is by way of losing the use of his toes?"

"Many scientists know that to be untrue," said Jackson, "but perhaps
we can help you through your scheme before they begin denying details
in the newspapers. Too bad we can't send secret suggestions to all
anthropologists that they remain discreetly silent until the mantle of
horror is lifted from Manhattan. But of course we can't, since we'd
betray ourselves. Our only hope, then, is to work at top speed."

"I am as eager as anyone to finish a particularly horrible task," said
Bentley.

- - -

Under Jackson's instructions Bentley walked up and down the
room. His shaggy shadow on the several walls as he turned, marched
and countermarched at Jackson's commands, filled Bentley with
self-loathing. He found himself repulsive. His body perspired
freely impregnating the ape skin with a harsh odor that was
biting and terrible in his nostrils. It was sickening. He tried to
close his mind to the repulsiveness of what he was doing.

He walked with a swaying, side-to-side gait, something like a sailor's
rolling walk, while his arms swung free at his sides as though they
merely hung from his body. The Colombian ape walked like that, Jackson
said.

"How about the intelligence of the Colombian ape?" asked Bentley.

"We shot the only specimen so far seen by man before we could discover
any facts bearing on his intelligence," said Jackson.

"Then you can safely say that he possesses intelligence far beyond
that of known apes," said Bentley quickly, "somewhere, let us say,
between that of the lowest order of mankind and civilized man."

Jackson nodded his held dubiously.

"It seems," he said unsmilingly, "that I arrived in the United States
at exactly the right time! You would have failed signally to convince
the Mind Master in the role of an African great ape."

Bentley managed a short laugh. How horribly it came from the lips of
an ape!

"I'm not overly superstitious," he said, "but I regard this as a good
omen. I feel we're sure to succeed in what we are planning. I think
Barter will surely wish to experiment with me if he thinks I am in
reality a great ape from Colombia. He'll welcome the chance to examine
any ape which so nearly resembles man. I'm an important link in his
plan to create a race of supermen. At least that's how we must hope
that Barter will estimate the situation when my story is told in
to-morrow's papers."

- - -

An hour before