"Good job he can't shoot straight!" rapped Harley.

The ray of the torch suddenly picked out the head and shoulders of a man
who was descending through a trap in the floor! Ere we had time to shoot
he was gone! I saw his brown fingers relax their hold--and a bundle
which he had evidently hoped to take with him was left lying upon the
floor.

Together we ran to the trap and looked down.

Slowly moving tidal water flowed darkly beneath us! For twenty
breathless seconds we watched--but nothing showed upon the surface.

"I hope his swimming is no better than his shooting," I said.

"It can avail him little," replied Harley grimly; "a river-police boat
is waiting for anyone who tries to escape from that side of the house.
We are by no means alone in this affair, Knox. But, firstly, what
have we here!" He took up the bundle which the fugitive had deserted.
"Something incriminating when Ali of Cairo dared not stay to face it
out! He would never have deserted this place in the ordinary way. That
fellow who was such a bad shot was left behind, when the news of our
approach reached here, to make a desperate attempt to remove some piece
of evidence! I'll swear to it. But we were too soon for him!"

All the time he was busily removing the pieces of sacking and scraps of
Oriental stuff with which the bundle was fastened; and finally he
drew out a dress-suit, together with the linen, collar, shoes, and
underwear--a complete outfit, in fact--and on top of the whole was a
soft gray felt hat!

Eagerly Harley searched the garments for some name of a maker by which
their owner might be identified. Presently, inside the lining of the
breast pocket, where such a mark is usually found, he discovered the
label of a well-known West End firm.

"The police can confirm it, Knox!" he said, looking up, his face
slightly flushed with triumph; "but I, personally, have no doubt!"

"You may have no doubt, Harley," I retorted, "but I am full of doubt!
What is the significance of this discovery to which you seem to attach
so much importance?"

"At the moment," replied my friend, "never mind; I still have
hopes--although they have grown somewhat slender--of making a much more
important discovery."

"Why not permit the police to aid in the search?"

"The police are more useful in their present occupation," he replied.
"We are dealing with the most cunning knave produced by East or West,
and I don't mean to let him slip through my fingers i