"From—from der headt!" stuttered Carl, wildly. "Take it avay! Trow it from der vindow! It iss pad—pad meticine! It vas a hootoo, py shinks, und——"
Carl's words faded into silence. Like Jurgens, he fell backward and began breathing heavily.
Bangs stared for a moment, then staggered toward the door, intent on reaching purer air. But he never gained the entrance. The mysterious odor claimed him and he sank to the floor with a hollow groan.
He tried to roll away, but gave a gasp and his senses left him.
Thus the malicious Obboney was doing his deadly work.
The head, lying face upward in the sawdust, grinned vindictively and the jetty eyes glittered.
Could any one have seen the carved head, just then, it would have seemed to be exulting over its power, and what its power had accomplished.
Heavier and heavier came the breathing of the sleepers, and thicker and thicker grew the odor in the room.
It seemed certain that death must overtake the three who were under the head's evil influence.
Then, suddenly, a black shape bounded into the embrasure of the window. It was the monkey, and the monkey was still playing with Carl's cap.