meanwhile stripping himself in a businesslike fashion that it were good
to see.

"It means," said I, throwing off my robe, "that I have unchained the
magnetism of this world. Know you, Klow, that all of the children of the
sun are full of his power; it is like unto that of the tiny magnet which
ye give children for to play; but it is mighty, even as our world is
mighty."

"Good Jon!" he gasped; for his was not a daring mind. "What have ye
done, ye trifler?"

"I have transformed this empire into one vast magnet," I answered
coolly. Then I showed him a boulder on the summit of a distant hill;
through the tube, Klow could see some of my men standing beside it.

"Place one of thy own men on the roof of the palace," I told Klow, "and
give him orders to lower my banner should ye give him the word.

"For upon the outcome of this fight 'twixt me and thee, Klow, hinges the
whole affair! If thou dost survive, down comes my banner; and my men on
the hill shall topple the boulder which shall rush down the slope and
burst the iron rod and break the spell. Stand, then, and defend
thyself!"

And it did me good to see the spirit fly into his eyes. He saw that his
empire lived or died as he lived or died, and he fought as he had never
fought before. Small man that he was beside myself, he were wondrous
quick and sure in his motions; before I knew it, he had bit his ax deep
into my side.