n we do, sir--it seems a most difficult problem."

"We can do nothing, my boy--that is the important part of it. It would
be impossible to take action--all we can do is to keep careful watch,
especially as regards Lady Arabella, and be ready to act, promptly and
decisively, if the opportunity occurs."

Adam agreed, and the two men returned to Lesser Hill.

CHAPTER IX--SMELLING DEATH

Adam Salton, though he talked little, did not let the grass grow under
his feet in any matter which he had undertaken, or in which he was
interested. He had agreed with Sir Nathaniel that they should not do
anything with regard to the mystery of Lady Arabella's fear of the
mongoose, but he steadily pursued his course in being _prepared_ to act
whenever the opportunity might come. He was in his own mind perpetually
casting about for information or clues which might lead to possible lines
of action. Baffled by the killing of the mongoose, he looked around for
another line to follow. He was fascinated by the idea of there being a
mysterious link between the woman and the animal, but he was already
preparing a second string to his bow. His new idea was to use the
faculties of Oolanga, so far as he could, in the service of discovery.
His first move was to send Davenport to Liverpool to try to find the
steward of the _West African_, who had told him about Oolanga, and if
possible secure any further information, and then try to induce (by
bribery or other means) the nigger to come to the Brow. So soon as he
himself could have speech of the Voodoo-man he would be able to learn
from him something useful. Davenport was successful in his missions, for
he had to get another mongoose, and he was able to tell Adam that he had
seen the steward, who told him much that he wanted to know, and had also
arranged for Oolanga to come to Lesser Hill the following day. At this
point Adam saw his way sufficiently clear to admit Davenport to some
extent into his confidence. He had come to the conclusion that it would
be better--certainly at first--not himself to appear in the matter, with
which Davenport was fully competent to deal. It would be time for
himself to take a personal part when matters had advanced a little
further.

If what the nigger said was in any wise true, the man had a rare gift
which might be useful in the quest they were after. He could, as it
were, "smell death." If any one was dead, if any one had died, or if a
place