Herman Cyril McNeile

“ Being engrossed in the scarab, I paid no attention to him until suddenly I happened to glance up. And I saw him make a sign to Yussuf which instantly made me forget everything else. I could hardly believe my eyes, for the sign to Yussuf was the secret sign of the highest adepts of this almost-forgotten cult. Beyond possibility of doubt the sign made was the sign of the cult, and a glance at Yussuf confirmed my opinion that I was in the presence of an adept. He was cringing—positively cringing, and my excitement became intense.”
“And what did you do then, Uncle John?” asked Molly. ”

“ Now I have the best of reasons for believing that the very gravest danger threatens us tonight. I suggest, therefore, that we should cast adrift, and drift downstream.”
“Quite impossible, Leyton!” he cried angrily. “Out of the question. I'm amazed that you should even suggest such a thing. The most ancient ritual of the cult is being given tonight for my special benefit. I came here especially to see this actual ceremony! What danger are you frightened of? What danger can there be? You talk like a foolish, hysterical girl!”
Jim's words, spoken in Cairo, came back to me. ”

“ In fact, it was not the first time in my life that I would willingly have paid a large sum of money to have Jim at my side.
Suddenly the professor came over to me.
“We are in luck,” he said, and his eyes were gleaming. “We are to be allowed to see the sacred crocodile at once.”
Molly drew back.
“I don't think I want to, Uncle John,” she said. “You go—and I'll-stay here with Dick.”
“Don't be ridiculous, child!” he snapped. “It is what we have come here for. You will see a sight that no white woman has seen for a thousand years—the inner temple of one of the sister cults of Ammon Ra. ”

“ Molly was staring into the darkness beyond the tables with frightened eyes, and I half rose in my chair.
“What is it, Molly?” I asked.
“A man,” she said, “a horrible-looking native was glaring at me with the most dreadful look in his eyes. He's gone now, but he looked awful.”
“I'll see about it!” I cried, getting up. But the professor waved me back.
“Tut, tut!” he said irritably. “What chance have you of finding a native out there? And even if you did, he hasn't done anything.”
But it seemed to me that there was nervous apprehension in the glance he threw at his niece. ”

“ I said gently, “it's all true. It's really happened. And but for Jim——” I looked across at him; there are things which no man can put into words.
“Rot!” he cried cheerfully. “Utter rot, Dick. Though I admit it was touch and go till I found a sharp stone to cut through my ropes with. And now I think I'll leave you two.”
He beckoned to me to follow him on deck.
“I wouldn't tell her the truth about her uncle, old man. At least—not yet.” In the light of the dawn I saw his face, and it was very wistful. “She's a great girl, old Dick—great. You lucky, lucky devil!” ”

“ Can he not see that ancient temple peopled with vast crowds of fierce savages waiting in silence for the first rays of the rising sun to touch the altar, and bathe the victims in golden light for the last time? And then the wild-eyed priests, the human sacrifice, the propitiation of strange gods.
Thus it was in England two thousand years ago: thus it is today in places beyond the ken of England's train catchers. Stamped out wherever possible, retreating always before advancing civilization, there are still men who practice strange and dreadful rites in secret places. ”

“ But I tell you that no power on this earth would induce me willingly to have anything to do with the sect whose secret temple is at the Pool of the Sacred Crocodile. There are stories of black magic and devil worship which make one pinch one's self to see if one is awake. There are stories of human sacrifice carried out with the most appalling rites. There are stories of dead men and women coming to life again and walking around the temple, to dive finally into the pool from which there is no return. ”

“ There are depths of cold-blooded villainy at which the mind jibs even when the proofs are at hand. And when there are no proofs it is small wonder that one's suspicions are not aroused.
Especially when there are other things to think about. As I have said, this is not a love story, but the professor was preoccupied, and Molly was—just Molly. And there was the little matter concerning the men who had called her darling to be threshed out.
The boat was a comfortable one fitted with a small motor engine and for two days we went slowly toward Luxor, tying up at night. ”

“ And it was also the native whom I had seen reflected in the mirror in Professor John Gainsford's room.
He disappeared as suddenly as he had come and Molly gave a sigh of relief.
“Let's get out, Dick, for goodness sake,” she said urgently. “The smell of this place is too fearful. I can't stand it another moment!”
I was only too glad to agree. The door behind us was open, and we went through it, intent only on escaping into the fresh air. And not until we were clear of the entrance door, with the scent of the orange trees around us, did we breathe freely again. ”

“ Then he came back and led the way toward the house half hidden in the trees, with the professor shaking with excitement just behind him, and Molly and I bringing up the rear. She was still clinging to my arm, and I could feel that she was trembling.
“Dick, I hate it,” she whispered. “Promise you won't leave me.”
“I promise, darling,” I answered, slipping my right hand into my coat pocket. There is something very comforting about the feel of an automatic pistol at times——
OUR guide stalked slowly on toward the house. ”

“ Moreover, it is not good for a white man to dabble in those ceremonies. For they are utterly foul and evil—with a foulness far beyond mere crime. They are without every law, moral and social—and those who have dealings with them must pay a terrible price, even as Professor John Gainsford paid—Gainsford, the celebrated Egyptologist. ”

“ And Molly went to her, having first driven every coherent thought out of my mind by kissing me.
“When men call me darling,” she murmured, “I always kiss them.” She was smiling up at me adorably.
“How many men?” I began furiously.
And then the widow's door shut.
Illustration: Jim took me to one side. “Whatever you do, Dick,don't let Miss Tremayne out of your sight once you get to your destination”
BUT this is not a love story, and such digressions are dangerous. ”

“ It will be a most interesting piece of research work—most interesting. In return for—for what I can give them I am to be allowed to have a copy of the ritual which has been handed down intact for three thousand years; ritual, Mr. Maitland, which no man living, save those priests, has ever thought of in his wildest dreams.”
“Well,” said Jim grimly, “all I can say, professor, is this: If one tenth of the rumors I have heard are true the best thing you can do will be to burn the book unread.”
BUT the professor seemed not to hear. His little blinking eyes were fixed on Molly. ”

“ That is no reason why we should run the boat on a sandbank. As for your friend's note——” He shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. And then suddenly his manner changed, and he smiled almost benevolently. “Believe me, my dear fellow, you exaggerate tremendously. Do you think for one moment that I would allow my dear niece to run into any danger? There is no suggestion that she should come tonight—or you. You can stay with her and guard her against any possible harm.”
And with that I had to be content. I heard him lock the door behind me, and I joined Molly on deck. ”

“ It is as well that the man who catches the eight-thirty should think thus. Such things have nothing to do with Bulls and Bears: such things have no market value on the Stock Exchange. And yet, surely to even the most prosaic of train catchers, motoring maybe over Salisbury Plain, there must come some faint stirring of imagination as he sees the vast dead monument of Stonehenge. ”

“ And the final conclusion was that the unfortunate gentleman had probably slipped into the pool and been drowned; and that, later on, his body had been discovered by some natives and been buried.
I let it rest at that—for I was the friend. I talked it over with Jim and with Molly Tremayne, his niece, and rightly or wrongly we made our decision. Be that as it may; I will put down now for the first time the real truth of what happened on that ghastly night. For Molly Tremayne is now Molly Leyton.
PROFESSOR GAINSFORD was the last man whom one would have considered capable of evil. ”

“ Get out of this at once. Don't spend the night here on any account. “What is it, Dick?” she asked, looking at me steadily. I handed her the slip of paper without comment
“It's from Jim Maitland,” I said, when she had read it. “The man I introduced to you at Shephard's. And when Jim tells you to do something there is generally a pretty good reason for doing it. Unfortunately, the whole crew—including the precious captain—have chosen this moment to depart.”
I needn't have worried about alarming Molly; she heard the news without turning a hair. ”