HAVING first lighted the electric torch, the two men crept stealthily through the narrow passage. In the doorway the fire had burned low, and beside it lay sprawled the figure of Jim Haskins. The nihilist stooped over him and felt cautiously of his heart. Then he straightened himself. “All right,” he murmured, and they passed on out. At each of the two other inhabited caves they made a similar examination, and in every case Sergius’ little dose had done its work. Every one of their captors lay helpless.

“Let us begin with Paul,” said Sergius, in his natural voice, since no need of caution seemed to now exist. But he received an unexpected reply. There was a sudden rustling, a sound of footsteps, and there behind Paul’s outstretched form appeared a slender figure.

“You here!” exclaimed Miss Weston. “What have you done to Paul? Have you killed him? Oh, you — you anarchist!”

She dropped on her knees and felt anxiously for Paul’s heart.

“My dear Miss Weston, certainly I have not killed my brother.” Sergius’ voice showed not the slightest agitation at this discovery by the girl he so much admired. “He is only asleep. They are all asleep. We grew tired of seeing so many people asleep, and we are therefore about to leave.”

She sprang up and faced him with flushed cheeks and blazing eyes. “You have drugged them all! How did you accomplish this dastardly thing?”

“The tomato soup, Miss Weston. You did not eat of it?”

“Of course not. I detest canned tomato soup. Well, I— I hope you are proud of yourself. I hope — I hope something will eat you! So, you were going away, leaving your brother and all of us to be killed, were you?”

“By no means. We were just about to provide against that little contingency. But your being awake alters matters.”

“Oh, does it? Perhaps you are ashamed of your work, now that a woman has seen you at it?”

“Not at all. But on the other hand, I cannot leave you here, awake, to be terrorized all night. Asleep, it would not have mattered. When you awoke it would have been daylight and the others would have also awakened with you. Mr. Jones, the aeroplane will easily carry three passengers, We will have to take Miss Weston with us.”

“Oh, I say,” protested Jones, “do you think that is really necessary?”

“But yes. She will be far safer on the Monterey than here, under any circumstances. You need not fear me, Miss Weston. I am a gentleman and Paul’s brother, when we have settled our brotherly differences, you may return to his side, if that is your choice.”

He looked at her a trifle appealingly, but she flung back her head defiantly.

“You dare!” she stormed. “I will not go a step and leave my friends to be devoured.”

Sergius took one stride across the body of his brother and seized the young lady in his arms, holding her firmly, but as gently as he could. She did not scream, but she fought desperately, and with an amazing strength.

Jones’s gorge rose at the sight. This was going much too far. He sprang forward and seized his companion by the shoulder.

“Here, this won’t do,” he exclaimed. “You can’t force the young lady in that way, Sergius.”

The Russian turned a disgusted face to him and said over his shoulder, “Do you prefer to leave her here to be frightened into insanity? Is that your idea of chivalry?”

“Let me go — let me go!” cried Miss Weston, beating fiercely ............