country had reacted favorably to the general's actions and editorials demanded his summary execution. A grateful public acclaimed General Adams as having saved Earth from slavery at the hands of brutal machines....

Don sat in his cell, not caring about the practically automatic death sentence. All that he had thought worth living for was gone. Stone had been killed and Shiela would soon be caught by the new ray.

Day was just beginning to break ... the rising of the sun to be a signal for his execution. He looked up as the sentry stopped before his cell. They stared at each other and Don said wryly, "I won't hang myself until you go off duty, sentry."

The youth opened his mouth to reply when, all of a sudden, everything seemed to rise, then settle back and crumple. A low roar filled the room and Don frantically scuttled closer to one of the walls to escape falling debris. He wondered if the roboes had attacked or if it had been an earthquake.

The question was soon answered. He scrambled to freedom outside and heard the rattle of small arms fire. He had no definite plan in mind but to get away as far as possible. His prison had been situated near a forest and he dashed for the edge, taking advantage of the confusion.

He had almost reached the fringe when a small band of uniformed men broke through almost directly in front of him. Don and the party stopped, everyone momentarily startled. Then he dashed off at a tangent, knowing it futile but determined to die while free.

There was a shout, then an explosion from a blaster, almost a hit. The concussion knocked Don to the ground. He came to his feet groggily and started to run again when there was a familiar call, "Don! Wait!"

He looked and saw that one of the party was Shiela and also recognized several roboe technicians. He doubled back for the prison but was instantly felled by a blow from behind that knocked one of his legs from beneath him. He realized that it could only have been from one of the older rifles still used for hunting game in order that it wouldn't be torn apart as with a blaster.

The party quickly surrounded him and sped for the security of the trees. There was a flurry of shots from behind that the roboes answered, then the foliage concealed them.

"It's no use," Don gasped from between gritted teeth. "This place is surrounded by soldiers; in fact, I rather 

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