Would Barter fall for the ruse? Or did he already know that the Colombian ape was Lee Bentley? In either case, Bentley thought, the Mind Master would take action during the first hours of darkness. Bentley was gambling desperately on what he knew to be characteristic of Caleb Barter. CHAPTER XI _In the Dead of Night_ Bentley knew that if Ellen were in the hands of Caleb Barter the mad professor would probably do her no harm, but use her as a club against Bentley, and through Bentley, the Manhattan police. He did not believe that the Mind Master would consider performing the brain operation on Ellen. Caleb Barter's scheme seemed to consider only men, and men of substance. No, Ellen would not be harmed, he felt, but that made him feel no easier, knowing that she might be in the hands of Barter. How could he know of Naka Machi, and the refined vengeance of the Mind Master? The last visitors had left the park and comparative quiet settled over the zoo. Save for the sounds of animals feeding and the occasional cursing voices of attendants there were no sounds. Not since Bentley had taken his place in the cage had anyone spoken to him. He had never felt so lonely and uncertain in his life. Now there was utter darkness and silence. And then before his cage appeared a tiny spot of light. If Barter's minions expected to deal with a powerful ape they would come prepared to subdue him by whatever means seemed necessary. Bentley had no wish to be injured, and yet he must make some show of resistance in order to allay any possible suspicion that he _wished_ to be stolen. There was a faint gnawing sound at the wire outside the cage. Mice might have made that sound, sharpening their teeth on the wire. Bentley decided to feign sleep. Had Barter come personally to supervise his capture? That didn't seem reasonable as Barter must realize that all his effectiveness depended upon his ability to retain control of whatever organization he might have built up--and his central control must be his hideout. Then he would be sending some of his puppets to get Bentley. Would they be apes with man's brains? Impossible. Apes could not travel from place to place without attracting attention, especially if they traveled unguarded and went casually to a given destination as men would go. So, if his puppets were not men in the normal meaning, then they were "apemen." - - - The wire came softly down. Bentley hoped that no attendant might come blundering around now to spoil everything. His heart pounded with excitement. At last he was going to see Caleb Barter again at close quarters. "I shall destroy him," he told himself.