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life。〃
〃It does not matter how。 I do know it； I have been sure of it from the
moment when first we met； that night by the kloof。 Although； perhaps；
you felt nothing then； it was that gift of yours working upon a mind
in tune； my mind； which led me there in time to save you； as it was
that gift of yours which warned you of the disaster about to happen to
the shipoh！ I have heard the story from your own lips。 Your spirit
can loose itself from the body： it can see the past and the future； it
can discover the hidden things。〃
〃I do not believe it；〃 answered Benita； 〃but at least it shall not be
loosed by you。〃
〃It shall； it shall；〃 he cried with passion； his eyes blazing on her
as he spoke。 〃Oh！ I foresaw all this； and that is why I was determined
you should come with us； so that； should other means fail； we might
have your power to fall back upon。 Well； they have failed； I have been
patient； I have said nothing； but now there is no other way。 Will you
be so selfish； so cruel； as to deny me； you who can make us all rich
in an hour； and take no hurt at all； no more than if you had slept
awhile？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Benita。 〃I refuse to deliver my will into the keeping
of any living man； and least of all into yours； Mr。 Meyer。〃
He turned to her father with a gesture of despair。
〃Cannot you persuade her； Clifford？ She is your daughter； she will
obey you。〃
〃Not in that；〃 said Benita。
〃No；〃 answered Mr。 Clifford。 〃I cannot； and I wouldn't if I could。 My
daughter is quite right。 Moreover； I hate this supernatural kind of
thing。 If we can't find this gold without it； then we must let it
alone； that is all。〃
Meyer turned aside to hide his face； and presently looked up again；
and spoke quite softly。
〃I suppose that I must accept my answer； but when you talked of any
living man just now； Miss Clifford； did you include your father？〃
She shook her head。
〃Then will you allow him to try to mesmerize you？〃
Benita laughed。
〃Oh； yes； if he likes；〃 she said。 〃But I do not think that the
operation will be very successful。〃
〃Good； we will see to…morrow。 Now； like you； I am tired。 I am going to
bed in my new camp by the wall；〃 he added significantly。
*****
〃Why are you so dead set against this business？〃 asked her father；
when he had gone。
〃Oh； father！〃 she answered； 〃can't you see； don't you understand？ Then
it is hard to have to tell you； but I must。 In the beginning Mr。 Meyer
only wanted the gold。 Now he wants more； me as well as the gold。 I
hate him！ You know that is why I ran away。 But I have read a good deal
about this mesmerism； and seen it once or twice； and who knows？ If
once I allow his mind to master my mind； although I hate him so much；
I might become his slave。〃
〃I understand now；〃 said Mr。 Clifford。 〃Oh； why did I ever bring you
here？ It would have been better if I had never seen your face again。〃
On the morrow the experiment was made。 Mr。 Clifford attempted to
mesmerize his daughter。 All the morning Jacob； who； it now appeared；
had practical knowledge of this doubtful art； tried to instruct him
therein。 In the course of the lesson he informed him that for a short
period in the past； having great natural powers in that direction； he
had made use of them professionally； only giving up the business
because he found it wrecked his health。 Mr。 Clifford remarked that he
had never told him that before。
〃There are lots of things in my life that I have never told you；〃
replied Jacob with a little secret smile。 〃For instance； once I
mesmerized you； although you did not know it； and that is why you
always have to do what I want you to； except when your daughter is
near you； for her influence is stronger than mine。〃
Mr。 Clifford stared at him。
〃No wonder Benita won't let you mesmerize her；〃 he said shortly。
Then Jacob saw his mistake。
〃You are more foolish than I thought；〃 he said。 〃How could I mesmerize
you without your knowing it？ I was only laughing at you。〃
〃I didn't see the laugh；〃 replied Mr。 Clifford uneasily； and they went
on with the lesson。
That afternoon it was put to proofin the cave itself； where Meyer
seemed to think that the influences would be propitious。 Benita； who
found some amusement in the performance； was seated upon the stone
steps underneath the crucifix； one lamp on the altar and others one
each side of her。
In front stood her father； staring at her and waving his hands
mysteriously in obedience to Jacob's directions。 So ridiculous did he
look indeed while thus engaged that Benita had the greatest difficulty
in preventing herself from bursting into laughter。 This was the only
effect which his grimaces and gesticulations produced upon her；
although outwardly she kept a solemn appearance； and even from time to
time shut her eyes to encourage him。 Once； when she opened them again；
it was to perceive that he was becoming very hot and exhausted； and
that Jacob was watching him with such an unpleasant intentness that
she re…closed her eyes that she might not see his face。
It was shortly after this that of a sudden Benita did feel something；
a kind of penetrating power flowing upon her； something soft and
subtle that seemed to creep into her brain like the sound of her
mother's lullaby in the dim years ago。 She began to think that she was
a lost traveller among alpine snows wrapped round by snow； falling；
falling in ten myriad flakes； every one of them with a little heart of
fire。 Then it came to her that she had heard this snow…sleep was
dangerous； the last of all sleeps； and that its victims must rouse
themselves； or die。
Benita roused herself just in timeonly just； for now she was being
borne over the edge of a precipice upon the wings of swans； and
beneath her was darkness wherein dim figures walked with lamps where
their hearts should be。 Oh； how heavy were her eyelids！ Surely a
weight hung to each of them； a golden weight。 There； there； they were
open； and she saw。 Her father had ceased his efforts； he was rubbing
his brow with a red pocket…handkerchief； but behind him； with rigid
arms outstretched； his glowing eyes fastened on her face； stood Jacob
Meyer。 By an effort she sprang to her feet； shaking her head as a dog
does。
〃Have done with this nonsense；〃 she said。 〃It tires me；〃 and snatching
one of the lamps she ran swiftly down the place。
Benita expected that Jacob Meyer would be very angry with her； and
braced herself for a scene。 But nothing of the sort happened。 A while
afterwards she saw the two of them approaching； engaged apparently in
amicable talk。
〃Mr。 Meyer says that I am no mesmerist； love；〃 said her father； 〃and I
can quite believe him。 But for all that it is a weary job。 I am as
tired as I was after our escape from the Matabele。〃
She laughed and answered：
〃To judge by results I agree with you。 The occult is not in your line；
f