hite surface of his stiff glossy shirt
bosom went down a steep incline. His belt was down there, and the
outward bulging curve of his lap--a spreading surface where I could land
like a scuttling insect, unobserved, if only Babs could hold his
attention.

I whispered vehemently, "Try it! Go out! Leave me--keep talking to him!"

She called instantly, "All right, then. Bring your hand! Closer!
Carefully! It seems so high up here!"

She swung herself into his palm, and flung her arms about the great
pillar of his crooked finger. The bowl of his hand moved slowly away. I
heard her faint voice, and his overhead rumble.

I chanced it! I didn't know his exact position or which way he was
looking.

Again I heard Bab's voice. "Careful, Dr. Polter. Don't let me fall!"

"Yes, little bird."

I let myself down from the tilted doorway, hung by my hand and dropped.
I struck the ramp-like yielding surface of his shirt bosom. I slid,
tumbling, scrambling, and landed softly in the huge folds of his trouser
fabric. I was unhurt. The width of his belt, high as my body, was near
me. I shrank against it. I found I could cling to its upper edge.

My hold came just in time. He shifted and sat up. I was lifted with a
swoop of movement. When it steadied I saw above me the top of his knee.
His left leg was crooked, the foot drawn close to him. Babs was perched
up there on the knee summit. His right leg was outstretched. I was at
the right side of his belt. I could dart off along that curving expanse
of his leg and leap to the ground. If he would hold this position! One
of the pouches of his belt was near me. The vial in it was black. The
enlarging drug! I moved toward it.

But Babs was too high to jump from that summit of his crooked knee! I
think she saw me at his belt. I heard her voice.

"I cannot eat up here. It is too high. Oh, please be careful how you
move! I am so dizzy, so frightened! You move with such great jerks!"

He had what seemed a huge surface of bread and meat. He was breaking off
crumbs to put before her. I reached the pouch of his belt. The vial was
as long as my body. I tugged to try and lift it out.

All the giant contours of Polter's body shifted as he cautiously moved.
I clung. I saw that Babs was being held gently between his thumb and
forefinger. He lowered her to the ground, and she stood beside the bread
and the meat he had placed there.

And she had the courage to laugh! "Why this--this is an enormous
s