"And you're a fool!" he shouted, wildly. "It's my brain, I tell you, that controls it all."
I wrenched myself free, and he switched on the light again, and then gave a shriek that froze my blood.
I turned with a start, and my flesh prickled as I saw him standing with madness blazing in his eyes, his attenuated hand extended, pointing to the far end of the cabin. "Who is that?" he gasped.
"There is no one here but ourselves," I cried, trembling with apprehension.
"You lie! Look there, and there, and there," and his bony finger pointed to every corner of the saloon. "And there, and there! Nom de Diable! They are all here!"
"Who are here?" I cried, with a weak attempt at bravado.
"They are; those who have tried to rob me of my secret—those whom you met at dinner. Ah!" He turned swiftly and moved slowly towards me, his body half bent, like a wild animal about to spring upon its prey.
"Ah!" he hissed again. "Those you met at dinner. Those you conspired to bring upon the boat to rob me."
"You're mad!" I shrieked, my courage utterly deserting me.
"Mad!" he raved, pointing about the cabin and grimacing at the imaginary intruders. "It's you who are mad. All of you, for you've come to your death. And you're in your coffin now!"