"Then, by the fiend, I dare!" shouted the pirate. Something in the tang
of the gale sweeping in from the unseen entrance reassured him of the
existence of the outer world; persuaded him that by taking a desperate
chance he might yet throw dust in the eyes of this terrible woman and go
hence with the secret of the great chamber. "I dare, Dolores! Blood, d'
ye say? What fitter drink for a pirate?"

He lifted the flagon, took a deep draft in great gulps, so that his
determination might carry him; then his eye sparkled, he took the flagon
from his lips, and grinned at Milo. "By the great Red Chief!" he cried.
"This is justice indeed! I drink to ye, Sultana, and to Milo, ye big
jester!" and finished the drink with a greedy swallow.

Then the flagon clattered to the ground, Sancho's face went livid, and
his mouth opened wide and loosely, as his body and limbs were seized
with subtle pains. His brain, too, felt an awful numbness creeping upon
it; for the draft had done its work. The rarest of wine from her store,
Dolores had mingled with it a devilish powder that first sapped the
strength, then attacked the brain, and eventually snapped the cord of
intelligence, leaving the victim a driveling imbecile. But that point
had not yet been reached. It would come perhaps in one hour, two, three,
perhaps six--but inevitably it must come. For the present the pirate
was simply in the grip of the unknown, yet having full power to realize,
but not resist, the tangible terrors at hand.

"Milo, hasten the rest. I shall await thee at the gate. Put forth this
traitor by the Grove outlet, and see to it that he takes with him
neither power to see beauty, to utter treason, or to ever feel again the
scalding touch of coveted gold. Make speed, I command thee, for I hear
my stout trusty ones clamoring for the chase!"

Dolores disappeared through the secret outlet, sprang down behind the
altar, and ran through the Grove. Beside the cliff were huddled Hanglip
and Stumpy, Caliban, and Spotted Dog, drenched with the teeming rain,
restless with impatience, peering ever to seaward in the lightning
flashes that continually illumined the scene.

Among them Dolores appeared, suddenly, mysteriously, as coming from the
skies, and after a choke of amazement Stumpy flung a hand seaward, and
shouted above the turmoil of wind and rain:

"Queen o' Night, thou'lt need thy magic now! See, there flies the
villain!"

Dolores looked, and smiled disdainfully.