st half-a-dozen times in my life,
expects me to neglect my work and rush off to Baghdad, of all places in
the world, to his assistance, because he has got into some trouble which
has landed him in the State Prison there. I always thought somehow that
those uncanny powers which he possesses would get him into serious
difficulties at some time or another. I'll send him a letter stating
that I cannot go to him." And here I endeavoured to dismiss Shin Shira
and his affairs from my mind.

I was so worried about the matter, however, that I couldn't settle to
work, so I lit my pipe and settled myself in my easy-chair to think the
matter out.

Poor little fellow! If he really was in such desperate straits it seemed
very heartless to leave him to his fate if in any way I could be of real
assistance to him; and, after all, I could work almost as well while I
was away as I could at home, and the voyage would probably give me
plenty of new ideas for my book. I thought of all the kind things the
little chap had done for me, and how he had always somehow come to the
rescue when I had been in difficulties in my adventures with him; and
finally I came to the conclusion that it would be most ungrateful and
selfish of me if I let anything stand in the way of my going to my
friend's assistance.

I had no sooner made up my mind on this point than I called a cab and
set out at once for Messrs. Cook's office and booked a passage by the
next steamer.

I will not tell you anything about the somewhat uninteresting journey
either by sea or land, with the exception that when I at last stepped
ashore in an Oriental port, I found in the curious costumes and strange
surroundings many things to amuse me and to wonder at.

The entire journey on the whole, however, was decidedly tedious, and I
was very glad to find myself at last in the ancient city of Baghdad.

I went at once to the British Consul there and told him my object in
coming to the city.

"Shin Shira!" he exclaimed. "Why, there is scarcely anything talked
about in these days but Shin Shira. He has stolen one of the most
valuable crown jewels, and was caught with it in his possession.
Despite the indisputable evidence against him, however, he persists in
declaring his innocence, and pleads that, with the assistance of a
friend from London, he can prove it conclusively. I suppose, sir, that
you are the friend from London."

I told him that I was, and that I was deeply grieved to hea