Santenel tried to dive into and through the other door, the one Frank had first entered, but it stuck fast or was locked. Before the hypnotist could get it open Frank was again on him. and the struggle that had raged below deck was again renewed.
“Tell me what you have done with her!” Frank hissed, getting Santenel by the throat and pushing his head backward. The fiend tried to wriggle away. Failing in this, he struggled to trip his assailant, in which effort he threw himself from his feet, and, falling with his head against the deck, was knocked into temporary insensibility.
Seeing that he was unconscious, Frank glanced about for a rope with which to tie him. Finding none, he retraced his way across the little deck toward the stern of the launch.
A hasty glance at the lights of the city showed that the launch, no doubt with wheel tied, was steaming straight out toward the channel. Already it was far from the wharf it had so recently left.
“Inza!” Frank began to call, as he kicked about with his feet for a rope. “Inza! Inza!”
There was no answer. A horrible fear weighted him down. He wanted to begin an immediate search for her, but he dared not until Santenel was safely secured; for the desperate hypnotist was capable of doing anything as soon as he recovered.
When no answer came to his cries, Frank was about to strike a match and descend into the interior of the launch and make a search, regardless of Santenel. But at this moment the man recovered consciousness and began an effort to get on his feet.
Frank rushed toward him.
“Stop!” he shouted, for he fancied he saw Santenel drawing a weapon.
For reply, the villain hurled a heavy iron bolt at him. Seeing this had missed, for Frank rushed straight on, the hypnotist, with his mind apparently muddled by his fall, gave a shriek, climbed to his feet and leaped over the rail into the water.