He hurried off to the place at once, Sir Nathaniel going with him. Having
locked the door behind them, Adam opened the packing-case where the boxes
of the two mongooses were locked up. There was no sound from one of
them, but from the other a queer restless struggling. Having opened both
boxes, he found that the noise was from the Nepaul animal, which,
however, became quiet at once. In the other box the new mongoose lay
dead, with every appearance of having been strangled!




CHAPTER X--THE KITE


On the following day, a little after four o'clock, Adam set out for
Mercy.

He was home just as the clocks were striking six. He was pale and upset,
but otherwise looked strong and alert. The old man summed up his
appearance and manner thus: "Braced up for battle."

"Now!" said Sir Nathaniel, and settled down to listen, looking at Adam
steadily and listening attentively that he might miss nothing--even the
inflection of a word.

"I found Lilla and Mimi at home. Watford had been detained by business
on the farm. Miss Watford received me as kindly as before; Mimi, too,
seemed glad to see me. Mr. Caswall came so soon after I arrived, that
he, or someone on his behalf, must have been watching for me. He was
followed closely by the negro, who was puffing hard as if he had been