f the cylindrical
car. There is a light wooden foot-board at either side, which also
helps to steady the machine when on the water and two small floats
at the end of the outriggers for the same purpose. There are also
three small wheels fitted, I presume for facilitating ascent from
dry ground.

"KARL STRAUS."

The spy laughed a low, hollow laugh of defiance. What could he say? He
had been outwitted just at the supreme moment of his success.

"I admit, my friend, that you were extremely clever in putting forward
Goldstein as the spy, and thus misleading my friend Jacox," Ray said in
triumph, as he laid his hand upon the rough sketch of the Kershaw
invention. "But for a very timely discovery, too, my friend would have
met with the terrible fate which you and your accomplice planned with
such devilish ingenuity. So if you don't wish to be arrested for
conspiracy and murder you'd better make yourself scarce out of England
quickly."

"What do you mean, Ray?" I cried.

"I'll show you," he answered as he gathered up the whole of the spy's
papers while the German stood helpless. "Come along to your room with
me."

When inside he pointed to the old red-plush-covered chairs, and said:

"Do you recollect my arrival after Straus's visit? I examined those
chairs, and saw upon one the traces of chalk. The shoes of the occupant
of room No. 11 had been chalked by the boots with his number, and upon
the chair I saw traces, and knew that he had stood there to gain the top
of your wardrobe."

"For what reason?" I asked.

For answer he turned up the gas and pointed to the cornice of the
ceiling behind the wardrobe, where I saw that upon the leaden gas-pipe
running along it was a long, narrow strip of what looked like paper
which had been pasted.

"Those men meant to kill you, Jack," he said. "On the morning I came
here Straus had entered, climbed up to the gas-pipe, and with his
clasp-knife cut a hole in it. Over that he, as you see, placed several
thicknesses of medical plaster, attaching to it a piece of strong black
cord, and carrying it outside the door. After that they plugged up your
window and chimney, so that when you were asleep all they had to do was
to just pull the string, which would strip off the plaster, allow the
gas to escape into the room, and thus asphyxiate you. The plaster could
be dragged beneath the door into the passage outside."

"Great heavens!" I gasped, staring