“I hope so, dear. We seem to be. If we can only reach the spot where we entered this insane world before something happens—”
“How much time have we?” interrupted Vic.
I glanced down at my watch, fearful, for a moment, that it had been broken or lost in the melée. It was still running, apparently undamaged.
“Let’s see; it’s four minutes of one. That gives us seven minutes. Can we make it?”
“I think so. It’s not so far, and we’re nearly out of the city. We have to make it!”
Vic led the way, Hope and I following. Anxiously, I watched the minute hand of the watch slide toward the “XII” of the dial ... touch it ... move on....
It was not far, as Vic had said, but we were weary from our battle with the crazed mob, and the best we could force from our legs was a sort of dog-trot.
One minute after ... two....
“Here’s the spot! I marked it with these three pieces of stone. Quick!” Vic swept both arms about Hope and me, holding us in a close embrace, so that we all stood within the triangle formed by the three bits of black rock.
I glanced down at my watch. It lacked but a few seconds of the moment when the machine back in Vic’s laboratory would function—provided my watch was correct, and the equipment worked according to schedule.