Pedro, are of immense value, and so
could have been got rid of easily. Random was satisfied with those."

"Don't talk of him in that way, as though his guilt was certain," said
Hope, wincing.

"Well, you must admit that the evidence against him is strong."

"But purely circumstantial."

"Circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man before now.
Humph!" said Braddock uneasily, "I hope it won't hang our friend.
However, we shall hear what he has to say. I have sent Cockatoo to the
Fort to bring him here at once. If Random is absent, Cockatoo is to
leave a note in his room, on the writing-table."

"Would it not have been better to have told Cockatoo to give the note to
Random's servant?"

"I think not," responded Braddock dryly. "Random's servant is certainly
one of the most stupid men in the entire army. He would probably forget
to give him the note, and as it is important that we should see Random
at once, it is better that he should find it placed personally on his
writing-table by Cockatoo, upon whom I can depend."

Archie abandoned the argument, as it really mattered very little. He
took up another line of conversation.

"I expect if the criminal tries to dispose of the emeralds he will
be caught," said he: "such large jewels are too noticeable to escape
comment."

"Humph! It depends upon the cleverness of the thief," said the
Professor, who was more taken up with the mummy than with the
conversation, "He might have the jewels cut into smaller stones, or he
might go to India and dispose of them to some Rajah, who would certainly
say nothing. I don't know how criminals act myself, as I have never
studied their methods. But I hope that the clue you mention will be hit
upon, if only for Random's sake."

"I don't believe for one moment that Random is in danger," said Archie,
"and, if he is, I shall turn detective myself."

"I wish you joy," replied Braddock, bending over the mummy. "Look, Hope,
at the wonderful color of this wool. There are some arts we have lost
completely--dyeing of this surprising beauty is one. Humph!" mused the
archaeologist, "I wonder why this particular mummy is dyed green, or
rather why it is wrapped in green bandages. Yellow was the royal color
of the ancient Peruvian monarchs. Vicuna wool dyed yellow. What do you
think, Hope? It is strange."

Archie shrugged his shoulders.

"I can say nothing, because I know nothing," he said sharply. "All I do
know is that I wish this