Benis was not quite sure what happened then. He remembers leaning
against a tree. Presently he was aware of a horrible smell--the
smell of some object which Li Ho held to his nostrils.
"Plenty big smell," said Li Ho. "Make 'urn sit up."
Benis sat up.
"Where is--" he began. But his throat closed upon the question. He
could not ask.
"Missy in tent," said Li Ho stolidly. "Missy plenty tired. Sleep
velly good."
Spence tried to take this in . . . tent . . . sleep . . .
"Li Ho tell missy house no so-so," went on the China-man, pressing
his evil-smelling salts closer to his victim's face. "Missy say 'all
light'--sleep plenty well in tent; velly fine night."
Benis tried feebly to push the abomination away from his nose.
"Desire . . . alive?" he whispered.
"Oh elite so. Velly much. Moon-devil velly smart but Li Ho much more
clever. Missy she no savey--all light."
Spence began to laugh. It was dangerous laughter--or so at least Li
Ho thought, for he promptly smothered it with his "velly big smell."
The measure proved effective. The professor decided not to laugh. He
held himself quiet until control came back and then stood up.
"I thought she was dead, Li Ho," he said.
In the half light the inscrutable face changed ever so little.
"Li Ho no let," said the Chinaman simply. "You better now, p'laps?"
he went on. "We go catch honor-able Boss before missy wake." Spence
nodded. He felt extraordinarily tired.
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