* * *

It was then that the thin cloak of civilization dropped from Aaron
Carruthers' back. He became in a single moment an animal fighting for
his mate. With a snarl equally vicious as that of the gorilla pawing
at the helpless girl, he lunged forward.

Mouthing his rage, the gorilla flung the earth man to the ground.
Carruthers came up frothing at the mouth. With grim intensity he
fastened himself to the animal's free arm. The raging mammal staggered
helplessly under the extra burden and dropped the girl to concentrate
his fury on the man. It raised a hairy arm aloft for the smashing
blow. Instinctively Carruthers released his hold.

At that very moment the electron lurched sickeningly, causing them
both to lose their footing. The violent upheaval sent Carruthers one
way and the gorilla the other. While the man stumbled to his feet to
resume battle he saw the infuriated monster stagger over the edge of
the plateau wall into a sheer drop of a thousand feet.

Starkly through the night came the growling roars of the giant beasts
from the jungles below. Nanette fluttered to his side. Her dress was
torn and dragged on the ground. For all her disheveled appearance she
was still beautiful to look upon. Forgetful of the danger on all sides
of him, the animal in Carruthers saw in her pitifully half-clad body
the same thing that the beast had desired. His head whirled hotly.

"Aaron!" she pleaded as his arm reached out to clutch her.

Hungrily he drew her to him. The pale light of the electron moon
mingled with the roaring blast of the flames. Madness inflamed his
heart and pounded his blood.

"Don't, Aaron," protested the girl, trying to free herself.

* * * * *

Something in the quality of the girl's frightened tones brought the
man back to normal. He fought against the overwhelming desire to
possess with all the force of his nature. And the better half
triumphed. No longer was he an animal, but a reasoning human being.
With a faint sigh he released her and wiped a hand across his dripping
forehead.

"I'm sorry, Nan," he murmured. "That great brute drove me mad for an
instant. I'm all right now."

Together they stood in the electron night and watched death creep
closer and closer. The plateau was entirely surrounded with flames now
and the heat was increasing with each passing moment. As it increased
they backed towards the center.

From under their feet came the choki