Part 10 (1/2)

”Yes, Lord Ragnall, it would sound so strange that I beg you will come at once to see the evidences of what I tell you, before rain or snow obliterates theden, perhaps”

”Lady Longden! Why one ht as rite to _The Tie He is faithful and can be silent”

So Savage was called in and, while Lord Ragnall dressed himself hurriedly, told the outline of his story under pain of instant dismissal if he breathed a word Really to watch his face was as good as a play

So astonished was he that all he could ejaculate was--

”The black-hearted villains! Well, they ain't friendly with snakes for nothing”

Then having made sure that Miss Hol stair and through the side doorway, locking the door after us By now the daas breaking and there was enough light to enable ale ree the impress of the little bedrooed feet following after

In the plantation things were still easier, for every detail of the movements of the four of us could be traced Moreover, on the back drive was the spoor of the horses and the ht for the purposes of the abduction Also ood fortune, for this seemed to prove my theory, we found a parcel wrapped in native linen that appeared to have fallen out of the carriage when Hart and Mart one over it It contained an Eastern wouising Miss Holmes, who thence-forould have appeared to be the wife or daughter of one of the abductors

Savage discovered this parcel, which he lifted only to drop it with a yell, for underneath it lay a torpid snake, doubtless one of those that had been used in the performance

Of these discoveries and nall ned by all three of us

There is not much more to tell, that is of this part of the story The matter was put into the hands of detectives who discovered that the Easterns had driven to London, where all traces of the carriage which conveyed them was lost They, however, eether with two native women, who probably had been provided to look after Miss Holypt Thither, of course, it was useless to follow them in those days, even if it had been advisable to do so

To return to Miss Hol but rather pale Again I sat next to her and took soht

She replied, Very well and yet very ill, since, although she never re more soundly in her life, she had experienced all sorts of queer drea at all, a circumstance that annoyed herThen she added,

”Do you know, Mr Quater, and h How do you account for that? It is just as though I had been walking about outside ininequal to the invention of any convincing explanation of these phenomena, I upset the marmalade pot on to the table in such a way that some of it fell upon her dress, and then coverednall caet the purport, and thus that crisis passed

Shortly after breakfast Scroope announced to Miss Manners that her carriage aiting, and we departed Before I went, as it chanced, I had a few private words with e To the last, by the way, I offered a tip which he refused, saying that after all we had gone through together he could not allow ”money to come between us,” by which he nall asked lish and my African addresses, which he noted in his pocket-book Then he said,

”Really, Quaterh I had known you for years instead of three days; if you will allow reat deal h neither of us knew it at the tiain I hope you will make this house your headquarters”

”And if ever you conall, I hope you will make my four-roomed shanty on the Berea at Durban your headquarters You will get a hearty welco to eat, but littleI should like better, Quatermain Circumstances have put me in a certain position in this country, still to tell you the truth there is a great deal about the life of which I grow very tired

But you see I a to be , since naturally my ish to take her place in society and the rest”

”Of course,” I replied, ”for it is not every young lady who has the luck to becolish peeress with all the etceteras, is it? Still I a soh I _am_ sure that she would do better to stay at home”

He looked at me curiously, then asked,

”You don't think there is anything really serious in all this business, do you?”

”I don't knohat to think,” I answered, ”except that you will do well to keep a good eye upon your wife What those Easterns tried to do last night and, I think, years ago, they ain soon, or years hence, for evidently they are patient and determined men with much to win