The Lair of the White Worm

'clock at Liverpool. When he had driven

out your uncle knowing about it, or even what the subject is. You don't mind, do you?

y uncle in the dark about

an old man, and it might concern him unduly-even alarm him. I promise you there shall b

r!" said A

ordinary conditions of life, there is no reason why he should not live to be a hundred. You and I, therefore, who both love him, though in different ways, should make it our business to protect him from all disturbing influences. I am sure you will agree with me that any labour to this end would be well spent. All right, my boy! I see your answer in your eyes; so we need say no more of that. And now," here his voice changed, "tell me all that took place at that interview. There are strange

rbed' is a poor way of e

eyes, and how Lilla looked, and what Mimi said and

At the best of times his face has not a gentle expression; but when it was screwed up like that it was almost diabolical. It frightened poor Lilla so that she trembled, and after a bit got so pale that I thought she had fainted.

e star

hrown herself on her knees beside her and hid her from me. Then there was something like a black shadow between us, and there was the nigger, looking more like a malignant devil than ever. I am not usually a patient man, and the sight of that ugl

us three to two!" p

the nigger had done. When he ha

out anything yet regarding the negro? I am anxious to be posted reg

can make them afraid, and he is lavish with money. I don't know whose money-but that does not matter. They are always ready to trumpet his greatness. Evil greatness it is-but neither does that matter. Briefly, this is his history. He was originally a witch-finder-about as low an occupation as exists amongst aboriginal savages. Then he got up in the world and became an Obi-man, which gives an opportunity to wealth via blackmail. Finally, he reached the highest honour in hellish service. He became a user of Voodoo, which seems to be a service of the utmost baseness and cruelty. I was told some of his deeds of cruelty, which are simply sickening. They made me long for an opportunity of helping to drive him back to hell. You might think to look at him that you could measure in some way the exten

e done at the moment

d noticed the snakes killed on the previous morning by the mongoose. They all lay in a row, straight and rigid, as if they had been placed by hands.

herever there was shadow. Laid across one extended arm, looking like dirty towels across a rail, he had the horrid-looking snakes. He did not seem to se

rabella, walking hurriedly and so furiously angry that she did

He found that the snakes were even more easily attacked than on the previous day; no less than six were killed in the first half-hour. As no more appeared, he took it for granted that the morning's work was over, and went towards home. The

horrified to see the mongoose, in a state of the wildest fury, with every hair standing on end, jump from his

he animal is furious

the lady drew out a revolver and shot the animal, breaking his backbone. Not satisfied with this, she poured shot after shot into him till the magazine was exhausted. There was no coolness or hauteur about her now; she