UPON the following day we were afoot again, and shortly at handgrips
with the enemy. In retrospect, that restless time offers a chaotic
prospect, with no peaceful spot amid its turmoils.

All that was reposeful in nature seemed to have become an irony and a
mockery to us--who knew how an evil demigod had his sacrificial altars
amid our sweetest groves. This idea ruled strongly in my mind upon
that soft autumnal day.

"The net is closing in," said Nayland Smith.

"Let us hope upon a big catch," I replied, with a laugh.

Beyond where the Thames tided slumberously seaward showed the roofs of
Royal Windsor, the castle towers showing through the autumn haze. The
peace of beautiful Thames-side was about us.

This was one of the few tangible clews upon which thus far we had
chanced; but at last it seemed indeed that we were narrowing the
resources of that enemy of the white race who was writing his name over
England in characters of blood. To capture Dr. Fu-Manchu we did not
hope; but at least there was every promise of destroying one of the
enemy's strongholds.

We had circled upon the map a tract of country cut by the Thames, with
Windsor for its center. Within that circle was the house from which
miraculously we had escaped--a house used by the most highly organized
group in the history of criminology. So much we knew. Even if we
found the house, and this was likely enough, to find it vacated by
Fu-Manchu and his mysterious servants we were prepared. But it would
be a base destroyed.

We were working upon a methodical plan, and although our cooperators
were invisible, these numbered no fewer than twelve--all of them
experienced men. Thus far we had drawn blank, but the place for which
Smith and I were making now came clearly into view: an old mansion
situated in extensive walled grounds. Leaving the river behind us, we
turned sharply to the right along a lane flanked by a high wall. On an
open patch of ground, as we passed, I noted a gypsy caravan. An old
woman was seated on the steps, her wrinkled face bent, her chin resting
in the palm of her hand.

I scarcely glanced at her, but pressed on, nor did I notice that my
friend no longer was beside me. I was all anxiety to come to some
point from whence I might obtain a view of the house; all anxiety to
know if this was the abode of our mysterious enemy--the place where he
worked amid his weird company, where he bred his deadly scorpions and
his b