"How do you account for it?"
"I don't. You're doing this sum in arithmetic. What's the answer?"
"Glass balls," said Matt.
"Speak to me about those glass balls! That webfoot threw two of them, and they smashed right in front of us! And—and—— But, say, pard, it's not in reason to think that two things like those balls could lay us out."
"Remember how the Eye of Buddha was stolen? The one-eyed sailor and the Englishman broke one of the glass balls in the temple, and all the priests were laid out."
"Oh, well, if you're going to take any stock in that fat Chinaman and his yarn, I reckon you——"
"Now, listen," continued Matt earnestly. "Strange as it may seem, Joe, there are balls like those Tsan Ti was telling us about. We have had an experience with them, and we know. I suppose the glass spheres are filled with some powerful narcotic fumes which are set free the moment the balls are broken."
"It's not in reason," protested Joe.
"It's a hard thing to believe that such objects exist, I'll admit," proceeded Matt, "but we have got to credit the evidence of our senses. While one of the balls was enough to overcome the priests, in the temple, it was necessary for the sailor to use two against us, there in the open. The air, naturally, would soon dissipate the fumes. I shouldn't wonder," Matt added reflectively, "but those balls were invented by the Chinese. They seem to have a knack for that sort of thing."
"Queerest knock-out drops I ever heard of."