long,
blurred yellow glints from the thousands of lights above. Down the
street they could see a huge blazing theater sign, with the name of a
popular actress spelt in letters of fire.

The Big Business Man threw up the window sash and took a deep breath of
the moist, cool air of the night.

"Good-by, old world," he murmured with emotion. "Shall I see you again,
I wonder?" He stood a moment longer, silently staring at the scene
before him. Then abruptly he closed the window, pulled down the shade,
and turned back to the room.

"Come on," said the Very Young Man impatiently. "It's five minutes after
eight. Let's get started."

"Just one thing before we start," said the Doctor, as they gathered in
the center of the room. "We must understand, gentlemen, from the moment
we first take the drug, until we reach our final smallest size, it is
imperative, or at least highly desirable, that we keep together. We
start by taking four of the pellets each, according to the memoranda
Rogers left. By Jove!" he interrupted himself, "that's one thing
important we did nearly forget."

He went to his coat, and from his wallet took several typewritten sheets
of paper.

"I made three copies," he said, handing them to his companions. "Put
them away carefully; the front pocket will be most convenient, probably.

"It may not be hard for us to keep together," continued the Doctor. "On
the other hand, we may find it extremely difficult, if not quite
impossible. In the latter event we will meet at the city of Arite.

"There are two things we must consider. First, we shall be constantly
changing size with relation to our surroundings. In proportion to each
other, we must remain normal in size if we can. Secondly we shall be
traveling--changing position in our surroundings. So far as that aspect
of the trip is concerned, it will not be more difficult for us to keep
together, probably, than during any adventurous journey here in this
world.

"If through accident or any unforeseen circumstance we are separated in
size, the one being smallest shall wait for the others. That can be
accomplished by taking a very small quantity of the other drug--probably
merely by touching one of the pellets to the tongue. Do I make myself
clear?" His friends nodded assent.

"If any great separation in relative size occurs," the Doctor went on,
"a discrepancy sufficient to make the smallest of us invisible for a
time to the others, then another problem prese