Max, as Zara
el-Khala--the Hindu, Chunda Lal, and--Fo-Hi----"
"Ah!" cried Max--"'The Scorpion.' Chunda Lal, for some obscure personal
reason, not entirely unconnected with Miska, enabled me to make my
escape in order that I might lead you to the house. Therefore we may
look upon Chunda Lal, as well as Miska, in the light of an
accomplice----"
_"Eh, bien!_ a spy in the camp! This is where we see how fatal to the
success of any enterprise, criminal or otherwise, is the presence of
a pretty woman! Proceed, my friend!"
"There are three entrances to the apartment in which Fo-Hi apparently
spends the greater part of his time. Two of these I know, although I
am unaware where one of them leads to. But the third, of which he
alone holds the key, communicates with a tunnel leading to the river
bank, where a motorboat is concealed."
"Ah, that motor-boat!" cried Max. "He travels at night, you
understand----"
"Always, I am told."
"Yes, always. Therefore, once he is out on the river, he is moderately
secure between the first lock and the Nore! When a police patrol is
near he can shut off his engine and lie under the bank. Last night he
crept away from us in that fashion. Tonight is not so dark, and the
River Police are watching all the way down."
"Furthermore," replied Stuart, "Chunda Lal, who acts as engineer, has
it in his power to prevent Fo-Hi's escape by that route! But we must
count upon the possibility of his attempting to leave by water.
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