m, I
inquired the whereabouts of my own bedroom, and on being conducted to
it, laid myself down fully dressed upon the bed. So utterly worn out was
I, that my head had no sooner touched the pillow than I was fast asleep.
How long I lay there I do not know, but when I woke it was to find Mr.
Wetherell standing beside me, holding a letter in his hand. He was white
as a sheet, and trembling in every limb. "Read this, Mr. Hatteras," he
cried. "For Heaven's sake tell me what we are to do!"

I sat up on the side of the bed and read the letter he handed to me. It
was written in what was evidently a disguised hand, on common
note-paper, and ran:----

"TO MR. WETHERELL,
"POTTS POINT, SYDNEY

"DEAR SIR,

"This is to inform you that your daughter is in very safe keeping.
If you wish to find her you had better be quick about it. What's
more, you had better give up consulting the police, and such like,
in the hope of getting hold of her. The only way you _can_ get her
will be to act as follows: At eight o'clock to-night charter a boat
and pull down the harbour as far as Shark Point. When you get
there, light your pipe three times, and some one in a boat near by
will do the same. Be sure to bring with you the sum of _one hundred
thousand pounds in gold, and--this is most important--bring with
you the little stick you got from China Pete, or do not come at
all_. Above all, do not bring more than one man. If you do not put
in an appearance you will not hear of your daughter again.

Yours obediently,
"THE MAN WHO KNOWS."

CHAPTER IV

FOLLOWING UP A CLUE

For some moments after I had perused the curious epistle Mr. Wetherell
had brought to my room I remained wrapped in thought.

"What do you make of it?" my companion asked.

"I don't know what to say," I answered, looking at it again. "One thing,
however, is quite certain, and that is that, despite its curious
wording, it is intended you should take it seriously."

"You think so?"

"I do indeed. But I think when the Inspector arrives it would be just as
well to show it to him. What do you say?"

"I agree with you. Let us defer consideration of it until we see him."

When, an hour later, the Inspector put in an appearance, the letter was
accordingly placed before him, and his opinion asked concerning it. He
read it through without comment, carefully examined the writing and
sig