With the blinds pulled down, and Mr. Narkom's faithful locker at his command, Cleek got busy, so that when some few minutes later he had reached the little camp, a burly Australian swagman dismounted from the car. Swaggering up to what was presumably the tent of the proprietor, he gave a loud "Coo-ee!" that might have been heard easily on the other side of the river. It had the desired effect of bringing out "Professor James," a man of decided Cockney appearance and little trace of ever having been out of the country. "Cooe-ee," sang out the stranger, "your little bunch of carts is like a sight of home. Say, pard, trot out one of your blessed kangaroos. I'll grease yer palm, all right." The lined, swarthy countenance of the Professor looked even more glum at this request. He shook his head. "Circus not ready yet; can't do anything for you," he said gruffly. Thereupon the stranger plunged his hand into his pocket and brought out a £5 note. "Give us a look of a kangaroo for the sake of old country," he said, roughly, and held the note significantly before the "professor." The man's eyes gleamed, and it was evident that the offer was a very tempting one. But he had obviously received other orders. "Clear out," he said, threateningly. "I don't want you or your precious money hanging about here." He came forward with clenched fist and the stranger recoiled a little, then, turning on his heel, he gave an uncomfortable laugh. "All right, Guv'nor," he said, "no harm meant. But of course if you're going to be nasty----" He lurched away in the opposite direction, singing at the top of his voice an old-time music-hall ditty while the "professor" looked after him somewhat regretfully. * * * * * It was nearly seven o'clock that evening when Mr. Maverick Narkom, pacing uneasily up and down the little room which he had taken at the Hampton Arms, saw the door swing open and shut again without a suspicion of a sound. He looked up to find Cleek standing within a few paces of him. "At last!" he ejaculated. "Gad, my dear fellow, I never was so thankful to see you in my life! Things seem to have got into an awful mess somehow since you've been gone. You'll never guess what's happened, Cleek; after all my instructions to that stupid idiot Roberts he's let the Hindoo gang escape. They went up to the station, so I'm told, and made their get-away." "It does not matter," said Cleek, calmly. "I have come to the end of the riddle at last, my friend." "The end!" gasped Mr. Narkom. "Man alive, tell me." Cleek held up a restraining hand and gave a little satisfied laugh. "Patience, Mr. Narkom. Perhaps I ought not to have said so much, for some few things remain to be discovered," he responded, serenely, "but the first thing to do is to get all the jewels, where they can be easily secured to-morrow in broad daylight."