constructed of seven segments, each of a different material from all the others, and from each of these segments a pad, or brush, protruded sufficiently to press lightly against the revolving disc.
To the reverse side of each of the seven segments of the stationary disc a wire was attached, and these wires Zoanthrohago now connected to seven posts projecting from the upper surface of the wooden box. A single wire attached to a post upon the side of the box had at its other extremity a small, curved metal plate attached to the inside of a leather collar. This collar Zoanthrohago adjusted about the neck of the rodent so that the metal plate came in contact with its skin at the base of the skull and as close to the hypophysis gland as possible.
He then turned his attention once more to the wooden box, upon the top of which, in addition to the seven binding posts, was a circular instrument consisting of a dial about the periphery of which were a series of hieroglyphics. From the center of this dial projected seven tubular, concentric shafts, each of which supported a needle, which was shaped or painted in some distinguishing manner, while beneath the dial seven small metal discs were set in the cover of the box so that they lay in the arc of a circle from the center of which a revolving metal shaft was so arranged that its free end might be moved to any of the seven metal discs at the will of the operator.
The connections having all been made, Zoanthrobago moved the free end of the shaft from one of the metal discs to another, keeping his eyes at all times intently upon the dial, the seven needles of which moved variously as he shifted the shaft from point to point.
Elkomoelhago was an intent, if somewhat bewildered, observer, and the slave, Zuanthrol, unobserved, had moved nearer the table that he might better watch this experiment which might mean so much to him.
Zoanthrohago continued to manipulate the revolving shaft and the needles moved hither and thither from one series of hieroglyphics to another, until at last the walmak appeared satisfied.
'It is not always easy,' he said, 'to attune the instrument to the frequency of the organ upon which we are working. From all matter and even from such incorporeal a thing as thought there emanate identical particles, so infinitesimal as to be scarce noted by the most delicate of my instruments. These particles constitute the basic structure of all things whether animate or inanimate, corporeal or incorporeal. The frequency, quantity and rhythm of the emanations determine the nature of the substance. Having located upon this dial the coefficient of the gland under discussion it now becomes necessary, in order to so interfere with its proper functioning that the growth of the creature involved will be not only stopped but actually reversed, that we decrease the frequency, increase the quantity and compound the rhythm of these emanations. This I shall now proceed to do,' and he forthwith manipulated several small buttons upon one side of the box, and grasping the crank handle of the free disc revolved it rapidly.
The result was instantaneous and startling. Before their eyes Elkomoelhago, the king, and Zuanthrol, the slave, saw the rodent shrink rapidly in size, while retaining its proportions unchanged. Tarzan, who had followed every move and every word of the walmak, leaned far over that he might impress indelibly upon his memory the position of the seven needles. Elkomoelhago glanced up and discovered his interest.
'We do not need this fellow now,' he said, addressing Zoanthrohago. 'Have him sent away.'
'Yes, Thagosoto,' replied Zoanthrohago, summoning a warrior whom he directed to remove Tarzan and Komodoflorensal to a chamber where they could be secured until their presence was again required.
Chapter Fifteen
Through several chambers and corridors they were conducted toward the center of the dome on the same level as the chamber in which they had left the king and the walmak until finally they were thrust into a small chamber and a heavy door was slammed and barred behind them.
There was no candle in the chamber. A faint light, however, relieved the darkness so that the interior of the room was discernible. The chamber contained two benches and a table—that was all. The light which faintly illuminated it entered through a narrow embrasure which was heavily barred, but it was evidently daylight.
'We are alone,' whispered Komodoflorensal, 'and at last we can converse; but we must be cautious,' he added. ''Trust not too far the loyalty of even the stones of your chamber!'' he quoted.
'Where are we?' asked Tarzan. 'You are more familiar with Minunian dwellings than I.'
'We are upon the highest level of the Royal Dome of Elkomoelhago,' replied the prince. 'With no such informality does a king visit the other domes of his city. You may rest assured that this is Elkomoelhago's. We are in one of the innermost chambers, next the central shaft that pierces the dome from its lowest level to its roof. For this reason we do not need a candle to support life—we will obtain sufficient air through this embrasure. And now, tell me what happened within the room with Elkomoelhago and Zoanthrohago.'
'I discovered how they reduced my stature,' replied Tarzan, 'and, furthermore, that at almost any time I may regain my full size—an occurrence that may eventuate from three to thirty-nine moons after the date of my reduction. Even Zoanthrohago cannot determine when this thing will happen.'
'Let us hope that it does not occur while you are in this small chamber,' exclaimed Komodoflorensal.
'I would have a devil of a time getting out,' agreed Tarzan.
'You would never get out,' his friend assured him. 'While you might, before your reduction, have crawled through some of the larger corridors upon the first level, or even upon many of the lower levels, you could not squeeze into the smaller corridors of the upper levels, which are reduced in size as the necessity for direct supports for the roof increase as we approach the apex of the dome.'
'Then it behooves me to get out of here as quickly as possible,' said Tarzan.
Komodoflorensal shook his head. 'Hope is a beautiful thing, my friend,' he said, 'but if you were a Minunian you would know that under such circumstances as we find ourselves it is a waste of mental energy. Look at these bars,' and he walked to the window and shook the heavy irons that spanned the embrasure. 'Think you that you could negotiate these?'
'I haven't examined them,' replied the ape-man, 'but I shall never give up hope of escaping; that your people do is doubtless the principal reason that they remain forever in bondage. You are too much a fatalist, Komodoflorensal.'
As he spoke Tarzan crossed the room and standing at the prince's side took hold of the bars at the window. 'They do not seem overheavy,' he remarked, and at the same time exerted pressure upon them. They bent! Tarzan was interested now and Komodoflorensal, as well. The ape-man threw all his strength and weight into the succeeding effort with the result that two bars, bent almost double, were torn from their setting.
Komodoflorensal gazed at him in astonishment. 'Zoanthrohago reduced your size, but left you with your former physical prowess,' he cried.
'In no other way can it be accounted for,' replied Tarzan, who now, one by one, was removing the remaining bars from the window embrasure. He straightened one of the shorter ones and handed it to Komodoflorensal. 'This will make a good weapon,' he said, 'if we are forced to fight for our liberty,' and then he straightened another for himself.
The Trohandalmakusian gazed at him in wonder. 'And you intend,' he demanded, 'to defy a city of four hundred and eighty thousand people, armed only with a bit of iron rod?'
'And my wits,' added Tarzan.
'You will need them,' said the prince.
'And I shall use them,' Tarzan assured him.
'When shall you start?' asked Komodoflorensal, chaffingly.
'Tonight, tomorrow, next moon—who knows?' replied the ape-man. 'Conditions must be ripe. All the time I shall be watching and planning. In that sense I started to escape the instant I regained consciousness and knew that I was a prisoner.'
Komodoflorensal shook his head.
'You have no faith in me?' demanded Tarzan.
'That is precisely what I have—faith,' replied Komodoflorensal. 'My judgment tells me that you cannot succeed and yet I shall cast my lot with you, hoping for success, yes, believing in success. If that is not faith I do not know what it might be called.'
The ape-man smiled. He seldom, if ever, laughed aloud. 'Let us commence,' he said. 'First we will arrange
