k honesty of such a man as that
Gray Mahatma; and Athelstan King was not there to set the example. I
preferred to keep awake by continuing to question him.

"And d'you mean that those devils will deliberately torture you to death
after you surrender voluntarily?" I asked.

"They are not devils," he answered solemnly.

"But they'll torture you?"

"What is called torture can hardly fail to accompany the process they
will put me through--especially if I am to be honored as I hope. For a
long time we have sought to make one experiment for which no suitable
subject could be found. For centuries it has been believed that a
certain scientific step is possible; but the subject on whom the
experiment is tried must be one who knows all our secrets and well
understands the manipulation of vibrations of the atmosphere. It is
seldom that such an one has to be sentenced to death. And it is one of
our laws that death shall never be imposed on any one not deserving of
it. There are many, myself included, who would cheerfully have offered
ourselves for that experiment at any time, had it been allowed."

"So you're really almost contented with the prospect?" I suggested.

"No, my friend. I am discontented. And for this reason. It may be that
the nine unknown, who are obliged by the oath of our order to be stern
and devoid of sentiment, will discover how pleased I would be to submit
myself to that experiment. And in that case, in place of that experiment
they would feel obliged merely to repeat some test that I have seen a
dozen times."

"And throw your body to the alligators afterward?"

"In that case, yes. But if what I hope takes place, there will be
nothing left for the alligators--nothing but bones without moisture in
them that will seem ten centuries old."

CHAPTER XI

"KILL! KILL!"

The Gray Mahatma sat still, contemplating with apparent equanimity his
end that should begin at midnight, and I sat contemplating him, when
suddenly a new idea occurred to me.

"You intend to surrender to your executioners at midnight?" I asked him.

He nodded gravely.

"Suppose she keeps us locked in here; what then? You say you can't use
your science to get out of here. What if you're late for the
assignation?"

"You forget," he said with a deprecating gesture, "that they can see
exactly where I am at any time! If they enter the cavern of vision and
turn on the power they can see us now, instantly. They know perfectly
well