"But we mustn't take any chances," put in the Big Business Man quickly. "How small do you suppose we should make ourselves?" The Chemist looked at the tunnel opening. "About half that," he replied. "Not at the start," said the Big Business Man. "Let's go in as large as possible; we can get smaller when we have to." It took them but a few minutes to finish the meal. They were all tired from the exciting events of the day, but the Big Business Man would not hear of their resting a moment more than was absolutely necessary. "It won't be much of a trip up to the forests," he argued. "Once we get well on our way and into one of the larger sizes, we can sleep safely. But not now; it's too dangerous." They were soon ready to start, and in a moment more all had made themselves small enough to walk into the tunnel opening. They were, at this time, perhaps six times the normal height of an adult Oroid. The city of Arite, apparently much farther away now, was still visible up against the distant horizon. As they were about to start, Lylda, with Aura close behind her, turned to face it. "Good-by to our own world now we must say, my sister," she said sadly. "The land that bore us--so beautiful a world, and once so kindly. We have been very happy here. And I cannot think it is right for me to leave." "Your way lies with your husband," Aura said gently. "You yourself have said it, and it is true." Lylda raised her arms up towards the far-away city with a gesture almost of benediction. "Good future to you, land that I love." Her voice trembled. "Good future to you, for ever and ever." The Very Young Man, standing behind them with Loto, was calling: "They're started; come on." With one last sorrowful glance Lylda turned slowly, and, walking with her arm about her sister, followed the others into the depths of the tunnel. CHAPTER XXXVI THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNELS For some time this strange party of refugees from an outraged world walked in silence. Because of their size, the tunnel appeared to them now not more than eight or nine feet in height, and in most places of nearly similar width. For perhaps ten minutes no one spoke except an occasional monosyllable. The Chemist and Big Business Man, walking abreast, were leading; Aura and Lylda with the Very Young man, and Loto close in front of them, brought up the rear. The tunnel they were traversing appeared quite deserted; only once, at the intersection of another smaller passageway, a few little figures--not more than a foot high--scurried past and hastily disappeared. Once the party stopped for half an hour to rest. "I don't think we'll have any trouble getting through," said the Chemist. "The tunnels are usually deserted at the time of sleep."