The Lair of the White Worm

stant whirr and rattle of the "donkey" engine winches of the great ship-he met the eyes of Adam fixed on him from his berth. His grand-nephew had given him the sofa, occupying the lower bert

woke with the dawn, and was ready to enter on the experiences of the new day whenever it might suit his elder companion. It was little wonder, then, that, so soon as each realised the other's readiness, t

iage was waiting in the street. Richard Salton pointed out with pride to his young companion the suitability of

one to overhear what they may say. I have used that trap for a quarter of a century, and I never saw one more suitable for travel. You shall test it shortly. We are going to drive th

which he seemed all eyes, for he perpetua

, "any special relation to what you sai

but indirectl

erheard-and if anything strikes you as we go

Salto

e fond of historical research-as seemed a fact-this was exactly the place for you, in addition to its being the home of your own forbears. If you could learn so much of the British Romans so far away in New South Wales, where there cannot be even a tradition

nite-more personal reason for my hurrying. Aft

wisely guessed. I was anxious for you to be here when

at, if I ma

ll be a great home-coming, which you may care to see. The fact is, for more than a century the

t, sir, if

Castra Regis has had no knowledge of its owner for five generations-covering more than a hundred and twenty years. It has been well administered, however, and no tenant or other connected with it has had anything of which to complain. All the same, there has been much natural anxiety to see the new owner, and we are all excited about the event of his coming. Even I am, though I own my own estate, which, though adjacent, is quite apart from Castra Regis.-Here we are now in new ground for you. That is the spire of Salisbury Cathedral, and when we leave that we shall be getting close to the old Roman county, and you will naturally want your eyes. So we shall shortly have to keep our minds on old Mercia. However, you need not be disappointed. My old friend

ford. Adam's eyes were in constant employment, and it was not till Salton declared that they h

n the top of a hill, not quite so high as that which was covered by the Castle, on whose tower flew the flag, and which was all ablaze with moving lights, manifestly used in t

and-nephew-I am glad to meet you, Mr. Adam Salton. I am Nat

they were already friends. The meeting was a new note

been touched and to a certain extent fired by the younger man's evident admiration and willingness to learn from him. Accordingly the conversation, which began on the most friendly basis, soon warmed to an interest above proof, as the old man spoke of it next day to Richard Salton. He knew already that his old friend wanted his grand-nephew

going into exact relationship? In fact, your uncle is so old and dear a friend, that, with your permission,

swered the young ma

dance of Englishmen of emotional subjects personal to themselves, they ins

le has posted you regarding the re

at I was to hear minuter details

te, who came into his kingdom just about the time that George III. did. He had one son of about twenty-four. There was a violent quarrel between the two. No one of this gene

t one son, who seems to have been brought up in ignorance of all belonging to him. The gulf between them appears to have been unbridgable; for in time this son married and in turn had a son, but neither joy nor sorrow brought the sundered together. Under such conditions no rapprochement was to

o other children have been born to any of the newer generations in the interv

of what they should do in order to gain their own ends. If they should make a mistake, someone else should bear the burthen of it. This was so perpetually recurrent that it seemed to be a part of a fixed policy. It was no wonder that, whatever changes took place, they were always ensured in their own possessions. They were absolutely cold and hard by nature. Not one of them-so far as

emarkable will power which there is no gainsaying. It is a power that is partly racial and partly individual: a power impregnated with some mysterious quality, partly hypnotic, partly mesmeric, which seems to take away from ey

made use of all I know or can surmise logically regarding this strange race. With such strange compelling qualities, is it any wonder that there is abroad an idea

h me for an early walk, during which we may notice, whilst the matter is fresh in our minds, the peculiar disposition of this place-not merely your grand-uncle's estate, but the lie of the cou