come up.

But the man did not come up.

He disappeared suddenly, at the very moment that Jack was expecting to
come into collision with him.

How strange!

Jack was not conscious of having an enemy--at least not one in that
part of the world.

"Very strange," he muttered; "very strange!"

And brooding over this episode, Jack wended his way thoughtfully
homewards.

* * * *

"Hah!"

Crossing the very threshold of his residence, Jack was suddenly and
swiftly assaulted.

The same semi-Oriental figure had stolen stealthily up behind him, and
with a murderous-looking knife dealt him a sharp, swift blow.

Jack bounded forward, and turned round pistol in hand, but so nearly
fatal had been the blow that Jack's coat was ripped down the back.

"Hah!"

The assassin was marvellously nimble; although Jack made a dart after
him pistol in hand, meaning to wreak summary vengeance upon him, the
ruffian contrived to vanish again--mysteriously.

Strangely disturbed by this, Jack went home and related to his friends
what had taken place.

"This is a rum go," said Mr. Mole; "you have been mistaken for somebody
else."

"So I suppose," returned Jack.

"What's to be done?" said Harry Girdwood.

"Lodge information with the police at once, I should say," suggested
Mole.

"By all means."

"What was he like?"

"I could scarcely see," was Jack's reply, "for he was gone like a
phantom."

"Perhaps it was a phantom," suggested Harry slily.

"I should be half inclined to think so," said Jack, "if I hadn't
received this solid proof that he was flesh and blood."

Saying which, he turned round and displayed the back of his coat,
ripped open by the assassin's dagger.

"Well," exclaimed Mole aghast, "that is cool."

"I'm glad you think so," returned Jack, "for I can tell you it was much
too warm for me."

"Well, we shall soon leave this wretched place, I hope," said Mole,
"for I don't feel safe of my life. I am expecting every day to be had
up again before the pasha."

"We must always be on the watch now," said Harry Girdwood; "constant
vigilance will he necessary to avert danger."

* * * *

Let us follow the movements of the would-be assassin.

The secret of his sudden disappearance was really no great mystery
after all.

Darting round the first corner so as to put a house between himself and
Jack's pistol, he found himse