may have
suspicioned yourself, that fellow Krauss. No one knows what's become
of him. Some say he's in Calcutta; more think he's dead--died aboard
ship; but that may not be true. Them sort of ruffians generally live
to a great age. Someone may have put him out, or rather done him in.
There were two or three chaps what I've heard talkin' terrible bitter
agin him; and one fine young man, Ar Bo, who is back from the
Andamans--where he got sent to for three year, on account of this
cocaine business--told me that he met a lot of clever fellows from all
parts of the world; up to every dodge they were, and one of them
instructed him in the way of killing a man stone dead--and not leaving
a spot on him! I believe it's some little trick with the head, where
it joins the spine. This chap confessed that he had tried it on
several with success, and it wouldn't surprise _me_ if he had made an
experiment on Krauss!"

"But what about the cocaine?" said Shafto. "How, are we to set about
getting a haul?"

"Ye'll have to go aisy, or rather Mr. FitzGerald and the polls must
work by stealth; he can take a good few disguised, as it were on a sort
of pilgrimage, but well armed, and passing through this village as it
were accidental; and with a couple of boats on the river I think they
might scare the lot. I'd like to go with them meself, for a bit of
sport--only for me yellow robe, it wouldn't look well for me to be seen
mixed up with cocaine, thaves and the polls."

"No, I suppose not," agreed Shafto. "You have to think of your cloth.
Well, if you will write me down a few details on this slip of paper in
my notebook, I will give it to Mr. FitzGerald at once, and I can't tell
you how thankful he will be to get hold of it, or how grateful to you
we are."

"Oh, I don't want no thanks for what has been a real pleasure. Haven't
I seen with me own two eyes all the terrible harm this drug-takin'
leads to? And if I've been in a small way the means of puttin' a stop
to some of it, I'll be a proud man." He paused to clear his throat,
and continued: "I suppose, you have not seen anything of Ma Chit
lately?"

"No."

"She keeps you from goin' to the Salters, doesn't she? She's always
sittin' about there on the steps, heart-broken, because she can't get a
word wid ye! Of course, I'm not surprised she's took a fancy to ye."

"Fancy! Rot!" burst out Shafto. "I can't stand these cheeky Burmese
girls. I only hope I may never set ey