IN THE JUNGLE 13 



I was puzzled, but dismissed him. I do not think he 

 could have reclosed the kitchen door a minute when 

 the blow was repeated with tremendous violence. The 

 first blow might conceivably have been delivered by a 

 powerful human fist, but this sounded as if a rock had 

 been hurled ao^ainst the doors. Indeed, if such a blow 

 had really been dealt the somewhat crazy woodwork, 

 I feel sure it would not have stood it. As it was, 

 there was not a mark on it, as I satisfied myself next 

 day. 



Directly the second noise occurred I sprang to my 

 feet and ran through my bedroom to the back of the 

 building. As I did so the kitchen door opened, and a 

 group of servants with lights appeared at the top of 

 the steps. Need I say we saw nothing, found nothing. 

 It was a bright moonlight night and clear as day. 



Angry and uncomfortable I returned to my room, 

 leaving both doors of my bedroom open and directing 

 the servants to leave theirs. My first step was to 

 place my loaded revolver by my hand, and then I 

 took up my book. Scarcely had I done so when the 

 same thing happened again, only this time the noise 

 was less loud than the second time. I am positive 

 that no living thing could have disappeared from the 

 little quadrangle between the buildings ere my ser- 

 vants and I appeared on the scene. 



Again, nothing ! This time I admit I was scared. 

 I threw myself into my chair again, pistol in hand. 

 Silence followed. 



The sudden opening of the front door three or 

 four minutes afterwards made me jump. It was my 

 " stable companion." 



"Hullo!" he said, "what's the matter with you? 

 Here — drop that." 



