CHAPTER XV.
"FOR THE SAKE OF HAIDEE!"
Motor Matt knew something about hypnotism, having acquired theknowledge in the casual way most boys learn about such occult and, attimes, fascinating subjects.
The young motorist knew, for instance, that if it was suggested toMargaret Manners often enough in a hypnotic state that she was onlyHaidee, the girl would come to forget her own personality. Even whenout of the trance she would be confused and bewildered in trying torecall her real name and her past life.
It was to undo some of this evil that Matt was eager for a talk withthe Hindoo.
"Ben Ali," said Matt sternly, "we have the box of letters and CaptainManners' Victoria Cross. In order to make you suffer terribly for whatyou have done, we have only to turn you over to the authorities and letthem cable to London. There is a thousand pounds sterling offered as areward for the recovery of Margaret Manners; and for you there would bea long term in prison. You understand that, don't you?"
There was a crafty look on the Hindoo's face as he answered.
"Yes, sahib. But you not do anything with me. De girl is in de trance.I have her in my power."
"And we have you in our power," said Matt, appreciating to the full thestrong hold Ben Ali had on them, as well as on the girl.
"But, by and by, when we have finished de talk, de young sahib will letme go."
Matt was deeply thoughtful for a few moments.
"Yes," he answered deliberately, "if you will answer my questions, anddo what I tell you to do, we will let you go."
"Pard!" remonstrated Joe.
"I know what I am doing, Joe," returned Matt.
"De young sahib is wise," put in the smiling Ben Ali, his eyesbeginning to gleam and dance in an attempt to get the king of the motorboys under their influence.
"Pah!" murmured Matt disgustedly. "You can hold his arm with one hand,Joe. Place the other hand over his eyes."
"He's a fiend," growled McGlory, as his palm dropped over the upperpart of Ben Ali's face.
The Hindoo laughed noiselessly.
"Will you talk with me frankly and answer my questions, Ben Ali,"proceeded Matt, "providing we promise to let you go?"
"Yes, sahib."
"Then, first, who are you?"
"De brother of a great rajah in my own land, and de brother of de greatrajah's sister. That sister married de Captain Manners, Margaret'sfather."
"I see," breathed Matt, his eyes wandering to the girl.
Haidee had grown quiet, her face expressionless and her eyes staringand vacant, as before.
"I, with my rich rajah brother," continued Ben Ali, with bitterness,"was only de driver of his elephants. No more. I work. He live inluxury and do not anything. Captain Manners die. Then his wife, shedie, too. _Suttee._ She burn on de funeral pyre, as our custom is in myland. De husband die, then de widow die. Margaret she live. My brother,de rajah, give me money, send me to Calcutta after Margaret. I go. Iget de girl and we take ship to America. Hah! On de way I tell Margaretit is her uncle, de rajah's wish, that she go to de Vassar school inAmerica, that I follow order when I take her there. She believe what Isay. On de steamer I begin de trances. She not like them, but she agreeat first. By and by she not able to help herself. I tell her she notremember who she is when she wake, that she only Haidee. She b'leeve."The scoundrel laughed. "I have de so great power with the eyes and thehands, sahib."
"Why did you join a show and take the girl with you?" demanded Matt, afeeling of horror and repulsion for Ben Ali growing in his heart.
"I have to live, sahib. My money give out. I know how to drive deelephant, so I hear of de show and go there. Boss Burton hire me. Ispeak of Haidee. He hire her, too."
"Did she know how to perform on the trapeze--she, the niece of apowerful rajah and daughter of an English gentleman?"
"She know not anything about that. I put her in de trance and tell hershe know. Then she perform on de trapeze better than any."
"Why did you want her to go up on the flying machine?"
"Cut it short," growled McGlory huskily. "I feel like using the knifeon the villain, pard. He ain't fit to live."
"You listened to me while I was talking with my friends in the calliopetent this morning," continued Matt. "Why was that?"
"I was afraid of de Dutch boy," answered Ben Ali, "and I was moreafraid when I hear what he tell. After that, I be afraid of all of you.You understan'? I thought you take Haidee away from me."
"You hypnotized her before the parade and told her to do something tomake me trouble?"
"Yes, sahib," was the prompt response. "I wanted you out of de way. Iwas afraid."
"Scoundrel!" muttered Matt. "Why, you placed Haidee herself in danger."
"I was Rajah's mahout. I could have kept de elephant from hurtingHaidee."
"Was she hypnotized when she came to the a?roplane and played thattrick to go up in the machine with me?"
"She was, yes, sahib."
"And you gave her something to be used in setting the a?roplane afire?"
"Yes, sahib. It was de smouldering fire ball, with de coal in itsheart. When de machine go up, and de win' fan it, den by and by itbreak into flame and set fire to de machine."
Ben Ali was frank, brutally frank. But he had Motor Matt's promise thathe should go free, and he seemed to gloat over his evil deeds and towish that not a detail be left out.
"She did not act, when she was in the a?roplane, as she did when shewas in the parade," said Matt.
"I make her act different, sahib. I tell her how she was to be. I havede so great power I do that. Other fakirs not so great as Ben Ali."
"We've heard enough," said Matt. "Now, as yet, you have only partlyearned your freedom, Ben Ali. You have still to do what I shall tellyou."
"What is that, sahib?"
"You will, by the aid of hypnotism, undo all the evil you have done,as much as possible. For instance, you will impress on Haidee, as shestands there, the truth that she is Margaret Manners, and that she willremember it, and all her past, when she wakes. After that, you are towaken her and take yourself off."
"Yes," answered the Hindoo. "My freedom is dear to me. Perhaps"--and hesmiled--"I have something yet to do with Motor Matt."
"If you cross my path again, Ben Ali," returned the king of the motorboys, "there will be no promise binding me to let you go free. If youare wise, you will stay away from me and my friends, and from Haidee."
"I take my chance, if that is it. To awaken Haidee I must be on myfeet."
"You will lie as you are!" declared Matt sharply. "You can do your workas well this way as in any other."
"I will try," said the Hindoo, after a moment's pause. Then, in a loudvoice, he called: "Haidee!"
The girl turned her eyes upon him.
"Yes," she answered.
"When you wake, _meetoowah_, you will remember that you are MargaretManners."
"Yes."
"You will remember all, everything--Calcutta, your father, CaptainManners, your mother, your mother's brother, de rajah. But you forgetBen Ali, and you think no more of him. You understand?"
"Yes."
This, in a little different language, Ben Ali repeated several times.
"Now, young sahib," said he, "let me up till I wake Haidee."
"Hold to him on that side, Joe," cautioned Matt, "but give him the useof his hands. When Haidee wakes, release him."
"Sufferin' fairy tales!" grumbled McGlory. "I hate to do it, pard, andthat's honest, but I reckon, from what I've heard, that you know whatyou're about. It's a hard way to bring right and justice to the girlby letting this scoundrel escape the law, but there don't seem to beanything else for it."
Slowly the boys got up and permitted Ben Ali to struggle to his feet.When he was erect, both still gripped him by the waist in order toprevent him from committing any treachery.
Ben Ali leaned forward and waved his hands.
"Awake, _meetoowah_!" he called sharply. "You are yourself again,Margaret Ma
nners! Awake!"
The girl started, and lifted both hands to her temples. It was enough,and Motor Matt was satisfied.
"Let him go, Joe," said Matt, "but keep his knife."
The boys, at the same moment, withdrew their hands and stepped back.Ben Ali, with a wild, snarling laugh, sprang into the woods andvanished.
"What is it?" asked Margaret Manners, in a puzzled voice. "Where am I?Ah, is that you, Motor Matt? And Joe!"
"Yes, sis," returned the cowboy, his voice full of gentleness, "it'syour friend McGlory, and the best friend you ever had if you did butknow it--Motor Matt."
"Come," said Matt briskly, "we must hustle back to the automobile. Carlwill have a fit wondering what has become of us."