As I did so something whistled past my ear, so closely as almost to
touch it--and struck with a dull thud upon the wall beyond!

"Bristol!" I whispered.

But as I raised my eyes to him he seemed to crumple up, and fell
loosely forward into the patch of moonlight spread upon the floor!
"God in heaven!" I said aloud.

In a cold sweat of fear I crouched there, for it had become evident
to me that, as I bent, I was entirely in shadow.

There was a rustling in the bushes on the left; but before I could
turn in that direction, my attention was claimed elsewhere. Over
into the loggia leapt an almost naked brown figure!

It was that of a small but strongly built man, who carried a short,
exceedingly thick bamboo rod in his hand. My fear was too great to
admit of my accurately observing anything at that time, but I
noticed that some kind of leather thong or loop was attached to the
end of the squat cane.

The panic fear of the supernatural was strongly upon me, and I was
unable to realize that this Eastern apparition was a creature of
flesh and blood. With my nerves strung up to snapping point, I
crouched watching him. He entered the room, bending over the body
of Bristol.

A hot breath fanned my cheek!