Dick swung his bar and brought it crashing down on a head, felling the man like a log. He saw Von Kettler pull one of the glass rods from his pocket and fire blindly. The discharge struck a second attendant, and the man dropped screeching, his clothes ablaze. Somebody yelled, "He's there! Look at his eyes!" and pointed at Dick's face. * * * * * Dick leaped aside and swung the rod again, felling a third man. The others turned and ran. Von Kettler in the van, broke through the door behind Luke Evans's chair, and disappeared. Dick ran back to where the old man was standing beside the girl, the discarded ropes at his feet. He flung his hood back. "Luke, don't you know me?" he shouted. It was creditable to Luke Evans's composure that, though Dick must have presented the aspect of nothing more than a face floating in the air, he retained his composure. "Sure I know you, Rennell," replied the old man. "And you and me's going to best them devils yet." "But the fleet--it's approaching Abaco," Dick cried. "I've got to warn them." Fredegonde seized him by the arm. "Come with me," she cried. "If they find you here, they'll kill you." Dick hesitated only a moment, then followed the girl as she dashed for another door on the same side of the laboratory as that by which Von Kettler and his men had fled. They dashed down the staircase, and a corridor disclosed itself at the bottom. The girl stopped. "There is a private way--the Emperor's," she panted. "He had it constructed--in case of necessity. I got the keys. I was planning--something desperate--to stop these murders; I didn't know what." Dick seized her by the arm. "What keys?" he demanded. "The key to the place where President Hargreaves is?" "Yes, but--" "We must get him. Where is he?" "In a cell beneath the throne room. That's overhead. But they'll catch us--" "Which is the key?" asked Dick. The girl produced three or four keys, fumbled with them, handed one to Dick. "This way!" she cried. * * * * * They ran along the corridor. Two guards appeared, moving toward them under the electric lights. At the sight of the girl running, and Luke Evans, they stopped in surprise. Dick had pulled the hood back over his head. He ran toward them, wielding the iron bar. A mighty swing sent the two toppling over, one unconscious, the other bruised and yelling loudly. "Here! Here!" gasped Fredegonde, stopping before a door. Dick fitted the key to the lock and turned it. Inside, upon a quite visible bed, sat President Hargreaves, unchained. He looked up inquiringly as the three entered. "Mr. President," said Dick, throwing back his hood, "I'm an American officer, and I want to save you. There's not much chance, but, if you'll come with me--" Hargreaves got up and smiled. "I'm not a military man, sir," he answered, "but I'm ready to take that chance rather than--"