e single instance have those attempts
resulted in success. The explosion has always resulted in shivering
and dispersing it in a shower of splinters as it leaves the muzzle
of the weapon. There can be no doubt, however, that could it be
propelled in a perfectly horizontal position, the power behind
it would, in spite of its brittle nature, drive it through a pine
board an inch thick. But, as I have said, the motive power always
defeats the object by landing it against the target in a mass of
splinters."

"I see. And the Jap got over that by employing a cross-bow; and that,
of course, did the trick."

"No. I doubt if he would have been able to put enough power behind
that to drive it into the man's body with deadly effect, if, indeed,
he could make it enter it at all. Where Ojeebi scored over all
others lay in the fact that with his plan there was no necessity
to have the icicle enter the victim's body at all. He required
nothing more than just sufficient power of propulsion to break the
skin and establish contact with the blood, and then that hellish
compound on the point of the projectile could be depended upon to
do the rest. It did, as you know, and then dropped to the floor
and melted away, leaving nothing but a little puddle of water
behind it."

"But, Cleek, my dear chap, how do you account for the fact that
when the doctor came to analyze that water he found no trace of
the poison in it?"

"He did, Mr. Narkom, only that he didn't recognize it. Woorali is
extremely volatile, for one thing, and evaporates rapidly. For
another, there was a very small quantity used--a very small quantity
necessary, so malignant it is--and the water furnished by the melting
icicle could dilute that little tremendously. It would not be
able to obliterate all trace of it, however, but the infinitesimal
portion remaining would make spring water give the same answer in
analysis as that given by the water resulting from melted snow. It
was when Doctor Hague mentioned the fact that if it wasn't for the
utter absurdity of looking for such a substance in England in
July, he should have said it _was_ melted snow, that I really got my
first clue. Later, however, when----But come, let's chuck it! I've
had enough of murder and murderers for one day--let's talk of
something else. Our new 'turnout,' here, for instance. You have
'done yourself proud' this time and no mistake--she certainly _is_
a beauty, Mr. Narkom. By the way, what have you