"Well, this gets me ! " cried the inspector " it, Mr Holmes ? I'm born and bred parts, but I never saw such thing It don't belong to Sussex "

"Just for Sussex," I remarked "It may the southwest gale that brought it up Come back to my house, both of you, the terrible experience of one who has good reason to remember his own meeting same peril seas "

When we reached my study that Murdoch was recovered that sit up dazed in mind, and every was shaken by paroxysm of pain In broken words he explained that he had no notion what had occurred to him, save that terrific pangs had suddenly shot through him, it had taken all his fortitude to reach the bank

" book," , taking up the little volume, "which first brought light into what forever dark Out of Doors, famous observer, J G Wood Wood himself very nearly perished from contact vile creature, so he wrote with very full knowledge Cyanea capillata miscreant's full name, and as dangerous to life as, and far more painful than, the bite cobra Let me briefly give this extract

" bather loose roundish mass of tawny membranes and fibres, something like very large handfuls of lion's mane and silver paper, let him beware, for fearful stinger, Cyanea capillata

Could our sinister acquaintance be more clearly described ?

"He goes on own encounter with one when swimming off the coast of Kent creature radiated almost invisible filaments distance of fifty feet, anyone within that circumference deadly centre was in danger of death Even at distance the effect upon Wood was almost fatal

"The multitudinous threads caused light scarlet lines skin which on closer examination resolved into minute dots or pustules, each dot charged as it were with red-hot needle making its way nerves

"The local pain was, as he explains, the least part exquisite torment

"Pangs shot chest, causing me struck by bullet The pulsation would cease, and then the heart would give six or seven leaps it would force its way chest

"It nearly killed him, although he had only been exposed disturbed ocean and not narrow calm waters of bathing-pool that hardly recognize himself afterwards, so white, wrinkled and shrivelled was his face He gulped down brandy, whole bottleful, and it seems saved his life the book, Inspector I leave it , and doubt contains full explanation tragedy of poor McPherson "

"And incidentally exonerates me," remarked Ian Murdoch with wry smile " blame you, Inspector, nor you, Mr Holmes, for your suspicions were natural that very eve arrest only cleared myself by sharing the fate poor friend "

"No, Mr Murdoch already track, and had I been out as early as I intended well have saved you terrific experience "

"But how did , Mr Holmes ? "

" an omnivorous reader with strangely retentive memory for trifles That phrase 'the Lion's Mane' haunted my mind that I had seen it somewhere in an unexpected context seen does describe the creature floating water when McPherson saw it, and phrase convey warning creature which his death "

"Then I, , am cleared," said Murdoch, rising slowly feet " words of explanation which give, for the direction your inquiries have run true that I loved this lady, but day when she chose my friend McPherson my one desire was to help her to happiness well content to stand aside and act as their go-between Often I carried their messages, and because in their confidence and because she was so dear that I hastened her friend's death, lest someone should forestall me in more sudden and heartless manner not tell you, sir, relations lest disapprove and suffer But with your leave try back Gables, bed very welcome "

Stackhurst held out his hand "Our nerves have all been at concert-pitch," said he "Forgive past, Murdoch understand better " They passed out together with their arms linked in friendly fashion The inspector remained, staring at me in silence ox-like eyes

"Well, you've done it ! " he cried at last "I had read of you, but I never believed it It's wonderful ! "

forced to shake my head To accept such praise was to lower one's own standards

" slow outset -- culpably slow Had the body been found water hardly have missed it It towel which misled me The poor fellow had never thought to dry himself, and so I in turn was led that he had never been water Why, then, should the attack of any water creature suggest itself ? That was where I went astray Well, well, Inspector, I often ventured to chaff you gentlemen police force, but Cyanea capillata very nearly avenged Scotland Yard "