Dick tried to get to his feet, but his limbs gave out, and he fell sprawling upon Carl. At the same moment Carl straightened out with a gasp, and Speake let go of the wheel and pitched forward to his knees. There he swayed unsteadily for an instant, trying to speak, but the effort was beyond him, and he slowly crumpled downward.
A horrible sensation of helplessness was growing upon Matt, and with it there dawned on his mind a hazy suspicion of villainous work. He struggled upright and staggered to the wheel.
"Gaines!" he called huskily through the motor-room tube.
No answer was returned. Glennie floundered up on one knee.
"What—in the fiend's—name—is the matter?" he gasped chokingly.
"Clackett!" cried Matt through the tank-room tube.
Still there was no answer. At just that moment, when Matt was positively sure that all on the ship were caught in the awful spell, Ah Sin shambled through the door.
With all his failing strength Matt flung himself on the Chinaman. Before Ah Sin could dodge out of the way Matt's arms went round him and his slouch hat was jerked off.
With the hat came the long queue, leaving Ah Sin's closely cropped head in plain sight.
"T—Tolo!" gurgled Glennie, a wild, incredulous look crossing his face.