"You have seen nothing?" I asked, joining them.
"Nothing," said Harry. "Here, take one of these clubs. Something's up."
"Of course—the stone," I observed facetiously, yawning. "Probably nothing more important than a bundle of quipos. Lord, I'm sleepy!"
Still the stone moved upward, very slowly. It reached a height of two feet, yet did not halt.
"This is no quipos" said Harry, "or if it is, they must be going to send us in a whole library. Six inches would have been enough for that."
I nodded, keeping my eyes on the ever-widening space at our feet.
"This means business, Hal. Stand ready with your club. Desiree, go to the further corner, behind that seat."
She refused; I insisted; she stamped her foot in anger.
"Do you think I'm a child, to run and hide?" she demanded obstinately.
I wasted no time in argument.