the
basket--"in the next room."

She departed without a word.

"That's a noticeable dust coat you're wearing, Mr. Cavanagh," said
the American; "it gives me a great notion. I'm afraid I'll have to
borrow it."

He glanced, smiling, at the revolver in his left hand and back again
to me. There was nothing of the bully about him, nothing
melodramatic; but I took off the coat without demur and threw it
across to him.

"It will hide this stump," he said grimly; "and any of the Hashishin
gentlemen who may be on the look-out--though I rather fancy the
road is clear at the moment--will mistake me for you. See the idea?
Carneta will be in a cab and I'll be in after her and away before
they've got time to so much as whistle."

Very awkwardly he got into the coat.

"She's a clever girl, Carneta," he said. "She's doctored me all
along since those devils cut my hand off."

As he finished speaking Carneta returned.

She had discarded her rags and wore a large travelling coat and a
fashionable hat.

"Ready?" asked Dexter. "We'll make a rush for it. We meant to go
to-night anyway. It's getting too hot here!" He turned to me.

"Sorry to say," he drawled, "I'll have to tie you up and gag you.
Apologize; but it can't be helped."

Carneta nodded and went out of the room again, to return almost
immediately with a line that looked as though it might have been
employed for drying washing.

"Hands behind you," rapped Dexter, toying with the revolver--"and
think yourself lucky you've got two!"

There was no mistaking the manner of man with whom I had to deal,
and I obeyed; but my mind was busy with a hundred projects. Very
neatly the girl bound my wrists, and in response to a slight nod
from Dexter threw the end of the line up over a beam in the sloping
ceiling, for the room was right under the roof, and drew it up in
such a way that, my wrists being raised behind me, I became utterly
helpless. It was an ingenious device indicating considerable
experience.

"Just tie his handkerchief around his mouth," directed Dexter:
"that will keep him quiet long enough for our purpose. I hope you
will be released soon, Mr. Cavanagh," he added. "Greatly regret
the necessity."

Carneta bound the handkerchief over my mouth.

Dexter extinguished the gas.

"Mr. Cavanagh," he said, "I've gone through hell and I've lost the
most useful four fingers and a thumb in the United States to get
hold of the Prophet's slipper. Any one