"What against him ? "

He had gleaned along the same furrows as I had Murdoch's character mystery which seemed to hang round the man His furious bursts of temper, as shown incident dog The fact that he had quarrelled with McPherson , some reason that resented his attentions to Miss Bellamy He had all my points, but no fresh ones, save that Murdoch seemed making every preparation for departure

"What would my position be if I let him slip away with all this evidence against him ? " The burly, phlegmatic man was sorely troubled mind

"Consider," , "all the essential gaps in your case morning crime surely prove an alibi He scholars till the last moment, and within of McPherson's appearance upon us from behind Then bear in mind the absolute impossibility that single-handed have inflicted this outrage upon man quite as strong as himself Finally, this question instrument these injuries were inflicted "

"What could it be but scourge or flexible whip of some sort ? "

" examined the marks ? " I asked

" them So doctor "

"But examined them very carefully with lens peculiarities "

" they, Mr Holmes ? "

I stepped to my bureau and brought out an enlarged photograph " my method cases," I explained

"You certainly do things thoroughly, Mr Holmes "

" hardly be what if Now consider this weal which extends round the right shoulder observe nothing remarkable ? "

" 't say "

"Surely evident unequal in its intensity dot of extravasated blood here, and another there similar indications other weal down here What can that mean ? "

" no idea ? "

"Perhaps Perhaps I haven't more soon Anything which will define what made that mark will bring us long way towards the criminal "

" , , an absurd idea," said the policeman, "but if red-hot net of wire laid across the back, then these better marked points would represent where the meshes crossed "

"A most ingenious comparison Or shall we say very stiff cat-o'-nine-tails with small hard knots upon it ? "

"By Jove, Mr Holmes, hit it "

"Or some very different cause, Mr Bardle But your case is far too weak for an arrest Besides, those last words -- the 'Lion's Mane ' "

" wondered whether Ian --"

"Yes, considered that second word had borne any resemblance to Murdoch -- but it it almost in shriek 'Mane ' "

" no alternative, Mr Holmes ? "

"Perhaps But care to discuss it until something more solid to discuss "

"And when will that be ? "

"In an hour -- possibly less "

The inspector rubbed his chin and looked at me with dubious eyes

" I in your mind, Mr Holmes Perhaps it's those fishing-boats "

"No, no, they were too far out "

"Well, then, Bellamy big son ? They too sweet upon Mr McPherson Could they him mischief ? "

"No, no, you won't draw me until ready," said I with smile "Now, Inspector, we each have our own work Perhaps were to meet me here at midday --"

we had got when there came the tremendous interruption the beginning end

My outer door was flung open, there were blundering footsteps passage, and Ian Murdoch staggered room, pallid, dishevelled, his clothes in wild disorder, clawing bony hands furniture to hold himself erect "Brandy ! Brandy ! " he gasped, and fell groaning sofa

not alone Behind him came Stackhurst, hatless and panting, almost as distrait as his companion

"Yes, yes, brandy ! " he cried "The man is at his last gasp all do to bring him here He fainted twice way "

Half tumbler raw spirit brought about wondrous change He pushed himself up on one arm and swung his coat shoulders "For God's sake oil, opium, morphia ! " he cried "Anything to ease this infernal agony ! "

The inspector and I cried out sight There, crisscrossed man's naked shoulder, same strange reticulated pattern of red, inflamed lines which the death-mark of Fitzroy McPherson

The pain was evidently terrible and was more than local, sufferer's breathing would stop for time, his face would turn black, and then with loud gasps clap his hand heart, while his brow dropped beads of sweat At any moment he might die More and more brandy was poured down his throat, each fresh dose bringing him back to life Pads of cotton-wool soaked in salad-oil seemed to agony strange wounds At last his head fell heavily cushion Exhausted Nature had taken refuge in its last storehouse of vitality half sleep and half faint, but ease from pain

To question him impossible, but the moment we were assured condition Stackhurst turned upon me

"My God ! " he cried, " it, Holmes ? it ? "

"Where did you find him ? "

"Down beach Exactly where poor McPherson met his end man's heart weak as McPherson's was, here now More than once gone as I brought him up too far Gables, so "

"Did him beach ? "

" walking cliff when I heard his cry edge water, reeling about like drunken man I ran down, threw some clothes about him, and brought him up For heaven's sake, Holmes, use all the powers and spare no pains to lift the curse place, for life is becoming unendurable , with all your world-wide reputation, do nothing ? "

" , Stackhurst Come with me now ! And you, Inspector, come along ! deliver this murderer into your hands "

Leaving the unconscious man charge housekeeper, we all three went down deadly lagoon shingle piled little heap of towels and clothes left stricken man Slowly I walked round the edge water, my comrades in Indian file behind me Most pool was quite shallow, but under the cliff where the beach was hollowed out four or five feet deep part that swimmer would naturally go, formed beautiful pellucid green pool as clear as crystal line of rocks lay above it base cliff, and I led the way, peering eagerly depths beneath me I had reached the deepest and stillest pool when my eyes caught that they were searching, and I burst into shout of triumph

"Cyanea ! " I cried "Cyanea ! Behold the Lion's Mane ! "

The strange object at which I pointed did indeed look like tangled mass torn mane of lion It lay upon rocky shelf some three feet under the water, curious waving, vibrating, hairy creature with streaks of silver among its yellow tresses It pulsated with slow, heavy dilation and contraction

"It mischief enough Its day is over ! " I cried "Help me, Stackhurst ! end the murderer forever "