The machines made quick recovery from their surprise. There remained perhaps sixty of them after the day of destruction; they swept toward him in a murderous wave. Madly, they rushed upon him from all sides and he was knocked from his carriage, covered by falling cylinders. He fought with a deadly power but was at last lifted bodily from the floor. His arms were strapped to his sides. He was rolled into a corner. The ceremony continued without another glance at him. Across the room, Ralph was bound in a like manner, head sagging upon his chest. They had lost! It was all over now.... A Capek again stood over the body of Vee, the lancet in his hand. The machines were lined against the walls as before. * * * * * "A ruler is born!" shouted the Capek flourishing the knife. "From this despised clay arises a super-being--R-_five_!" He leveled the lancet at the side of Vee's head, to plunge it into the scalp; to uncover the brain. Rod struggled at his bonds with all his mechanical strength. He could not move. His wheels were also locked, strapped to the wall. He must stand here and watch her die--a deathless death--to be reincarnated as the foul brain of a cruel thing of metal. There was nothing he could do! Rod watched the unwavering knife move close. Horror fused his mind. Suddenly the knife paused. There was a clamoring of many voices in the hall outside--human voices! The machines' eyes all turned to the door. Rod looked, saw men and women pouring into the room. They came in droves, waving metal spikes and bars, slashing into the dumbstruck Capeks. The tide swelled, engulfed the room. Rod saw the Capeks with the lancet raised into the air, flung screaming through the window. Finally--it was but a moment--the shouts were silenced and not a Capek stood in the room. They were hulks of reddening machinery scattered about the floor. Two men released Vee and, swirling the cloth about her trim figure, she rushed to Ralph who revived in her arms. Then everyone talked at once and Rod, thrilling with exultance, heard in snatches that they had climbed the fences when they discovered the electrical charge was cut off--when the power plant was destroyed. They had left the stock yards and come here. Vee supporting him, Ralph came and cut Rod's bonds. His besmeared face was a radiation of complete happiness and he gave not a glance to his injured leg. "We owe it all to you," he said softly, then turned to the staring crowd. "Here is our true saviour! He shall be our ruler forever!" "Yes?" disputed a vibrant voice at the door. All heads turned. A Capek stood there, eye blazing. Upon his chest was the number _eighty-three_. * * * * * "Stand back!" he shouted. "My strength is not as these weaklings you have conquered! Stand back or die!" He advanced into the room. Several men leaped upon him but he swept them down with a wave of his arm. He came to Rod, eye stretched close.