ll, a flight of
stairs, and some pictures on the walls.

Presently the man extinguished the light and came out.

"They are removing their ladders from this side," said Branasko in a
whisper. "Be ready; we must act quickly and without a particle of sound.
Run straight for that door and climb up the steps immediately."

The men had all gone round to the other side, and no one was in sight.

"Quick! Follow me," and bending low to the earth the Alphian darted
across the intervening space and into the doorway. Johnston was quite
as successful. As he entered the door he saw Branasko crawling up the
carpeted stairs ahead of him, and, on his all-fours, he followed. The
first landing was large, and there in the wall they found a closet. It
would have been dark but for a dim light that streamed down from above.
Branasko opened the closet door. "We must hide here for the present," he
whispered.

They had barely got seated on the floor and closed the door when a
bright light broke round them and they heard somebody ascending the
stairs. The person passed by and went on further up. The two adventurers
dared not exchange a word. They could hear the footsteps above and the
sound of the electricians outside as they polished the lights and moved
their ladders from place to place.

"If he should stay, what could we do?" asked Johnston, after a long
pause, and when the footsteps sounded farther away.

"There are two of us and one of him," grimly replied the brawny Alphian.

Johnston shuddered. "Let's not commit murder in any emergency," he said.

"It would not be murder; every man has a right to save his own life."

Nothing more was said just then, for the footsteps were growing nearer.
The man was descending. He crossed the landing they were on and went
down the last flight of stairs and out of the door.

Branasko rubbed his rough hands together. "We are going alone," he said
with satisfaction.

There was a sound of sliding ladders on the walls outside. The workmen
had finished their task. A moment later a great bell overhead rang
mellowly; the colossal sphere trembled and rocked and then rose and
swung easily forward like the car of a balloon.

"We are rising," said the Alphian, in a tone of superstitious awe.
Johnston said nothing. There was a cool, sinking sensation in his
stomach and his head was swimming. Branasko, however, was in possession
of all his faculties.

"We shall soon be through the shaft we first discover