it of my accurately observing anything at that time, but I
noticed that some kind of leather thong or loop was attached to the
end of the squat cane.

The panic fear of the supernatural was strongly upon me, and I was
unable to realize that this Eastern apparition was a creature of
flesh and blood. With my nerves strung up to snapping point, I
crouched watching him. He entered the room, bending over the body
of Bristol.

A hot breath fanned my cheek!

At that my overwrought nerves betrayed me. I uttered a stifled cry,
looking upward ... and into a pair of gleaming eyes which looked
down into mine!

A second brown man (who must have entered by one of the windows
overlooking the shrubbery) was bending over me!

Scarce knowing what I did, I raised my revolver and blazed straight
into the dimly-seen face. Down upon me silently dropped a naked
body, and something warm came flowing over my hand. But, knowing my
foes to be of flesh and blood, feeling myself at handgrips now with
a palpable enemy, I threw off the body, leapt up and fired, though
blindly, at the flying shape that flashed across the loggia--and
was lost in the shadow pools under the elms.

Upon the din of my shooting fell silence like a cloak. A moment I
listened, tense, still; then I turned to the table and lighted the
lamp.

In its light I saw Bristol lying like a dead man. Close beside him
was a big and heavy lump of clay. It had been shaped as a ball,
but now it was flattened out curiously. Bending over my unfortunate
companion and learning that, though unconscious, he lived, I learnt,
too, how the Hashishin contrived to strike men insensible without
approaching them; I learnt that the one whom I had shot, who lay in
his blood almost on the spot where Professor Deeping once had lain,
was an expert slinger.

The contrivance which he carried, as did the other who had escaped,
was a sling, of the ancient Persian type. In place of stones, heavy
lumps of clay were used, which operated much the same as a sand-bag,
whilst enabling the operator to work from a considerable distance.

Hidden, over by the ancient chapel it might be, one of this evil
twain had struck down Morris, the constable; from the shelter of the
trees, from many yards away, they had shot their singular missiles
through the open windows at Bristol and myself. Bristol had
succumbed, and now, with a redness showing through his close-cut
hair immediately behind the right ear, la