as darkness had already fallen. Professor Maxon and von Horn
walked over to the workshop and the inner campong to ascertain
what damage had been done there.

On their return Sing was setting the table on the
verandah for the evening meal. The two men were talking,
and without making his presence noticeable the Chinaman
hovered about ever within ear shot.

"I cannot make it out, von Horn," Professor Maxon was
saying. "Not a board broken, and the doors both
apparently opened intentionally by someone familiar
with locks and bolts. Who could have done it?"

"You forget Number Thirteen," suggested the doctor.

"But the chest!" expostulated the other. "What in the
world would he want of that enormous and heavy chest?"

"He might have thought that it contained treasure,"
hazarded von Horn, in an innocent tone of voice.

"Bosh, my dear man," replied Professor Maxon. "He knew
nothing of treasures, or money, or the need or value of either.
I tell you the workshop was opened, and the inner campong
as well by some one who knew the value of money and wanted
that chest, but why they should have released the creatures
from the inner enclosure is beyond me."

"And I tell you Professor Maxon that it could have been