we have; I know we can do
almost anything. That little boy of mine--they've got him. Let me
think--just a moment."

He sat motionless. The Doctor continued talking in a lower tone to the
Big Business Man by the window. In the doorway Oteo stood like a statue,
motionless, except for his big, soft eyes that roved unceasingly over
the scene before him. After a moment Eena ceased her sobbing and knelt
beside the Chemist, looking up at him sorrowfully.

"I cannot believe," said the Chemist finally, raising his head, "that
the safest way to rescue Loto is by the plan you have suggested." He
spoke with his usual calm, judicial manner, having regained control of
himself completely. "I understand now, thoroughly, and for the first
time, the situation we are facing. It is, as you say, a political issue
no longer. Targo and his closest followers have convinced a very large
proportion of our entire nation, I am certain, that myself, and my
family, and you, the strangers, are possessed of a diabolical power that
must be annihilated. Targo will never rest until he has the drugs. That
is why he searched this house.

"He has abducted Loto for the same purpose. He will--not hurt Loto--I am
convinced of that. Probably he will send someone to-morrow to demand the
drugs as the price of Loto's life. But don't you understand? Targo and
his advisers, and even the most ignorant of the people, realize what
power we have. Lylda showed them that when she flung Targo's brother out
into the lake to-day. But we cannot use this power openly. For, while it
makes us invincible, it makes them correspondingly desperate. They are a
peculiar people. Throughout the whole history of the race they have been
kindly, thoughtless children. Now they are aroused. The pendulum has
swung to the other extreme. They care little for their lives. They are
still children--children who will go to their death unreasoning,
fighting against invincibility.

"That is something we must never overlook, for it is a fact. We cannot
run amuck as giants over this world and hope to conquer it. We could
conquer it, yes; but only when the last of its inhabitants had been
killed; stamped out like ants defending their hill from the attacks of
an elephant. Don't you see I am right?"

"Then Lylda----" began the Doctor, as the Chemist paused.

"Lylda will fail. Her venture to-day will make matters immeasurably
worse."

"You're right," agreed the Big Business Man. "We should have rea