the throbbing body of the city behind
them, and at half-past eight they were speeding along the deserted
suburban road leading to Venner's rather isolated homestead.

Only the yellow glare of an incandescent lamp here and there now
relieved the terrestrial gloom, but across the distant heavens
intermittent flashes of light, followed by the low, sullen roll of
thunder, told of the approaching storm.

Soon the lighted windows of Venner's house came into view through the
woodland, and Nick now murmured softly to Chick:

"If I fail to rejoin you in ten minutes, you will know what to do."

"You bet!" whispered Chick. "Trust me to do it, too!"

"Here we are, sirs," cried Dalton, as he pulled up at the gate of the
gravel walk. "You can go right in, while I wait to look after my
horses."

Chick--as Pandu Singe--pretended to give Nick a brief command, and Nick
alone sprang out upon the sidewalk.

"Wait here, driver," said he, curtly. "I will return for Pandu Singe in
a few minutes."

Dalton instantly became suspicious.

"What's that for?" he abruptly demanded. "Why doesn't his nibs go in
with you now?"

"It is for me to obey the great Pandu Singe, not question his commands,"
replied Nick, with an air of offended dignity. "I shall return for him
when I have followed his instructions."

"Hold on a bit! I want to know--"

But Nick had already turned, and was striding up the long gravel walk
leading to the front door of the house.

Dalton then swung round and began to address Chick, who quickly
signified that he could not understand; whereupon the puzzled scoundrel
remained doubtfully on the box, growling under his breath, and quite at
a loss just what he should do.

Chick was now counting the seconds and minutes, until he should arrive
at ten.

Venner, who was waiting with the gang in the house, heard Nick's step on
the wooden veranda, and he hastened to admit him.

"What's this!" he at once exclaimed, starting. "Where is your master?
You did not come here alone!"

"No, not alone," replied Nick, entering the hall. "Pandu Singe waits in
the carriage."

"Waits in the carriage! For what?"

"He fears the storm may break."

"Fears the storm!" exclaimed Venner, with a blaze of suspicion leaping
up in his dark eyes. "Surely, then, he will not remain out there."

"You don't understand," coolly answered Nick, quickly sizing up
everything in view.

"Don't understand?"

"Pandu Singe thinks of returning home bef