he stones, and, leaping
lightly to the bank, stood looking down at Langdon, who had ceased his
contortions and now lay flat on his back, gazing skyward, a grin on his
otherwise attractive countenance.

He smiled up at her through the meshes of the net when he encountered her
curious eyes, expecting immediate release.

There was no answering smile from her as she coolly examined his
symmetrical features and perfect physical proportions through the folds
of the net.

No, there could be no longer any doubt in her mind that this young man
was what the New Race University required for breeding purposes.

No such specimen as this could hope to escape instant marriage. Here were
features so mathematically flawless that they became practically
featureless; here was bodily balance so ideal that the ultimate standards
of Greek perfection seemed lop-sided in comparison. No, there could be no
doubt about it; this young man was certainly required for the purpose of
scientific propagation; willy-nilly he was destined to be one of the
ancestors of that future and god-like race which must, one day, people
the earth to replace the bigoted and degenerate population which at
present encumbered it.

She regarded him without the slightest personal interest now. His
symmetry wearied her profoundly.

"When are you going to let me out?" he asked cheerfully.

She looked at him almost insolently under slightly lifted brows.

"Presently," she said; and began to fumble in her satchel. In a few
moments she produced two bottles, a roll of antiseptic cotton, and a
hypodermic needle.

"Will you come with me voluntarily?" she inquired, stepping nearer and
looking down at him, "or must I use force?"

He might have been humorously willing to go; he really desired to see
this amusing adventure to the finish. But man resents coercion.

"Force?" he repeated.

"Exactly," she replied, displaying her pocket pharmacy.

"What are those things you have in your hand?" he asked, trying to see.

"Chloroform and a hypodermic needle. If you do not wish to come with me
voluntarily you may take your choice."

He laughed long and loud and derisively.

"That's ridiculous," he said. "Be kind enough to undo this net. I might
have been willing to go with you and look 'em over--your friends, you
know; but I don't care for your idea of humour."

"Your reply is typically man-like and tyrannical. For centuries man has
enjoyed and abused the option of doing w