hind him. The accents were ones which he did not
recognize. His captor chuckled for a few moments and then called out
in Russian. The boat came into the shore and eight figures climbed
out. Two of them bore a small chest which they set down on the wharf.
One of the figures picked up the doctor's automatic and his captor
stepped in front. A flashlight gleamed for an instant and Dr. Bird
started in surprise. The men wore no masks but only a plate of glass
which protected their cheeks and eyes. Fastened to the neck of each
one, below the chin, was a long tube which gleamed like glass. They
wore heavy knapsacks strapped to their backs from which wires ran to
each end of the bars.

"Those protectors make your enveloping head-mask look rather clumsy,
don't they, Doctor?" said his captor mockingly. "It's too bad you
didn't think of them first. It must be such a blow to your pride to
think that anyone had invented something better than yours. Really,
that mask of yours worries me. Remove it!"

* * * * *

At his words two of the men stepped forward and tore the doctor's mask
roughly from his head. The mocking voice went on.

"In view of the fact that you have only a few hours of life left, Dr.
Bird, it will give me pleasure to let you know how thoroughly you have
been defeated. You may not know me by sight, although my name may not
be unfamiliar. I am Peter Denberg."

He turned the flashlight for an instant on his own face, and Dr. Bird
gazed at him keenly.

"I'll know you the next time I see you," he muttered, half to himself.

"The next time you see me will be in the hereafter, if there be such a
thing," laughed the Russian. "The sweetest blow of all is now about
to fall. We expected you to be here and came prepared to capture you.
Had we not known that the arch enemy of the people would be here
to-night, we would have struck at a point miles away. Do you know who
betrayed you? It was one we placed in your laboratory for the very
purpose which she served."

He turned on the light again and it picked out of the darkness another
face, a long oval face with startlingly red lips and dark oval eyes
which glowed as with an internal flame. As the face became visible,
the red lips drew back, exposing strong white teeth and the words were
literally spat out.

"Swine!" she hissed. "Bourgeois! Did you think you could bribe me with
your gifts to tolerate your vileness? I have brought about your
d