coup_ up the river--run in the
cocaine gang and collared no end of drugs. He is to receive the thanks
of the L.G. and the Government reward."

"How did he discover it?"

"A man I know really put him on the track. The cocaine lair was in a
village, so deserted and tumble-down and haunted, that no one suspected
it, or went near it. A _pongye_ Kyoung, said to be infested by
malignant _nats_ and hundreds of snakes, was the head office. Rather a
clever dodge."

"Do you think this will put an end to the traffic?"

"No; but it will give it a tremendous set-back; where there is a
demand, there will always be a supply, but for a considerable time--at
least a year or two--cocaine will be scarce. They caught a good many
of the small fry, but as usual the big fish escaped--all but one
wealthy Mahommedan, but he is bound to wriggle out somehow. Another
point in favour of the short supply of cocaine is the disappearance of
Krauss."

"What!" exclaimed Sophy. "Oh, Douglas, surely you don't mean that _he_
was in it?"

"In it--I should think so. Up to his neck!"

"Oh, but are you certain?"

"Quite certain! This will explain his many mysterious journeys, the
gangs of natives who were always hanging round his office, and his
suspicious opulence. You may have noticed that he had no friends among
the better class of Rangooner; whether British or German; they all
suspected him of dirty hands. He had no conscience and was absolutely
unscrupulous. It was a strange Nemesis that his wife--to whom you say
he was devoted--should kill herself with the very drug he was
smuggling."

"Yes, poor Aunt Flora," murmured Sophy; "that is a dreadful tale, which
I shall always keep from mother. I think if she were to know it, it
would nearly break her heart."

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE BOMBSHELL

In spite of the claims of his own affairs, Shafto did not immediately
resign his post at Gregory's, for it happened to be an unusually busy
season; there was a heavy paddy crop and, owing to fever, the staff
were short-handed; therefore, for the present he decided to stick to
the ship, especially as Sophy was, so to speak, on board.

Mrs. Gregory and Sophy were returning to England at the end of August;
naturally he booked his passage for the same date, and it was a happy
coincidence that he and his fiancee were once more to be shipmates on
the _Blankshire_. Meanwhile they were enjoying the time of their
lives; the rides or strolls in t