e, hysterically. "It's still within
me--whispering, whispering; urging me away from you, from Martin, from
every human thing; bidding me give myself up, surrender my humanity.

"Its seal," she sobbed. "No--HIS seal! An alien consciousness sealed
within me, that tries to make the human me a slave--that waits to
overcome my will--and if I surrender gives me freedom, an incredible
freedom--but makes me, being still human, a--monster."

She hid her face in her hands, quivering.

"If I could sleep," she wailed. "But I'm afraid to sleep. I think I
shall never sleep again. For sleeping how do I know what I may be when I
wake?"

I caught Drake's eye; he nodded. I slipped my hand down into the
medicine-case, brought forth a certain potent and tasteless combination
of drugs which I carry upon explorations.

I dropped a little into her cup, then held it to her lips. Like a child,
unthinking, she obeyed and drank.

"But I'll not surrender." Her eyes were tragic. "Never think it! I can
win--don't you know I can?"

"Win?" Drake dropped down beside her, drew her toward him. "Bravest girl
I've known--of course you'll win. And remember this--nine-tenths of what
you're thinking now is purely over-wrought nerves and weariness. You'll
win--and we'll win, never doubt it."

"I don't," she said. "I know it--oh, it will be hard--but I will--I
will--"

CHAPTER XV. THE HOUSE OF NORHALA

Her eyes closed, her body relaxed; the potion had done its work quickly.
We laid her beside Ventnor on the pile of silken stuffs, covered them
both with a fold, then looked at each other long and silently--and I
wondered whether my face was as grim and drawn as his.

"It appears," he said at last, curtly, "that it's up to you and me for
powwow quick. I hope you're not sleepy."

"I am not," I answered as curtly; the edge of nerves in his manner of
questioning doing nothing to soothe my own, "and even if I were I would
hardly expect to put all the burden of the present problem upon you by
going to sleep."

"For God's sake don't be a prima donna," he flared up. "I meant no
offense."

"I'm sorry, Dick," I said. "We're both a little jumpy, I guess." He
nodded; gripped my hand.

"It wouldn't be so bad," he muttered, "if all four of us were all
right. But Ventnor's down and out, and God alone knows for how long. And
Ruth--has all the trouble we have and some special ones of her own. I've
an idea"--he hesitated--"an idea that there was no exagge