rn to the hotel. Suddenly Jack remembered another
point, and crying, "Half-a-minute, Buck," he rushed back to the
office. He thrust open a swing door and saw that the interpreter was
still there, and was now in conversation with a smaller man. Jack
stepped forward, and the smaller man looked up and gave a short, quick
cry of alarm. For a second Jack stood with widely-opened eyes and
parted lips, an image of wild surprise. Then darting forward at full
speed, he seized the second man by the throat, and clutched him as a
lion clutches his prey.

CHAPTER III.

THE BIG RUBY.

Jack had known the fellow at once, had recognised him instantly as the
small, dark man who had stood in front of him upon Rushmere Heath and
demanded that he should produce his father's letter. An instant
conviction had darted into Jack's mind that these things were
connected, and that this man knew something of his father's
disappearance.

"I've got you this time," cried Jack, and was upon him in a second.
But a most astonishing thing happened. The small, slight man offered
no resistance to Jack's fierce rush, instead, he seemed to give way
before it as a reed gives way before the wind. Then he bent slightly
and laid one small, sinewy hand on Jack's knee, and, in some
mysterious fashion or another, the lad felt that his hold was torn
away, and that he was flying through the air over the little man's
head. All in a heap Jack landed on the dusty floor. As he fell, he
caught a glimpse of Buck's head thrust through the swinging door as he
followed his young leader, and saw the look of surprise on Buck's
face.

"Seize him!" roared Jack, and Buck darted forward as the dark stranger
shot through another door and vanished into a crowd which swarmed on
to the platform from a train which had just drawn up. Jack gathered
himself together, and sprang to his feet, and rushed after his
companion. He soon found Buck, who was hurrying through the groups,
looking about on every hand, and they searched together, but searched
in vain; the mysterious stranger had gone to earth safely amid the
ample cover provided by the mass of bustling passengers. At last they
pulled up and looked at each other.

"No go," said Jack, "he's lost in the crowd. He may be far enough away
by now."

Buck's look of wonder and surprise was striking to behold.

"See here, Jack," he said, laying his hand on his companion's arm.
"How in thunder do you come to know Saya Chone, and