"You listened to me while I was talking with my friends in the calliope tent this morning," continued Matt. "Why was that?"
"I was afraid of de Dutch boy," answered Ben Ali, "and I was more afraid 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 to make me trouble?"
"Yes, sahib," was the prompt response. "I wanted you out of de way. I was afraid."
"Scoundrel!" muttered Matt. "Why, you placed Haidee herself in danger."
"I was Rajah's mahout. I could have kept de elephant from hurting Haidee."
"Was she hypnotized when she came to the aëroplane and played that trick to go up in the machine with me?"
"She was, yes, sahib."
"And you gave her something to be used in setting the aëroplane afire?"
"Yes, sahib. It was de smouldering fire ball, with de coal in its heart. When de machine go up, and de win' fan it, den by and by it break into flame and set fire to de machine."