me by
anything you may do.

"Now I am going to resume work. Reconnect the screen: I've had the
burned-out fuse replaced. If you won't, I'll have it done for you--and
have you so bound that you'll be forced to look at it.

"Don't tamper with any of my hearing and seeing mechanisms again,
please. If you do, I will be forced to have you destroyed within five
minutes.

"But--if you'd like to leave your cell, you have my full permission. You
should find it easy, now that the lock is broken."

The voice said no more. Carse ordered Friday harshly:

"Reconnect the screen."

The negro hastened to obey. His master's gray eyes again fastened on the
screen. Fiercely, for a moment, he smoothed his bangs.

The laboratory flashed into clear outline again. There was the shaft of
white light; the operating table, full under it; the anesthetic
cylinder, the banks of instruments, the sterilizers with their wisps of
steam curling ceaselessly up. There were the efficient white-clad
assistant-surgeons, their dull eyes showing through the holes in their
masks. And there was the black figure of Ku Sui, an ironic smile on his
lips, and before him the resigned and helpless form of Eliot Leithgow.

The Eurasian gestured. An assistant found the pulse in Leithgow's wrist,
and another bent over him in such fashion that the prisoners could not
see what he was doing. Ku Sui too bent over, something in his hands. The
prelude to living death had begun....

* * * * *

At that moment Hawk Carse was a different man, recovered from the
weakness that had made him cry out at his friend's imminent destruction
a short time before. The old characteristic fierceness and recklessness
had come back to him; he had decided on action--on probable death. "I've
been too cautious!" he exclaimed violently in his thoughts.

"Friday!" he whispered sharply to the negro, going close.

"Yes, suh?"

"Four men outside--a sudden charge through that door when I nod. We'll
die, too, by God! Willing?"

Friday was held by the man's iron will to succeed or die. Without
hesitation he whispered back:

"Yes, suh!"

Their whispers had been low. Dr. Ku Sui had not been warned, for the
screen still showed him bending over his victim.

"You'll open the door; you're nearest. I'll go through first," the Hawk
murmured, and smiled at the loyalty behind the promptness of his man's
grin of understanding.

Then both smiles faded. The