s urgent
entreaty, consented to go below and give them a taste of his awful
powers.

At first he was not very successful. The men stared at the discs he
put into their hands until their eyes ached, but for some time without
effect. Bill was the first to yield, and to the astonishment of his
friends passed into a soft magnetic slumber, from which he emerged to
perform the usual idiotic tricks peculiar to mesmerised subjects.

"It's wonderful what power you 'ave over em," said Captain Bradd,
respectfully.

Captain Zingall smiled affably. "At the present moment," he said, "that
man is my unthinkin' slave, an' whatever I wish him to do he does. Would
any of you like him to do anything?"

"Well, sir," said one of the men, "'e owes me 'arf a crown, an' I think
it would be a 'ighly interestin' experiment if you could get 'im to pay
me. If anything 'ud make me believe in mesmerism, that would."

"An' he owes me eighteenpence, sir," said another seaman, eagerly.

"One at a time," said the first speaker, sharply.

"An' 'e's owed me five shillin's since I don't know when," said the
cook, with dishonest truthfulness.

Captain Zingall turned to his subject. "You owe that man half a crown,"
he said, pointing, "that one eighteenpence, and that one five shillings.
Pay them."

In the most matter-of-fact way in the world Bill groped in his pockets,
and, producing some greasy coins, payed the sums mentioned, to the
intense delight of everybody.

"Well, I'm blest," said the mate, staring. "I thought mesmerism was all
rubbish. Now bring him to again."

"But don't tell 'im wot 'e's been doin'," said the cook.

Zingall with a few passes brought his subject round, and with a subdued
air he took his place with the others.

"What'd it feel like, Bill?" asked Joe. "Can you remember what you did?"

Bill shook his head.

"Don't try to," said the cook, feelingly.

"I should like to put you under the influence," said Zingall, eyeing the
mate.

"You couldn't," said that gentleman, promptly.

"Let me try," said Zingall, persuasively.

"Do," said the skipper, "to oblige me, George."

"Well, I don't mind much," said the mate, hesitating; "but no making
_me_ give those chaps money, you know."

"No, no," said Zingall.

"Wot does 'e mean? Give the chaps money?" said Bill, turning with a
startled air to the cook.

"I dunno," said the cook airily. "Just watch 'im, Bill," he added,
anxiously.

But Bill had something better to d