surfaces were of diamond hardness.

* * * * *

Foster's brain was numb with despair as he began to realize the true
meaning of those sleeping things out in the cavern. Death in some
unknown and horrible form was imminent for himself and his companions,
he knew, but his thoughts were going far beyond that, to the time when
the Shining Ones would emerge in all their resistless power to ravage
and conquer a helpless world.

There could be little doubt as to the futility of Earth's best efforts
against the advanced science of these invaders from far-off Rikor.
Encased in their colossal machine-bodies of glittering metal, and armed
with such terrible weapons as the black ray projector, the Shining Ones
would be as invulnerable as men trampling an anthill underfoot.

The future status of mankind upon the Earth would be that of vast herds
of human _yaharigans_, probably bred for ever greater bone content as
men breed cattle for superior food values. The picture aroused Foster to
a fury of cold desperation. If they could only escape from the pits
there might be a chance to trap Layroh and slay him before he brought
those hordes of opalescent slugs to life. Then escape from the cavern
itself would be an easy matter. Even if the outer door had been locked
since they passed through it Layroh had the light-key and Foster
remembered the combination.

Half a dozen wild schemes flitted through Foster's brain, only to be
discarded as futile. Then suddenly he thought of something that had
every chance of success if only they were given time enough. Layroh in
his arrogance had forgotten that his prisoners were not naked brutes of
Rikor. In the very clothing the men wore was the means of escape from
the pits.

* * * * *

Foster's voice cut through the babel in the room until he gained
everyone's attention.

"Our only chance for escape is to get a rope between two pits," he said
curtly. "Then one man can climb out while the other holds the rope.
We'll have to make that rope from our clothing. No one man can get a
strip strong enough, so we'll have to work the strips to a central man
who can braid them into a single heavy rope. I'm near the center. Get
the strips to me. Tear your clothing into ribbons, and knot them
together. Use your knives, watches, anything to weight one end of the
strip. Then cast until you get contact with the pit next to you. That
way all the stri