The Dark Star

To give the clock more room on the glass shelf, Ali Baba removed the

toilet accessories and set them on the washstand; but he had no room

for a large jug of water, and, casting about for a place to set it,

noticed a railed bracket over the head of the bed, and placed it

there.

Then, apparently satisfied with his labours, he sat down Turk fashion

on the sofa, lighted a cigarette, selected a bonbon from the box

beside him, and calmly regaled himself.

Presently Golden Beard tied the cord which held up the sling in which

the bombs were slung against the ceiling. He fastened it tightly to

the iron frame of the bed, stepped back to view the effect, then

leisurely pulled out and filled his porcelain pipe, and seated himself

on the sofa beside Ali Baba.

Neither spoke; twice Golden Beard drew his watch from his waistcoat

pocket and compared it carefully with the dial of the alarm clock on

the washstand shelf. The third time he did this he tapped Ali Baba on

the shoulder, rose, knocked out his pipe and flung it out of the open

port.

Together they walked over to Neeland, examined the gag and ligatures

as impersonally as though the prisoner were not there, nodded their

satisfaction, turned off the electric light, and, letting themselves

out, locked the door on the outside.

It lacked five minutes of the time indicated on the alarm dial.