board
ship came over me again. His eyes fascinated me so that I could not look
away from them. I put down the hatchet without another thought. Still he
gazed at me in the same hideous fashion.

"'Sit down in that chair,' he said quietly. 'You cannot disobey me.' And
indeed I could not. My heart was throbbing painfully, and an awful
dizziness was creeping over me. Still I could not get away from those
terrible eyes. They seemed to be growing larger and fiercer every
moment. Oh! I can feel the horror of them even now. As I gazed his white
right hand was moving to and fro before me with regular sweeps, and with
each one I felt my own will growing weaker and weaker. That I was being
mesmerized, I had no doubt, but if I had been going to be murdered I
could not have moved a finger to save myself.

"Then there came a sudden but imperative knock at the door, and both
Nikola and Draper rose. Next moment the man whom we had noticed in the
train as we came up from Melbourne, and against whom you, Mr. Hatteras,
had warned me in Sydney, entered the room. He crossed and stood
respectfully before Nikola.

"'Well, Mr. Eastover, what news?' asked the latter. 'Have you done what
I told you?'

"'Everything,' the man answered, taking an envelope from his pocket.
'Here is the letter you wanted.'

"Nikola took it from his subordinate's hand, broke the seal, and having
withdrawn the contents, read it carefully. All this time, seeing
resistance was quite useless, I did not move. I felt too sick and giddy
for anything. When he had finished his correspondence Nikola said
something in an undertone to Draper, who immediately left the room.
During the time he was absent none of us spoke. Presently he returned,
bringing with him a wine glass filled with water, which he presented to
Nikola.

"'Thank you,' said that gentleman, feeling in his waistcoat pocket.
Presently he found what he wanted and produced what looked like a small
silver scent-bottle. Unscrewing the top, he poured from it into the wine
glass a few drops of some dark-coloured liquid. Having done this he
smelt it carefully and then handed it to me. 'I must ask you to drink
this, my lord,' he said. 'You need have no fear of the result: it is
perfectly harmless.'

"Did ever man hear such a cool proposition? Very naturally I declined to
do as he wished.

"'You _must_ drink it!' he reiterated. 'Pray do so at once. I have no
time to waste bandying words.'

"'I will not drink it!