s it'll just have to wear off. I know
of nothing that will neutralize it."

Without replying, Carnes began to feverishly search the pockets of the
unconscious scientist. With an exclamation of triumph he drew out a
bottle and uncorked it. A strong smell as of garlic penetrated the
room and he held the opened bottle under Dr. Bird's nose. The doctor
lay for a moment without movement, and then he coughed and sat up half
strangled with tears running down his face.

"Take that confounded bottle away, Carnes!" he said. "Do you want to
strangle me?"

He sat up and looked around.

"What happened?" he demanded. "Oh, yes, I remember now. That brute was
about to operate on me. How did you get here?"

"Never mind that, Doctor. Are you all right?"

"Right as a trivet, old dear. How did you get here so opportunely?"

"I was a little slow in locating Lieutenant Maynard and the marines.
When we got here I was afraid that we couldn't find the door, so I
took Maynard and a detail around to the back and I went up to the top
and slid down our cord and looked in the window. You were unconscious
and Slavatsky was bending over you with a needle in his hand. I was
about to try a shot at him when something called their attention to
the men in front and I squeezed through the window and dropped in on
them. They didn't seem any too glad to see me, but I overlooked that
and insisted on inviting the rest of my friends in to share in the
party. That's all."

"Carnes," said the Doctor, "you're probably lying like a trooper when
you make out that you did nothing, but I'll pry the truth out of you
sooner or later. Now I've got to get to work. Send for Lieutenant
Maynard."

* * * * *

One of the marines went out to get the flyer, and Dr. Bird stepped to
the cabinet from which Slavatsky had taken his record book earlier in
the evening and took out the leather-bound volume. He opened it and
had started to read when Lieutenant Maynard entered the cave.

"Hello, Maynard," said the Doctor, looking up. "Are the rest of the
party on their way?"

"They will be here in less than two hours, Doctor."

"Good enough! Have some one sent to guide them here. In the meanwhile,
I'm going to study these records. Keep the prisoners quiet. If they
make a noise, gag them. I want to concentrate."

For an hour and a half silence reigned in the cave. A stir was heard
outside and Admiral Clay, the President's personal physician,