He leaped to his feet trembling with fury and barked a command. Instantly the old guards had hurled themselves forward. And behind them a horde of Moon men came, ambling. While the guards covered their prisoners with their ray-rods, two Moon men seized each of them, imprisoning him in their unbreakable grasp. Axelson pointed upward. "When the reign of Erebos is past," he said, "you become food for the denizens of the lake, unless you have agreed to serve me." And he raised Madge in his arms, laughing as the girl fought and struggled to resist him. "Madge!" cried Nat, trying to run toward her. So furious were his struggles that for a moment he succeeded in throwing off the Moon men's grasp. Then he was caught again, and, fighting desperately, was borne off by the dwarfs through the shadows. They traversed the border of the lake until a small stone building disclosed itself. Nat and the others were thrust inside into pitch darkness. The door clanged; in vain they hurled themselves against it. It was of wood, but it was as solid as the stone itself, and it did not give an inch for all their struggles. * * * * * "Where is your Kommandant?" The whisper seemed in the stone hut itself. "Your Nathaniel Lee. I must speak to him. I am the guard who brought him to the Black Caesar on board the ship." "I'm here," said Nat. "Where are you?" "I am in the house of the ray. I am on guard there. I am speaking into the telephone which runs only to where you are. You can speak anywhere in the hut, and I shall hear you." "Well, what do you want?" asked Nat. "You love the Earth woman. I remember, when I was a boy, we used to love. I had forgotten. There was a girl in Stamford.... Tell me, is it true that this is the year 2044 and that the proletariat has not yet triumphed?" "It's true," said Nat. "Those dreams are finished, We're proud of the World Federation. Tell me about Madge Dawes--the Earth woman. Is she safe?" "He has taken her to his house. I do not think she is harmed. He is ill. He is closely guarded. There are rumors afoot. I do not know." "What do you want, then?" "If the Black Caesar dies will you take me back to Earth again? I long so for the old Earth life. I will be your slave, if only I can set foot on Earth before I die." "Can you rescue us?" Nat held his breath. "The Moon men are on guard." "They have no ray-guns and you have." "The penalty would be terrible. I should be thrown to the monsters." "Can you get us each a ray-gun? Will you risk it, to get back to Earth?" asked Nat. A pause. Then, "My friend, I am coming." Nat heard Benson hissing in his ear, "If we can surprise them, we can get possession of the black ship and return." "We must get Madge Dawes." "And smash the mirror," put in Brent. After that there was nothing to do but wait. * * * * *