

A boiling chaos in which water and earth and fire were blended, spread
over land and sea. And then suddenly it was ended. Where the last
island of the Atlantean continent had been, only the ocean was to be
seen, placid beneath the stars.

The Atom Smasher was vibrating at tremendous speed. Jim, with one arm
round Lucille, faced Tode at the instrument board. Near by sat
Parrish, watching him too.

"That took a whole year," said Tode. "That pretty little scene of
destruction we've just witnessed. The good old Atom Smasher has been
doing some lively stunts, or we'd have been engulfed too. We're not
likely to see anything so pretty in history again, unless we go to
watch the destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii by lava from
Vesuvius. But that would be quite tame in comparison with this."

* * * * *

Tode's jeering tone grated on Jim's ears immeasurably.

"I don't think any of us are craving any more experiments, Tode," he
said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Suppose you take us back to
Peconic Bay. We'll dump the Atom Smasher into the pond, and try to
forget that we've had anything except a bad nightmare."

"Don't trust him, Jim," whispered Lucille.

Tode heard. "Thank you," he answered, scowling. "But seriously, Dent,
we can't go back with nothing to show for all our trouble. Those fools
tried to betray me, and then the Eye went out. Perhaps I have you to
thank for that performance? However, the sensible thing is to let
bygones be bygones. But we must make a little excursion. How about
picking up a little treasure from the hoards of Solomon or Genghis
Khan? A few pounds of precious stones would make a world of difference
in our social status when we reach Long Island."

Jim felt a cold fury permeating him. Tode saw his grim look and
laughed malignantly.

"Well, Dent, I'm ready to be frank with you," he said. "The game's
still in my hands. I want Lucille. I'm willing to take you and Parrish
back, provided you agree she shall be mine. I'll have to trust you,
but I shall have means of evening up if you play crooked."

"Why don't you ask my girl herself?" piped old Parrish.

"He needn't trouble. He knows the answer!" cried Lucille scornfully.

"T