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fearful to see； like an avenging angel。 I fled； and the lightonly
the lightcame with me down the cave； even at the mouth of it there
was a little。 I have seen a spirit； I who did not believe in spirits；
I have seen a spirit； and I tell you that not for all the gold in the
world will I enter that place again。〃
Then before they could answer； suddenly as though his fear had got
some fresh hold of him； Jacob sprang forward and fled away； crashing
through the bushes and leaping from rock to rock like a frightened
buck。
XXI
THE MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD
〃Meyer always said that he did not believe in spirits；〃 remarked Mr。
Clifford reflectively。
〃Well； he believes in them now；〃 answered Benita with a little laugh。
〃But； father； the poor man is mad； that is the fact of it； and we must
pay no attention to what he says。〃
〃The old Molimo and some of his peopleTamas； for instancedeclared
that they have seen the ghost of Benita da Ferreira。 Are they mad
also； Benita？〃
〃I don't know； father。 Who can say？ All these things are a mystery。
All I do know is that I have never seen a ghost； and I doubt if I ever
shall。〃
〃No； but when you were in that trance something that was not you spoke
out of your mouth； which something said that it was your namesake； the
other Benita。 Well； as you say； we can't fathom these things；
especially in a haunted kind of place like this； but the upshot of it
is that I don't think we have much more to fear from Jacob。〃
〃I am not so sure； father。 Mad people change their moods very
suddenly。〃
As it happened Benita was quite right。 Towards suppertime Jacob Meyer
reappeared； looking pale and shaken； but otherwise much as usual。
〃I had a kind of fit this morning；〃 he explained； 'the result of an
hallucination which seized me when my light went out in that cave。 I
remember that I thought I had seen a ghost； whereas I know very well
that no such thing exists。 I was the victim of disappointment；
anxieties； and other still stronger emotions；〃 and he looked at
Benita。 〃Therefore； please forget anything I said or did； andwould
you give me some supper？〃
Benita did so； and he ate in silence； with some heartiness。 When he
had finished his food； and swallowed two or three tots of squareface；
he spoke again：
〃I have come here； where I know I am not welcome； upon business；〃 he
said in a calm； matter…of…fact voice。 〃I am tired of this place； and I
think it is time that we attained the object of our journey here；
namely； to find the hidden gold。 That； as we all know； can only be
done in a certain way； through the clairvoyant powers of one of us and
the hypnotic powers of another。 Miss Clifford； I request that you will
allow me to throw you into a state of trance。 You have told us
everything else； but you have not yet told us where the treasure is
hidden； and this it is necessary that we should know。〃
〃And if I refuse； Mr。 Meyer？〃
〃Then I am sorry； but I must take means to compel your obedience。
Under those circumstances； much against my will； I shall be obliged〃
here his eye blazed out wildly〃to execute your father； whose
obstinacy and influence stand between us and splendid fortunes。 No；
Clifford；〃 he added； 〃don't stretch out your hand towards that rifle；
for I am already covering you with the pistol in my pocket； and the
moment your hand touches it I shall fire。 You poor old man； do you
imagine for a single second that； sick as you are； and with your stiff
limbs； you can hope to match yourself against my agility； intellect；
and strength？ Why； I could kill you in a dozen ways before you could
lift a finger against me； and by the God I do not believe in； unless
your daughter is more compliant； kill you I will！〃
〃That remains to be seen； my friend；〃 said Mr。 Clifford with a laugh；
for he was a brave old man。 〃I am not certain that the Godwhom you
do not believe inwill not kill you first。〃
Now Benita； who had been taking counsel with herself； looked up and
said suddenly：
〃Very well； Mr。 Meyer； I consentbecause I must。 To…morrow morning
you shall try to mesmerize me； if you can； in the same place； before
the crucifix in the cave。〃
〃No；〃 he answered quickly。 〃It was not there； it was here； and here it
shall be again。 The spot you mention is unpropitious to me； the
attempt would fail。〃
〃It is the spot that I have chosen；〃 answered Benita stubbornly。
〃And this is the spot that I have chosen； Miss Clifford； and my will
must prevail over yours。〃
〃Because you who do not believe in spirits are afraid to re…enter the
cave； Mr。 Meyer； lest you should chance〃
〃Never mind what I am or am not afraid of；〃 he replied with fury。
〃Make your choice between doing my will and your father's life。
To…morrow morning I shall come for your answer； and if you are still
obstinate； within half an hour he will be dead； leaving you and me
alone together。 Oh！ you may call me wicked and a villain； but it is
you who are wicked； you； you； /you/ who force me to this deed of
justice。〃
Then without another word he sprang up and walked away from them
backwards； as he went covering Mr。 Clifford with the pistol which he
had drawn from his pocket。 The last that they saw of him were his
eyes； which glowered at them through the darkness like those of a
lion。
〃Father；〃 said Benita； when she was sure that he had gone； 〃that
madman really means to murder you； there is no doubt of it。〃
〃None whatever； dear； if I am alive to…morrow night I shall be lucky；
unless I can kill him first or get out of his way。〃
〃Well；〃 she said hurriedly； 〃I think you can。 I have an idea。 He is
afraid to go into that cave； I am sure。 Let us hide ourselves there。
We can take food and shall have plenty of water； whereas； unless rain
falls； he can get nothing to drink。〃
〃But what then； Benita？ We can't stop in the dark for ever。〃
〃No； but we can wait there until something happens。 Something must and
will happen。 His disease won't stand still。 He may go raving mad and
kill himself。 Or he may attempt to attack us； though that is not
likely； and then we must do what we can in self defence。 Or help may
reach us from somewhere。 At the worst we shall only die as we should
have died outside。 Come； let us be quick； lest he should change his
mind； and creep back upon us。〃
So Mr。 Clifford gave way； knowing that even if he could steel himself
to do the deed of attempting to kill Jacob； he would have little
chance against that strong and agile man。 Such a struggle would only
end in his own death； and Benita must then be left alone with Meyer
and his insane passions。
Hurriedly they carried their few belongings into the cave。 First they
took most of the little store of food that remained； the three hand…
lamps and all the paraffin； there was but one tin。 Then returning they
fetched the bucket； the ammunition； and their clothes。 Afterwards； as
there was still