Launches were putting out from the battleships. Other boats coming out from the mainland. A destroyer dashed up and anchored in the channel. Planes circled overhead. Activity everywhere. A dozen boats were advancing upon the island. We had regained normal size. We stood in a group in the darkness of the island glade. "We must hurry," Dianne whispered. "Frank, you understand--you chip off the fragment of rock. Wait a few minutes--ten minutes--after we are gone. Then you can't harm us. Take the rock home, guard it. Oh, Frank, keep it secret--and we'll come back some time." Why all these directions only to me? I might have realized then, but I did not. Dianne kissed me; Ahlma pressed my hand. The girls were already dwindling. The little figures of their escort lurked at our feet. I turned to Drake. "We'll wait ten minutes and--" I gasped. He too was dwindling. He said hurriedly: "I'm going, Frank. You explain to father." I stood stricken. I recall his last words of instructions: "Togaro may have gone into the atom; or he may be here in our world. Watch out for him, Frank! These few giants mean nothing. Stupid brutes he has sacrificed--a test only of what he plans." "But Drake--stop!" I stood frozen. I was suddenly horribly frightened. Confused. A step, and I might kill them. I called, but there was only silence. I had the flash light, but if I lighted it I might blind them. I sat down by the dead fire. Five minutes. Ten minutes. I heard boats landing upon the beach, and the shouts of arriving men. But they must not find me until I had done what I had to do! I stood up hastily. With the flash light I located the projecting top of the meteorite. My fingers were trembling as I opened my claspknife. I recall that I was mumbling to myself: "Steady, Frank! Don't do it wrong." I knelt. I chipped at the rock. My pounding heart nearly smothered me. The tramp of advancing men sounded near at hand. I hacked desperately. The rock fragment came off--a chunk a few inches in diameter. I laid it carefully in my pocket. I snapped off my flash. I huddled, shaking, by the wet embers of the dead fire. My brother! Men surrounded me. "What the hell?" "Who is he?" I stammered: "Let me go." A turmoil of rough questions. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" "Ferrule. My name is Frank Ferrule. I live over there--King's Cove." Other men from another boat came up. "I've heard of the Ferrules. House across there at King's Cove." "Yes. That's where I live. My father's there now. I was here--got trapped here when the fighting started." Somebody said: "He's scared stiff." "Let go of me," I insisted. "Take me home." They shoved me into one of their boats. In the babble of excited voices I was soon ignored. I sat with my hand in my pocket, gently holding the precious chunk of rock. CHAPTER IX _Tiny Fragment of Rock_