“But how could she get out of the park?” said Clark. “That wall is too high to climb over, and the gates are all locked.” “It’s my opinion,” exclaimed John, “that she’s in the grounds yet.” Potts shook his head. “After what she told me it’s my belief she can do any thing. Why, didn’t she tell us of crimes that were committed before she was born? I begin to feel shaky, and it is the girl that has made me so.” Potts rose to his feet, plunged his hands deep into his pockets, and walked up and down. The others sat in gloomy silence. “Could that Hong Kong nurse of hers have told her any thing?” asked John. “She didn’t know any thing to tell.” “Mrs. Compton must have blown, then.” “Mrs. Compton didn’t know. I tell you that there is not one human being living that knows what she told us besides ourselves and her. How the devil she picked it up I don’t know.” “I didn’t like the cut of her from the first,” said John. “She had a way of looking that made me feel uneasy, as though there was something in her that would some day be dangerous. I didn’t want you to send for her.” “Well, the mischief’s done now.” “You’re not going to give up the search, are you?” asked Clark. “Give it up! Not I.” “We must get her back.” “Yes; our only safety now is in catching her again at all hazards.” There was a long silence. “Twenty years ago,” said Potts, moodily, “the _Vishnu_ drifted away, and since the time of the trial no one has mentioned it to me till that girl did.” “And she is only twenty years old,” rejoined John. “I tell you, lads, you’ve got the devil to do with when you tackle her,” remarked Clark; “but if she is the devil we must fight it out and crush her.” “Twenty-three years,” continued Potts, in the same gloomy tone--“twenty-three years have passed since I was captured with my followers. No one has mentioned that since. No one in all the world knows that I am the only Englishman that ever joined the Thugs except that girl.” “She must know every thing that we have done,” said Clark. “Of course she must.” “Including our Brandon enterprise,” said John. “And including your penmanship.” said Clark; “enough, lad, to stretch a neck.” “Come,” said Potts, “don’t let us talk of this, any how.” Again they relapsed into silence. “Well!” exclaimed John, at last, “what are you going to do to-morrow?” “Chase her till I find her,” replied Potts, savagely. “But where?” “I’ve been thinking of a plan which seems to me to be about the thing.” “What?” “A good old plan,” said Potts. “Your pup, Johnnie, can help us.” John pounded his fist on the table with savage exultation. “My blood-hound! Good, old Dad, what a trump you are to think of that!” “He’ll do it!”