r appeared, followed by some slaves carrying the block.

"I thought my last moment had arrived, but just then, to my intense
delight, I felt a curious sensation, which told me that I was about to
disappear.

"My feet went first (this is not always the case), and then my legs, and
I could see the amazement with which the Grand Panjandrum and all the
assembled company were regarding the, to them, extraordinary phenomenon.

"The Executioner in his agitation dropped his axe, and stood
open-mouthed regarding what was left of me; and, although I was rather
anxious lest they should make an attempt to chop off my head before it
finally disappeared, I managed despite my gag to 'grin' in the Grand
Panjandrum's face, and an instant later I found myself here."

Shin Shira, having finished his story, drew his little fan from his
sleeve and sat fanning himself with great composure, while he regarded
my doubtless astonished face with considerable amusement.

"I--I'll put that story down at once, if you don't mind," I stammered,
hurrying to my desk and getting out some papers.

The drawer stuck, and it was some seconds before I could get it open,
and when I turned round again, to my great dismay, Shin Shira had almost
disappeared.

The little yellow shoes were still there and part of a stocking, but
even as I watched them they too disappeared, the long pointed toes of
the shoes waggling a kind of farewell--or so I thought--and my strange
little visitor had vanished.

MYSTERY NO. II

SHIN SHIRA AND THE DRAGON

It was during my holidays in Cornwall that I next met Shin Shira.

I had ridden by motor-car from Helston to the Lizard, and after
scrambling over rugged cliffs for some time, following the white stones
put by the coastguards to mark the way, I found myself at last at the
most beautiful little bay imaginable, called Kynance Cove.

The tide was low, and from the glittering white sands, tall jagged rocks
rose up, covered with coloured seaweed; which, together with the deep
blue and green of the sky and sea, made a perfect feast of colour for
the eyes.

On the shore I met an amiable young guide, who, for sixpence, undertook
to show me some caves in the rocks which are not generally discovered by
visitors.

They were very fine caves, one of them being called The Princess's
Parlour; and while we were exploring this, I suddenly heard a roar as of
some mighty animal in terrible pain.

I turned to the guide with