of two loving hearts！ Lona； then； was still mine； despite all
obstacles。 What a change this knowledge made！ In an instant life
became an inexpressible benefaction； for it permitted me to realise
I was beloved； … and death was dowered with a new horror … the fear
that I should cease to know it。
I was roughly aroused from my reflections by Rama Ragobah。
〃Come； Sahib；〃 he said； as his thick lips curled sneeringly； 〃suppose
you try your spells upon me？ You will never have a better chance
than now to show your power；〃 and again he made a slight movement
toward me with the gleaming knife。 The moon； low down upon the
horizon； sent a broad beam of light into the entrance of the cave
and over the head and shoulders of the Indian。 Its cold light
shimmered along the blade which was now held threateningly toward
me。 The crisis had been reached。
In times of such great urgency one has frequently an inspiration
… instantaneous； disconnected； unbidden … which no amount of quiet；
peaceful thought would suggest。 Such extraordinary flashes are the
result of reasoning too rapid for consciousness to note。 The Indian
had already laid bare his right arm to the elbow before I had
determined upon the desperate course I would pursue； and upon which
I must hazard all。 As he advanced upon me I seized the large； white
sola hat from my head； and hurled it full in his face。 It was a
schoolboy trick； yet upon its success depended my life。
Instinctively； and in spite of himself； Ragobah dodged； closed his
eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield his face。
I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated
his movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head
was bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His
position could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on
him；〃 as we used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his
protruded jaw； not far from the region of the carotid artery。 The
blow was well placed； and desperation lent me phenomenal strength。
It raised him bodily off his feet； and hurled him backward out
of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He was now in my power。 I
seized his knife and bent over him。 Words cannot express the hatred；
the loathing I felt for him then and always。 Between me and the
light of my happiness he had ever stood； an impenetrable black mass。
Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he was in my power； I
could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it not be just；
I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the abyss
he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet
I could not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily
overtake me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket；
but if you had ever had any experience with Indian jungles you
would know that； without the use of fire and axe； they are
practically impenetrable。 Professor Haeckel； botanising near that
same spot； spent an hour in an endeavour to force his way into
one of these jungles； but only succeeded in advancing a few steps
into the thicket； when； stung by mosquitoes； bitten by ants； his
clothing torn from his bleeding arms and legs； wounded by the
thousands of sharp thorns of the calamus； hibiscus； euphorbias；
lantanas； and myriad other jungle plants； he was obliged； utterly
discomfited； to desist。 If this were the result of his efforts；
made in broad daylight； and with deliberation； what might I expect
rushing into the thicket at night； as a refuge from a pursuer far
my superior in physical strength and fleetness of foot； and who；
moreover； had known the jungle from his boyhood？ Once overtaken
by my enemy； the long knife in my hands would be of no avail
against a stick in his。 I saw all this clearly； and realised that
he must be prevented from following me。
There was no time to be lost； for he was rapidly recovering
possession of his powers。 I seized a large rock and hurled it with
all the force I could command upon his left foot and ankle。
Notwithstanding his immense strength his hands and feet were scarcely
larger than a woman's； and the small bones cracked like pipe…stems。
Though I had not the will to kill him； my own safety demanded that
I should maim him as the only other means of making good my escape。
As the rock crushed his foot the pain seemed to bring him immediately
into full possession of his faculties； and he roared like an enraged
bull。 I turned and looked back as I beat a hasty retreat down the
hill。 He had seized one of the air…roots of the banyan tree； and
raised himself upon his right leg。 The expression of his face as
the moonlight fell upon it was something never to be forgotten。 It
riveted me to the spot with the fascination of horror。 He shook his
fist at me fiercely； as he shrieked from the back of his throat：
〃You infidel cur！ You may as well try to brush away the Himalyas
with a silk handkerchief as to escape the wrath of Rama Ragobah。
Go！ Bury yourself in seclusion at the farthermost corner of the
earth； and on one night Ragobah and the darkness shall be with you！〃
These were the last words this fiend incarnate ever spoke to me； but
I know they are prophetic； and that he will keep his oath。
The next day I learned that Lona was dead。 She had died with my
name upon her lips； and her secret … the explanation of her strange
conduct on that night … died with her。 I shall never know it。
Bitterly did I repent my inability to reach her。 The thought that
she had waited in vain for me； that with her last breath she had
called upon me； and I had answered not； was unendurable torture；
and I fled India and came to America in the futile endeavour to
forget it all。 Out of my black past there shone but one bright star
… her love！ All these long years have I oriented my soul by that
sweet； unforgettable radiance； prizing it above a galaxy of lesser
joys。
There is little more to be said。 I shall meet death as I have
stated … I am sure of it … and no man will see the blow given。
Remember； as I loved that Indian maiden with a passion which death
has not chilled； so I loathe my rival with a hatred infinite and
all…consuming； for； somehow； I know that demon crushed out the life
of my fragile lotus…flower。 He will work his will upon me； but if
his cunning enable him to escape the gallows； my soul； if there be
a conscious hereafter； will never rest in peace。 Remember this； my
dear child； and your promise； that God may bless you even as I
bless you。
It was some time after Gwen had finished this interesting document
before any of us spoke。 The narrative； and the peculiar
circumstances under which it had been read； deeply impressed us。
At length Maitland said in a subdued voice； as if he feared to
break some spell：
〃The Indian girl's letter； let us find that； and also the will。〃
Gwen went to the drawer in which her father kept his private papers；
and soon produced them both。 Maitland glanced hastily at the
letter； and said： 〃You have already heard its contents〃； then turning
to Gwen； he said： 〃I will keep it with your permission。 Now for the
will。〃 It was handed to him； and his face fell as he read it。 In a
moment he turned to us； and said： 〃The interest on the insurance
money is to go to Miss Darrow； the entire principal to be held in
trust and paid to the person bringing the assassin to justice； unless
said person shall wed Miss Darrow； in which case half of the fund
shall go to the husband； and the other half to the wife in her own
right。 The balance of the estate； which； by the way； is considerable；
despite the reports given to Osborne； is to go to Miss Darrow。 This
is all the will contains having any bearing upon the case in hand。
Let us proceed with the rest of the papers。〃 We made a long and
diligent search； but nothing of importance came to light。 When we
had finished Maitland said：
〃Our friend Osborne would say the document we have just perused made
strongly for his theory； and was simply another fabrication to blind
the eyes of the insurance company。 That's what comes of wedding
one's self to a theory founded on imperfect data。〃
〃And what do you think？〃 Gwen inquired。
〃That Rama Ragobah has small hands and feet；〃 he replied。 〃That his
left foot has met with an injury； and is probably deformed； that most
likely he is lame in the left leg； that he had the motive for which
we have been looking； that he may or may not have the habit of biting
his nails； that he is crafty； and that if he were to do murder it is
almost certain his methods would be novel and surprising； as well as
extremely difficult to fathom … in short； that suspicion points
unmistakably to Rama Ragobah。 That is easily said； but to bring the
deed home to him is quite another thing。 I shall analyse the poison
of the wound and microscopically examine the nature of the abrasion
this afternoon。 To…night I take the midnight train for New York。
To…morrow I shall sail for Bombay； via London and the Continent。 I
will keep you informed of my address。 While I am away I would ask
that you close the house here； leaving everything just as it is now
dismiss the servants； and take up your abode with the Doctor and his
sister。〃 He rose to go as he said this； and then continued； as he
turned to me： 〃I shall depend upon you to look after Miss Darrow's
immediate interests in my absence。〃 I knew this meant that I was
to guard her health； not permitting her to be much by herself； and
I readily acquiesced。
The look of amazement which had at first overspread Gwen's face at
the mention of this precipitate departure gave place to one of
modest concern； as she said softly to Maitland： 〃Is it necessary
that you should encounter the dangers of such a journey； to say
nothing； of the time and inconvenience it will cost？〃 He looked
down at her quickly； and then said reassuringly： 〃Do you know one
is； by actual statistics； safer in an En