ce, can alter. Perhaps
it is clear now? In no way can you touch my will. I am sorry that I so
grossly insulted you, Carse, for there are certain things about you
that in a small way I respect. But here you are helpless."

"Not entirely," said the Hawk.

* * * * *

Ku Sui leaned forward a trifle. In that moment, perhaps, he first felt
real concern, for Carse's quiet voice was so confident, so assured. He
attempted to sound him out.

"A gun?" he asked. "Torture? Threats? These against my will? Absurd!
Consider, my friend--even if I seemed to consent to the operations,
could I not easily destroy the brains while ostensibly working on
them?"

"Of course," said Carse, with a faint smile. "And threats and torture
would be absurd. Against your will, Dr. Ku, a more powerful weapon
will have to be used."

The Eurasian's eyes were brilliant with intuition.

"Ah--I see," he murmured. "Eliot Leithgow!"

"Yes, Dr. Ku!"

The two gazed at each other, Carse still with the faint smile, the
other with the face of a statue. Presently the adventurer went on:

"Unfortunately for you, Eliot Leithgow can provide a method of
compulsion neither you nor any other man could ever resist. Not guns,
torture, threats--no. A subtler weapon, worthy of your fine will."

As he spoke, Carse saw the Eurasian's green eyes narrow, and in the
pause that followed he knew that the swift, trained mind behind those
eyes was working. What would it evolve? What move? And those Chinese
words, uttered out by the port-lock--what would they result in, and
when? Dr. Ku Sui was concerned now, the Hawk knew, seriously
concerned, and inevitably, would take serious steps. What was growing
in his resourceful brain? He would have to ward off any trouble when
it came, for he could not know now. He said curtly:

"But enough of that. Now, I have a trifling favor to ask of
you--something concerning the laboratory. Will you please return to
it."

A strange light glimmered for an instant in Dr. Ku Sui's eyes--a
mocking of the slender man before him. Only for an instant; then it
was gone. Gracefully he raised his tall figure.

"The laboratory? Of course, my friend. And as for the favor--almost
anything."

CHAPTER VI

_The Deadline_

Friday greeted them with another wide grin, and would again have
bludgeoned the Eurasian with his wit had not the Hawk motioned him to
silence. Looking at Dr. Ku, he said:

"I have Friday p