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+Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Shin Shira, by George Edward Farrow
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Mysterious Shin Shira
+
+Author: George Edward Farrow
+
+Illustrator: W.G. Easton
+
+Release Date: February 24, 2006 [EBook #17843]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIOUS SHIN SHIRA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Malcolm Farmer and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "A short distance beyond lay a terrible dragon."]
+
+[_See page 28._]
+
+
+
+
+                     THE MYSTERIOUS SHIN SHIRA
+
+                                BY
+
+                            G.E. FARROW
+
+
+                             AUTHOR OF
+                        The WALLYPUG of WHY
+
+
+                          [Illustration]
+
+                    ILLUSTRATED BY W.G. EASTON
+
+
+                              LONDON
+                           HENRY FROWDE
+                        HODDER & STOUGHTON
+
+
+
+
+
+                             CONTENTS
+
+                                                                   PAGE
+
+  Mystery No. I
+  SHIN SHIRA APPEARS                                                  9
+
+  Mystery No. II
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE DRAGON                                          23
+
+  Mystery No. III
+  THE MAGIC CARPET                                                   33
+
+  Mystery No. IV
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE DUCHESS                                         50
+
+  Mystery No. V
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE LAME DUCK                                       65
+
+  Mystery No. VI
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE DIAMOND                                         81
+
+  Mystery No. VII
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE ROC                                             98
+
+  Mystery No. VIII
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE MAD BULL                                       114
+
+  Mystery No. IX
+  SHIN SHIRA AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS                                130
+
+  Mystery No. X and Last
+  SHIN SHIRA DISAPPEARS                                             146
+
+
+
+
+
+                  LIST OF COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+                                                         _To face page_
+
+  "A SHORT DISTANCE BEYOND LAY A TERRIBLE DRAGON"
+        (_See page 28_)                                  _Frontispiece_
+
+  "THE EXECUTIONER IN HIS AGITATION DROPPED HIS AXE"                 20
+
+  "WE FLOATED AWAY OVER THE ROOFS OF THE HOUSES"                     38
+
+  "SHIN SHIRA PLACED THEM IN THE CRYSTAL BOWL"                       58
+
+  "HIS PINIONS WERE STRONG AND MIGHTY"                              108
+
+  "THIS WAS CAREFULLY SET BEFORE THE KING"                          138
+
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. I
+
+SHIN SHIRA APPEARS
+
+
+It was very remarkable how I first came to make his acquaintance at all.
+Shin Shira I mean. I had been sitting at my desk, writing, for quite a
+long time, when suddenly I heard, as I thought, a noise in another part
+of the room. I turned my head hastily and looked towards the door, but
+it was fast closed and there was apparently nobody in the room but
+myself.
+
+"Strange!" I murmured, looking about to try and discover what had caused
+the sound, and then my eyes lighted, to my great surprise, upon a pair
+of bright yellow morocco shoes with very long, pointed toes, standing on
+the floor in front of a favourite little squat chair of mine which I
+call "the Toad."
+
+I gazed at the yellow shoes in amazement, for they certainly did not
+belong to me, and they had decidedly not been there a short time before,
+for I had been sitting in the chair myself.
+
+I had just got up to examine them, when, to my utter astonishment, I saw
+a pair of yellow stockings appearing above them; an instant later, a
+little yellow body; and finally, the quaintest little head that I have
+ever seen, surmounted by a yellow turban, in the front of which a large
+jewel sparkled and shone.
+
+It was not the turban, however, but the face beneath it which claimed my
+greatest attention, for the eyes were nearly starting out of the head
+with fright, and the expression was one of the greatest anxiety.
+
+It gave way, however, to reassurance and content directly the little man
+had given a hurried glance round the room, and he sank comfortably down
+into "the Toad" with a sigh of relief.
+
+"Phew!" he exclaimed, drawing out a little yellow fan from his sleeve
+and fanning himself vigorously, "that _was_ a narrow squeak! I really
+don't think that I've been in such a tight corner before for two hundred
+years at least." And he tucked his fan away again and beamed upon me
+complacently.
+
+I was so astounded at the sudden appearance of this remarkable little
+personage that for the moment I quite lost the use of my tongue; and in
+the meantime my little visitor was glancing about the room with piercing
+eyes that seemed to take in everything.
+
+"H'm!--writer, I suppose?" he said, nodding his head towards my desk,
+which was as usual littered with papers. "What line? You don't look very
+clever," and he glanced at me critically from under his bushy eyebrows.
+
+"I only write books for children," I answered, "and one doesn't have to
+be very clever to do that."
+
+"Oh, children!" said the little Yellow Dwarf--as I had begun to call him
+in my own mind. "No, you don't have to be _clever_, but you have to
+be--er--by the way, do you write fairy stories?" he interrupted himself
+to ask.
+
+"Sometimes," I answered.
+
+"Ah! then I can put you up to a thing or two. I'm partly a fairy
+myself.
+
+"You see, it's this way," he went on hastily, seeing, I suppose, that
+I looked somewhat surprised at this unexpected piece of information.
+"Some hundreds of years ago--oh! ever so many--long before the present
+Japanese Empire was founded, in fact, there was a man named Shin Shira
+Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa----"
+
+"Good gracious!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Don't interrupt," said the little Yellow Dwarf, "it's rude, and
+besides, you make me forget--I can't even think now what the rest of the
+gentleman's name was--but anyhow, he was an ancestor of mine, and that
+much of his name belongs to me."
+
+"How much?" I inquired.
+
+"Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa," repeated the Yellow Dwarf;
+"but you needn't say it all," he added hastily, seeing, I suppose, that
+I looked rather distressed, "Shin Shira will do; in fact, that's what I
+am always called. Well, to continue. This ancestor of mine, part of
+whose name I bear, did something or other to offend his
+great-grandmother, who was a very influential sort of a fairy--I _could_
+tell you the whole story, but it's a very long one and I'll have to tell
+you that another time--and she was so angry with him that she condemned
+him to appear or disappear whenever she liked and at whatever time or
+place that she chose, for ever."
+
+"For ever?" I inquired incredulously.
+
+"Why not?" asked Shin Shira. "Fairies, you know, are immortal,
+and my ancestor had fairy blood in his veins. Well, to make a long
+story short, the spell, or whatever you choose to call it, which his
+great-grandmother cast over him, didn't work in him, nor in his son, nor
+even in his grandson; but several hundreds of years afterwards _I_ was
+born, and then it suddenly took effect, and I have always been afflicted
+with the exceedingly uncomfortable misfortune of having to appear or
+disappear whenever the old lady likes, and in whatever place she
+chooses.
+
+"It's terribly awkward at times, for one minute I may be in China taking
+tea with a Mandarin of the Blue Button, and have to disappear suddenly,
+turning up a minute later in a first-class carriage on the Underground
+Railway, greatly to the surprise and indignation of the passengers,
+especially if it happens to be over-crowded without me, as it very
+often is.
+
+"Not but what it has its advantages too," he added thoughtfully, "and
+this very power of being able to disappear suddenly has just got me out
+of a most serious dilemma."
+
+"Won't you tell me about it?" I inquired with considerable curiosity,
+for I was beginning to be very interested in this singular little
+person's account of himself.
+
+"With pleasure," said Shin Shira; and settling himself more comfortably
+in "the Toad," resting his elbows on the arms of the chair, and placing
+the tips of his fingers together, he told me the following story.
+
+"The very last place in which I appeared before turning up here, was in
+the grounds of the Palace belonging to the Grand Panjandrum--"
+
+"Where is that situated, if you please?" I ventured to inquire.
+
+Shin Shira gave me a quick glance.
+
+"Do you mean to say that you actually don't even know where the land of
+the Grand Panjandrum is?" he asked. "H'm! well," he continued as I shook
+my head, "I remarked a short time ago that you didn't _look_ very
+clever, but really, I couldn't have believed that you were so ignorant
+as all that. You'd better look it up in your atlas when I am gone, I
+can't bother to explain where it is now--but to resume my story. I
+appeared there, as I said, and in the middle of the kitchen garden all
+amongst the cabbages and beans.
+
+"I could at first see nobody about, but at last I heard somebody
+singing, and presently came upon a man carrying a basket in which were
+some cabbages that he had evidently just gathered.
+
+"Although he was singing so cheerfully, his head was bound up with a
+handkerchief, and I could see that his face was badly swollen.
+
+"When he had come a little nearer, I bowed politely and inquired of him
+what place it was, for my surroundings were quite strange to me, it
+being my first visit to the neighbourhood.
+
+"He told me where I was, and explained that he was the Grand
+Panjandrum's Chief Cook, and that he had been to gather cabbages to make
+an apple pie with."
+
+I was about to ask how this was possible, when I caught Shin Shira's
+eye, and I could see by the light in it that he was expecting me to make
+some inquiry; but I was determined that he should not again have the
+opportunity of remarking upon my ignorance, so I held my tongue and said
+nothing, as though gathering cabbages in order to make an apple pie was
+the most natural thing in the world to do.
+
+He waited for a moment and then continued--
+
+"I stood talking to the man for some time, and at last I asked what was
+the matter with his face.
+
+"'I've the toothache,' he said ruefully, 'and that's why I was singing;
+I'm told that it's a capital remedy.'
+
+"'I'll see if I can't find a better one,' said I, taking up this little
+book, which I always carry with me." And Shin Shira held out for my
+inspection a tiny volume bound in yellow leather, with golden clasps,
+which was attached to his girdle by a long golden chain.
+
+"This," he explained, "is a very remarkable book, and has been in our
+family for many hundreds of years. It contains directions what to do in
+any difficulty whatsoever, with the aid of the fairy power, which, as I
+have told you, I inherit from my fairy ancestor.
+
+"The only difficulty is that, as I am partly a mortal, _sometimes_
+(owing perhaps to my fairy great-great-great-grandmother being in a bad
+temper at the moment) the fairy spell refuses to work, and then I am
+left in the lurch.
+
+"This time, however, it worked splendidly, for I had only to turn to the
+word 'Toothache' to discover that the fairy remedy was to 'rub the
+_other_ side of the face with a stinging nettle, and the pain and
+swelling would instantly disappear.'
+
+"Fortunately there were plenty of nettles to be found in a neglected
+corner of the garden, and I quickly applied the remedy, which worked, as
+the saying is, 'like magic,' for the Grand Panjandrum's Chief Cook's
+face resumed its normal size at once, and the pain vanished immediately.
+
+"It is needless to say that he was very grateful, and we were walking
+back to the Palace, where he had just promised to regale me with some of
+the choicest viands in his larder, when we met, coming towards us, a
+most doleful-looking individual, clothed in black and wearing a most
+woebegone visage.
+
+"'It's the Court Physician,' said the Cook; 'I wonder why he is looking
+so melancholy. May I venture to ask, sir,' he inquired respectfully,
+'the occasion of your sorrow?'
+
+"'I am to be executed to-morrow by the Grand Panjandrum's order,' said
+the Court Physician dolefully, wiping a tear of self-pity from his eye.
+
+"The Chief Cook shrugged his shoulders. 'H'm!' said he, 'if _that's_ the
+case, and His Supreme Importance has ordered your execution, nobody can
+possibly prevent it, and there is nothing left but to grin and bear it.'
+
+"'No,' said the Court Physician indignantly. 'I may have to bear it, but
+I shall _not_ grin. I absolutely refuse! They can't do more than kill
+me, and I _won't_ grin, so there!'
+
+"The Chief Cook looked horrified. 'It's one of the laws of the land,' he
+said, 'that whenever one suffers anything at the hands of the Grand
+Panjandrum, one must grin and bear it; it's a most terrible offence not
+to do so.'
+
+"'I don't care,' said the Court Physician recklessly, 'I shan't grin,
+and there's an end of it.'
+
+"'Why are you sentenced to death?' I asked.
+
+"'His Supreme Importance, the Grand Panjandrum, has had the toothache
+for three days, and I have been unable to subdue it without drawing the
+tooth, which His Supreme Importance refuses to permit me to do, and in a
+fit of temper yesterday he said that if he were not better to-day I
+should be executed to-morrow--and it's worse.'
+
+"The Chief Cook looked at me delightedly.
+
+"'If _that's_ all,' he said, 'this gentleman, whose name I am
+unfortunately unacquainted with, has a remedy which will soon get you
+out of your trouble, and I shouldn't wonder if, after all, His Supreme
+Importance's toothache were the means of raising us all to honour and
+distinction;' and he proceeded to tell the Court Physician how I had
+been successful in ridding _him_ of the toothache.
+
+"The Court Physician was greatly interested, and after I had read to him
+the directions in the book, he suggested that he should take me to the
+Palace at once and into the presence of the Grand Panjandrum.
+
+"'For no doubt the operation must be performed by yourself, since you
+alone possess the fairy power,' said he. And so we made the best of our
+way to the beautiful building which I could see in the distance.
+
+"I wish I could describe to you the magnificence of that marvellous
+place. The jewelled windows and golden staircase; the wonderful velvety
+carpets and silken hangings; the hundreds of silent servants dressed in
+the beautiful royal livery of the Grand Panjandrum, who flitted about
+executing immediately the slightest wish echoed in that wonderful place.
+
+"But it is sufficient to say that, after a lot of ceremony, I was at
+last ushered into the presence of the Grand Panjandrum himself.
+
+"It is forbidden to anyone, under the most awful penalties, to describe
+His Supreme Importance's appearance, so I cannot tell you what he was
+like; but I found him suffering the most excruciating agony with the
+toothache, and with his face even more swollen than the Chief Cook's had
+been.
+
+"At a sign from the Court Physician I quickly prepared my nettle leaves,
+which we had thought to gather on our way to the palace, and began to
+rub them gently on the Grand Panjandrum's cheek, on the opposite side of
+his face to that which was swollen.
+
+"To my horror and amazement, they had no effect whatever, except
+immediately to raise a terrible rash upon His Supreme Importance's
+cheek, and to cause him such pain that he called out angrily that it
+was worse than the toothache itself.
+
+"I hurriedly and anxiously consulted my little book to see if by any
+mischance I had failed in carrying out any of the directions; but no,
+there it was in black and white--'rub the _other_ side with a stinging
+nettle.'
+
+"I showed it to the Court Physician, and he said--
+
+"'Try the "other" side, then: you've rubbed one side, try the other.'
+
+"So in fear and trembling I begged His Supreme Importance's permission
+to apply the remedy to his other cheek, and after some demur he agreed,
+but making it a condition that if it failed to act I was to be
+immediately beheaded.
+
+"You may imagine with what anxiety I awaited the result of my
+experiment, and how carefully I rubbed the nettles on.
+
+"It was all in vain: the rash spread under the nettles and the swelling
+grew greater than ever--evidently my fairy power refused to work--and
+the Grand Panjandrum was in a fearful rage.
+
+"'Fetch the Executioner!' he cried, in terrible tones. 'I will see this
+impostor executed before my eyes!' And twenty slaves flew to obey his
+command.
+
+"'Grin!' whispered the Court Physician behind his hand, 'grin and bear
+it; it's the only thing to be done.'
+
+[Illustration: "The Executioner in his agitation dropped his axe."]
+
+"I gave him a wrathful glance, and was about to speak, when at a sign
+from the Grand Panjandrum, two powerful slaves sprang forward and bound
+and gagged me.
+
+"There was a sound of approaching footsteps, and from another entrance
+the Executioner appeared, followed by some slaves carrying the block.
+
+"I thought my last moment had arrived, but just then, to my intense
+delight, I felt a curious sensation, which told me that I was about to
+disappear.
+
+"My feet went first (this is not always the case), and then my legs, and
+I could see the amazement with which the Grand Panjandrum and all the
+assembled company were regarding the, to them, extraordinary phenomenon.
+
+"The Executioner in his agitation dropped his axe, and stood
+open-mouthed regarding what was left of me; and, although I was rather
+anxious lest they should make an attempt to chop off my head before it
+finally disappeared, I managed despite my gag to 'grin' in the Grand
+Panjandrum's face, and an instant later I found myself here."
+
+Shin Shira, having finished his story, drew his little fan from his
+sleeve and sat fanning himself with great composure, while he regarded
+my doubtless astonished face with considerable amusement.
+
+"I--I'll put that story down at once, if you don't mind," I stammered,
+hurrying to my desk and getting out some papers.
+
+The drawer stuck, and it was some seconds before I could get it open,
+and when I turned round again, to my great dismay, Shin Shira had almost
+disappeared.
+
+The little yellow shoes were still there and part of a stocking, but
+even as I watched them they too disappeared, the long pointed toes of
+the shoes waggling a kind of farewell--or so I thought--and my strange
+little visitor had vanished.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. II
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE DRAGON
+
+
+It was during my holidays in Cornwall that I next met Shin Shira.
+
+I had ridden by motor-car from Helston to the Lizard, and after
+scrambling over rugged cliffs for some time, following the white stones
+put by the coastguards to mark the way, I found myself at last at the
+most beautiful little bay imaginable, called Kynance Cove.
+
+The tide was low, and from the glittering white sands, tall jagged rocks
+rose up, covered with coloured seaweed; which, together with the deep
+blue and green of the sky and sea, made a perfect feast of colour for
+the eyes.
+
+On the shore I met an amiable young guide, who, for sixpence, undertook
+to show me some caves in the rocks which are not generally discovered by
+visitors.
+
+They were very fine caves, one of them being called The Princess's
+Parlour; and while we were exploring this, I suddenly heard a roar as of
+some mighty animal in terrible pain.
+
+I turned to the guide with, I expect, rather a white face, for an
+explanation.
+
+He smiled at my alarm, however, and told me that it was "only the
+Bellows," and suggested a visit to the spot whence the sound proceeded.
+
+We scrambled out of the cave and descended to the sands again, and
+passing behind a tall rock called The Tower, we saw a curious sight.
+
+From between two enormous boulders came at intervals a great cloud of
+fine spray, which puffed up into the air for about twenty feet,
+accompanied by the roaring noise that I had previously noticed. My young
+guide explained to me that the noise and the spray were caused by the
+air in the hollow between the two boulders being forcibly expelled
+through a narrow slit in the rocks as each wave of the incoming tide
+entered. Having made this quite clear to me, he took his departure,
+warning me not to remain too long on the sands, as the tide was coming
+in rather rapidly.
+
+I sat for some time alone on the rocks, gazing with fascinated interest
+at the curious effect produced by the clouds of spray coming from "the
+Bellows," and was at last just turning to go when I started in surprise,
+for there, sitting on another rock just behind me, was the little Yellow
+Dwarf, Shin Shira, energetically fanning himself with the little yellow
+fan which I had noticed at our previous meeting.
+
+"Oh! it's you, is it?" he remarked, when he caught sight of my face. "I
+thought I recognised the back view; you see it was the last I saw of you
+when I paid you that visit in your study."
+
+"And disappeared so very suddenly," I answered, going up and offering my
+hand, for I was very pleased to see the little man again.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I was _obliged_ to. You know of my unfortunate affliction in having to
+appear or disappear whenever my fairy great-great-great-grandmother
+wishes. _He's_ safe enough, isn't he?" he added, inconsequently nodding
+his head towards "the Bellows."
+
+"Who is? What do you mean?" I inquired.
+
+"The dragon, of course," said Shin Shira.
+
+"The dragon!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Certainly--you know that there's a dragon imprisoned behind those
+rocks, don't you?"
+
+I laughed.
+
+"No," I said, "although I must admit that I was at first inclined to
+think that something of the sort was concealed there. I've had it all
+explained to me, though," and I proceeded to inform him of what the
+guide had told me concerning the matter.
+
+"Pooh! Rubbish! He doesn't know what he's talking about," said Shin
+Shira contemptuously; "I'll tell you the real story of those rocks as it
+occurred, let's see--about eight or nine hundred years ago. I remember
+it quite well, for it was one of those occasions when I was _most_
+distressed at having to disappear at what was for me the very worst
+possible moment."
+
+I settled myself comfortably on the rocks beside Shin Shira and prepared
+to listen with great interest.
+
+"Let's think for a moment," said the little Yellow Dwarf, looking about
+him.
+
+"It began--oh, yes! I know now. In that cave over yonder--I was eight
+or nine hundred years younger then, and a very warm-blooded and
+impressionable young fellow at that time; and I can remember being
+struck with the extreme beauty of the charming Princess whom I
+discovered in tears there when I suddenly appeared.
+
+"The cave itself was hung about with the most beautiful silken curtains
+and tapestries, and on the floor were spread rugs and carpets and
+cushions of Oriental magnificence. Tiny tables, inlaid with ivory and
+mother-of-pearl, were scattered about, on which were caskets filled with
+beautiful jewels and rare curios from foreign lands.
+
+"The Princess herself was reclining on one of the cushions, sobbing as
+though her heart would break, and her beautiful hair was lying in
+dishevelled glory about her shoulders.
+
+"I was afraid of alarming her, so I coughed slightly to attract her
+attention.
+
+"She started up immediately with a look of terror, but was calmed in an
+instant when she saw who it was.
+
+"'Oh!' she cried, 'have you slain him? You must have done in order to
+have reached here. Oh! have you come to save me?' and she looked at me
+with wild, eager eyes.
+
+"'Calm yourself, fair lady!' said I. 'What is it that alarms you? Be
+sure that I will do all in my power to protect you from any evil that
+threatens you.'
+
+"'The Dragon!' gasped the Princess. 'Have you not slain him? How else
+can you have entered? He lies at the door of the cave.'
+
+"She caught me by the hand and led me to the entrance, and then,
+clasping one hand over her eyes and shuddering with terror, she pointed
+to where, a short distance beyond, under the shadow of some rocks, lay a
+terrible Dragon, watching with cruel and expectant eyes for any prey
+that might come his way.
+
+"'I cannot get away from here except I pass him, and I have been
+imprisoned here now for two days,' sobbed the Princess. 'The King, my
+father, must indeed be distraught at my absence,' and she burst into
+fresh weeping.
+
+"I pressed her to tell me how she came there, and she explained to me
+that one day, while walking on the sands with one of her maidens in
+attendance, they had together discovered this cave, which was only
+accessible at low tide; and they had secretly brought the rugs and
+tapestries and other furniture with which the cave was filled and made a
+bower of it, to which the Princess was wont to retire whenever she
+wished to be alone.
+
+"And, venturing here two days since without attendance, the Princess
+had found, when she had wished to depart, the terrible monster lying in
+her path.
+
+"'And so,' she cried, 'I have been a prisoner all this time.'
+
+"I cheered her as well as I was able, and turned to my little book to
+see if by chance it gave me any directions how I might slay a Dragon by
+means of my fairy powers; and I read there that though one might not
+slay it (for a Dragon lives for a thousand years), one might rob it of
+its power by casting at it a jewel of great brilliancy, at the same time
+wishing that he might become dazed and impotent till one could escape,
+and it would be so.
+
+"I told this to the Princess, and she hastened to unfasten from her
+bosom a jewel of great value set in gold of curious workmanship, which
+she gave to me, imploring me at the same time to do immediately as the
+book directed.
+
+"'Nay,' said I, 'the jewel is yours; you must cast it at the Dragon, and
+I will _wish_ that the fairies may aid us.'
+
+"And so we stood at the door of the cave, and the Dragon, seeing us,
+came forward with wide-opened jaws.
+
+"The Princess clung to my arm with one hand, but with the other she cast
+the jewel, while with all my desire I wished that my fairy powers might
+not fail me now.
+
+"Whether, however, it was that the fairies willed it so, or perchance
+because she was a girl, the Princess's aim was not straight, and she
+hit, not the Dragon, but a great boulder in the shadow of which he was
+lurking; and then a truly remarkable thing occurred, for the boulder,
+immediately it was struck by the jewel, tumbled forward, and falling
+upon one beside it, imprisoned the Dragon between the two, where he has
+remained to this day."
+
+And Shin Shira pointed dramatically to the rocks, from which an extra
+large puff of spray belched forth, with a groan and a cry which almost
+convinced me that what he told me must be true.
+
+"And what became of the Princess after that?" I inquired, being anxious
+to hear the end of the story.
+
+"Why," resumed Shin Shira, "we picked up the jewel and hurried away from
+the spot, and presently came at the top of the cliffs to the Castle, the
+ruins of which may still be seen up yonder--to where the King dwelt.
+
+"I cannot tell you with what joy the Princess was received, nor with
+what honour and favour I was rewarded by the King--and, indeed, by all
+of the people--as the Princess's deliverer.
+
+"It is enough to say that the King called a great assembly of people,
+and before them all said that as a fitting reward he should give me the
+fairest jewel in all his kingdom, and handed me the very stone which had
+been cast at the Dragon, and which was valuable beyond price, being one
+of the most perfect and flawless stones in the world.
+
+"I was glad enough to have the gem, but I had fallen madly in love with
+the Princess's beauty, so I made bold to remind the King that the
+fairest jewel in his kingdom was not the gem he had given me, but the
+Princess, his daughter.
+
+"The answer pleased the King and the people, though I remember sometimes
+sadly, even now, that the Princess's face fell as she heard the King
+declare that his word should be kept, and the fairest jewel of all, even
+the Princess herself, should be mine.
+
+"But now, alas! comes the sorrowful part, for, before the ceremony of our
+marriage could be completed, I was doomed by the fairies to disappear,
+and so I lost for ever my beautiful bride," and Shin Shira gave a deep
+sigh. "The jewel though," he added, "remained mine, and I have always
+worn it in the front of my turban in honour and memory of the lovely
+Princess. You may like to see it," and Shin Shira reached up to his head
+for the turban in which I had noticed the jewel sparkling only a moment
+before.
+
+It was gone!
+
+"Dear me! I'm disappearing again myself, I'm afraid," said Shin Shira,
+looking down at his legs, from which the feet had already vanished.
+
+"Good-bye!" he had just time to call out, before he departed in a little
+yellow flicker.
+
+"Hi! Hi!" I heard voices shouting, and looking up to the cliffs I saw
+some people waving frantically. "Come up quickly, or you'll be cut off,"
+they shouted.
+
+And I hurried along the sands, only just in time, for I had been so
+interested in Shin Shira's story that I had not noticed how the tide had
+been creeping up. I shall have a good look at that jewel in Shin Shira's
+turban next time I see him--and as for "the Bellows," I hardly know
+which explanation to accept, Shin Shira's or that of the guide.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. III
+
+THE MAGIC CARPET
+
+
+It was just at the end of the school term, and I had received a letter
+from my young cousin Lionel, who was at Marlborough, reminding me of my
+promise that he should spend a part at least of his holidays with me.
+
+"Mind you're at the station in time," he had said; "and, I say! please
+don't call me Lionel if there are any of our fellows about, it sounds so
+kiddish. Just call me Sutcliffe, and I'll call you sir--as you're so
+old--like we do the masters. Oh yes! and there's something I want you to
+buy for me, very particularly--it's for my study. I've got a study this
+term, and I share it with a fellow named Gammage. He's an awfully good
+egg!"
+
+"What extraordinary language schoolboys do manage to get hold of," I
+thought as I re-read the letter while bowling along in the cab on my
+way to the station, which, a very few minutes later, came in sight, the
+platform being crowded with parents, relatives and friends waiting to
+meet the train by which so many Marlburians were travelling.
+
+There was a shriek from an engine, and a rattle and clatter outside the
+station, as the train, every window filled with boys' excited faces,
+came dashing up to the platform.
+
+"There's my people!" "There's Tom!" "Hi! hi! Here I am!" "There's the
+pater with the trap!" "Hooray!" To the accompaniment of a babel of cries
+like these, and amidst an excited scramble of half-wild schoolboys, I
+at last discovered my small cousin.
+
+"There he is!" he said, pointing me out to a young friend who was with
+him; and coming up he hurriedly offered his hand.
+
+"How are you, _Sutcliffe_?" I asked, remembering his letter.
+
+"All right, thanks," he replied. "This is Gammage. I wanted to show you
+to him. He wouldn't believe I had a cousin as old as you are. See,
+Gammage?"
+
+Gammage looked at me and nodded. "'Bye, Sutcliffe; good-bye, sir," said
+he, raising his hat to me and hurrying off to his "people."
+
+"I say! don't forget the rug, Sutcliffe!" he bawled over his shoulder
+before finally disappearing.
+
+"Oh no! I say, sir! _That's_ what I want to ask you about," said
+Sutcliffe, scrambling into the taxi, and settling himself down with a
+little nod of satisfaction.
+
+"What?" I inquired, as we bowled out of the station.
+
+"Why, a rug for my--our--study," said the boy. "Gammage has bought no
+end of things to make our room comfortable, and they've sent me up some
+pictures and chairs and things from home--and--it would be awfully
+decent of you if you'd buy me a rug to put in front of the fire-place.
+It's rather cheek to ask, but you generally give me something when I
+come over to see you, and I arranged with Gammage to say I'd rather have
+that than anything. What sort of a shop do you get rugs at? Couldn't we
+get it on our way now, and then it would be done with? I might forget to
+ask you about it later on."
+
+"What sort of a rug do you want?" I asked, as the taxi turned into
+Tottenham Court Road.
+
+"Oh, I don't know, sir. Any sort of an ordinary kind of rug will do.
+There's some in that window; one of those would do."
+
+I stopped the taxi and we got out. The window was filled with Oriental
+rugs and carpets, and a card in their midst stated that they were "a
+recent consignment of genuine old goods direct from Arabia."
+
+"Oh, they're too expensive, I expect," I remarked, as we stood amongst a
+small crowd of people in front of the window, "those Oriental rugs are
+generally so--"
+
+But Sutcliffe suddenly nudged my arm, and, with an amused twinkle in his
+eye, called my attention to a remarkable little figure standing beside
+him, dressed in an extraordinary yellow costume, and wearing a turban.
+
+"Why! bless me! It's Shin Shira!" I exclaimed. "I hadn't noticed you
+before."
+
+"No," said the Yellow Dwarf, "I've only just appeared. How very strange
+meeting you here!"
+
+I told him what we were doing, and introduced my young cousin, who was
+greatly interested and somewhat awe-struck at the extraordinary little
+personage in the Oriental costume, whose remarkable appearance was
+causing quite a sensation amongst the bystanders.
+
+"Oh, these rugs," he said, looking at them casually. "No, I don't fancy
+they are much good for your purpose, they seem to be too--hullo!" he
+suddenly cried excitedly, "what's that? Good gracious! I really believe
+it's--Why, yes! I'm sure of it! I recognise it quite well by the
+pattern. There's not another in the world like it. How could it possibly
+have got here?"
+
+"What _are_ you talking about?" I asked.
+
+"Why, this carpet," cried Shin Shira, pointing excitedly to a very
+quaint-looking Oriental rug in the corner of the window. "It's the Magic
+Carpet which everybody has read about in the _Arabian Nights_. It
+enables anybody in whose possession it is to travel anywhere they
+wish--surely you must have heard about it."
+
+"No!" cried Lionel, his eyes sparkling with eagerness, "not really? Oh,
+sir! Do--_do_ please buy it--it will be simply ripping! Do! do! Why, it
+will be better than an aeroplane."
+
+I had never in my life before seen my cousin so excited about anything.
+
+"I should certainly advise you to purchase it," whispered Shin Shira.
+"It is a very valuable rug, and no doubt you would find it very useful
+in many ways."
+
+I must confess to a considerable amount of curiosity myself as we
+entered the shop and asked to be shown the carpet which Shin Shira
+declared to be endued with such remarkable properties.
+
+It was a very handsome one, and the shopkeeper showed it to us with a
+considerable amount of pride.
+
+"It's a genuine article, sir," he told me. "Came over only last week
+from Arabia in a special parcel purchased by our agent in Baghdad--I
+believe it's very old. These foreigners know how to make things which
+will last."
+
+I inquired the price, and hesitated considerably when I found that it
+was far in excess of the amount I had intended to pay for a rug.
+
+However, Lionel seemed so very eager, and Shin Shira assured me so
+positively that it was really a bargain, that, with a sigh at what I
+feared was a great piece of extravagance on my part, I took out my purse
+and paid for it. "To where shall I send it?" inquired the shopkeeper.
+
+"Let's ride home on it and save the cab fare," whispered Shin Shira,
+pulling me down to his level by my sleeve.
+
+"Good gracious!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Why not? It will be the quickest way home, and certainly the least
+expensive," persuaded the little Yellow Dwarf.
+
+"But--but--" I protested.
+
+Shin Shira had already spread the carpet on the ground, and pulling
+Lionel on to it, beckoned me to follow.
+
+Half mechanically I obeyed his instructions, and had no sooner sat down
+on it, cross-legged, as I saw that Shin Shira and Lionel were doing,
+than the little Yellow Dwarf cried out something in a language which I
+supposed to be Arabic--and immediately we began to rise into the air.
+
+[Illustration: "We floated away over the roofs of the houses."]
+
+I shall never forget the expression of dismay on the countenance of the
+shopkeeper and his assistants, when they saw us slowly floating in the
+air towards the door.
+
+"Open it! open it, somebody!" shouted Shin Shira, and a
+bewildered-looking customer who had just entered instinctively pulled
+the handle. Before we knew where we were, we found ourselves out in the
+open air with a shouting, gesticulating, excited crowd watching us as we
+rose higher and higher, and floated away over the roofs of the houses.
+
+The sensation, I must admit, was a pleasant one, and, despite a slight
+feeling of nervousness (which, however, young Sutcliffe did not appear
+to share), I quite enjoyed the journey to my flat.
+
+There were, fortunately, but very few people about, and we arrived at
+the door without attracting much attention.
+
+One nervous old lady, at whose feet we descended somewhat suddenly, did
+threaten to call the police--saying rather angrily that "What with
+motor-cars and such-like," she "didn't know what we were a-coming to,
+and it wasn't safe for a respectable lady to walk about the streets,
+what with one thing and another."
+
+I managed, however, to soothe her ruffled feelings, and, rolling the rug
+up carefully, we went up to the flat. I threw myself into a chair in the
+study, thoroughly tired out and not a little bewildered by the strange
+events of the morning.
+
+Lionel, however, was full of excitement, and eager to be off again for a
+ride on the marvellous Magic Carpet.
+
+"I say! you know! but it's the rippingest thing I've ever heard of. Why,
+we'll be able to go anywhere. Just think what an awful lot we'll save in
+railway fares and cabs and those sort of things. I suppose anybody can
+use it?" he inquired, turning to Shin Shira.
+
+"Oh yes, of course," declared the little Yellow Dwarf, "so long as you
+say, out loud, where you want to go to."
+
+"Oh! Do let's go out again--just for a little while," pleaded Lionel.
+"Can't we go to Gammage's? He lives over at Wimbledon. It's quite easy
+to get to, and it won't take long. We could be back to lunch, and I
+should _so_ like him to see the Magic Carpet. Do come, sir."
+
+"No," I replied, shaking my head, "I'm too tired. You two can go if you
+like, only be back in an hour and a half."
+
+"Oh, jolly!" cried Lionel. "Come on, please--let's start at once."
+
+And he picked up the carpet under his arm.
+
+"I think it would attract less attention if, instead of starting from
+the pavement, we went out of the window," said Shin Shira. "What do you
+say?"
+
+"By all means," I replied, "if you think best," for you see, having
+ridden on it myself, I felt perfectly safe in trusting my young cousin
+on the Magic Carpet, and I felt sure that Shin Shira would not let him
+come to any harm.
+
+So we opened the window, and a minute later the two were gaily floating
+away out of sight, both energetically waving their pocket-handkerchiefs
+until they disappeared.
+
+I could tell by the noise in the street that their strange method of
+conveyance was attracting considerable attention; but as I felt thankful
+to note, no one seemed to connect their appearance with my rooms.
+
+The next hour or so passed quickly enough, and I did not begin to get in
+the least anxious till I heard the clock strike two, and then I suddenly
+realised that they were over half-an-hour late.
+
+"Oh, they're all right," I consoled myself with thinking. "I expect
+Gammage is so interested in the wonderful carpet that they can't get
+away."
+
+When three hours had passed, however, and there was no sign of their
+return, I began to get seriously alarmed.
+
+"What can have happened?" I thought, and, to add to my discomfiture, a
+telegram arrived from Lionel's parents inquiring if he had arrived in
+London safely from Marlborough.
+
+I was able to reply, truthfully, that he _had_ arrived safely, but, as
+hour after hour passed by without any trace of either Shin Shira or the
+boy, I became more and more disturbed.
+
+At last I could stand it no longer, but putting on my hat, I hurried off
+to the nearest Police Station.
+
+"H'm! What do you say, sir?" said the Police Inspector whom I found
+there, seated before a large open book, when in a broken voice I had
+hurriedly explained that I feared that my young cousin was lost. "Went
+off in company with a foreign-looking gent--Just describe him to me,
+please, as near as you can."
+
+I described Shin Shira's appearance as accurately as I could, and the
+Police Inspector looked up hurriedly and gave me a searching glance.
+
+"Do you mean to say the gent was going about the streets dressed like
+_that_?" he asked, when I had told him about Shin Shira's yellow costume
+and turban.
+
+"Yes," I replied in some confusion, "he is a foreigner, you know, and--"
+
+"Where does he come from?"
+
+"From Japan, I think, or China, or--"
+
+"What's his name?"
+
+"Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hama is his full name, but--"
+
+The Police Inspector laid down his pen and stared again at me.
+
+"It's a curious name," said he; "I'll get you to write it down for me. I
+don't think I should be surprised at _anything_ happening to _anyone_
+with a name like that. Where do you say they were going?"
+
+"Well," I explained, "they set out to go to Wimbledon to see a--"
+
+"Wimbledon? Let's see, from Kensington they'd go by train I suppose,
+from High Street Station, and change at--"
+
+"No, no," I interrupted, "they didn't go by train at all, they--" and
+here I paused, for I suddenly reflected how exceedingly unlikely the
+Inspector would be to believe me if I told him exactly _how_ they set
+out for Wimbledon. "You see," I began by way of explanation, "I bought
+a rug this morning that--"
+
+"Excuse me, sir," said the Inspector somewhat impatiently, "would you
+mind keeping to the subject. How did Mr. Shin--er--the foreigner I mean,
+and your cousin go to Wimbledon? If they didn't go by train, did they
+drive or go by motor, or what?"
+
+"Well, I was trying to tell you. You see, I bought a rug this morning,
+that--"
+
+"I _don't_ want to hear about your rug, sir," said the Inspector quite
+angrily. "If you wish us to try and find the young gentleman you must
+answer my questions properly. How did he set out to go to Wimbledon?
+Come, come! Let's begin at the beginning. Which way did they turn when
+they left your door?"
+
+"You see, they didn't exactly leave by the door," I began.
+
+"How did they go then, out of the window?" asked the Inspector in a
+somewhat sarcastic voice.
+
+"Yes," I replied, "that's just how they did go."
+
+The Inspector looked bewildered.
+
+"Look here, sir," he said at last, "you told me when you gave me your
+name and address that you lived in a flat at Kensington on the second
+floor, and now you tell me that your cousin and a foreign gentleman
+with an outlandish name and dressed like a Guy Fawkes, left your house
+by the window. Really!"
+
+"So they _did_," I explained; "you see, I bought a rug this morning
+that--"
+
+"_Bother_ the rug, sir!" shouted the Inspector, angrily throwing down
+his pen.
+
+"If you _won't_ listen to what I have to say," I said with some amount
+of dignity, "how can I possibly tell you what I know? I am
+_endeavouring_ to explain that my cousin and the gentleman left in a
+very remarkable manner by means of a Magic Carpet, which--"
+
+"Excuse me, sir," said the Inspector, getting up from his seat and
+showing me the door, "it strikes me that it's a lunatic asylum you want
+and not a Police Station. I haven't any time to waste with people who
+come here with stories like that. Good-evening!" And he shut the door,
+leaving me outside on the step.
+
+I went to several other stations, and finally to Scotland Yard, but I
+could get no one to believe my extraordinary story; and at last I went
+to bed quite bewildered and in a terribly anxious frame of mind, leaving
+the lights burning and the windows wide open in case the wanderers
+returned during the night.
+
+The next day, not hearing any news, I was obliged to telegraph for
+Lionel's father and mother; and I had a terrible scene with them, for
+they reproached me over and over again for letting their son venture out
+upon the Magic Carpet.
+
+"You must have known," said my aunt tearfully, "that it was dangerous to
+trust to such heathenish and out-of-date methods of travelling, and now
+the poor dear boy is probably transformed or bewitched, or done
+something terrible to by this wretched Yellow Dwarf friend of yours,
+with the awful name. It's really disgraceful of you to have let him go
+at all!"
+
+And so, amid the most bitter reproaches, although I left no stone
+unturned in my hopeless search for Lionel and Shin Shira, several days
+flew by, till one morning I nearly leaped from my chair in surprise and
+delight, at seeing the following report in the paper--
+
+
+     "EXTRAORDINARY RESCUE AT SEA
+
+     "By Marconigram comes a message from mid-ocean that two days ago
+     the S.S. _Ruby_, from Liverpool to New York, picked up at sea,
+     under extraordinary circumstances, an English school-boy who
+     states that he was travelling by means of a Magic Carpet, which he
+     was unable to manage. He was found to be in a state of complete
+     exhaustion, but has since recovered, and appears to be a lively,
+     intelligent lad. He will be landed at New York."
+
+
+It is needless to say that my uncle and myself lost no time in putting
+ourselves in communication with the steamship people, and of course
+found that the rescued lad was no other than Lionel.
+
+His father and I crossed over by the next boat, and found him happy and
+well and being made a tremendous fuss of by everybody at the hotel where
+we had arranged for him to stay till our arrival.
+
+"Of course," he explained in telling us all about it, "everything went
+all right at first, and we went to Gammage's house in no time, but he
+was out. We landed in the garden, and nobody saw us, and I went up to
+the front door and knocked, and when I found Gammage wasn't at home I
+just went back to Shin Shira and asked where else we could go, because I
+didn't want to go home so soon.
+
+"'How would you like to go over to France?' he said; 'we could do it in
+about twenty minutes.'
+
+"So of course I said yes, and we were crossing the Channel all right
+when he suddenly began to disappear.
+
+"You can guess I was in an awful funk when I found myself alone on the
+beastly old carpet, and I couldn't manage it at all. I suppose it was
+because I couldn't speak the language; Shin Shira used Arabic or
+something, wasn't it? I tried all sorts of things too, a little bit of
+French--you know, 'Avez-vous la plume de ma soeur?' and 'Donnez-moi du
+pain,' and things like that out of my French exercises, but it didn't
+do any good: we only went out to sea.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"It was frightfully cold all night, and I couldn't sleep at all, and I
+began to get awfully hungry; but the next morning about eleven o'clock I
+began to descend very slowly and gradually down to the sea. I thought I
+was going to be drowned, but fortunately just before I touched the water
+they saw me from the _Ruby_, and sent a boat out to pick me up.
+Everybody was awfully decent on board, and I had plenty of grub and
+changed my clothes. A fellow who was going over with his people lent me
+his while mine were being dried.
+
+"Then when I got to New York your cable message was there waiting for
+me, so I knew it was all right."
+
+We were very thankful to have found the boy again, and within three
+weeks we were happily home once more, and the adventure with the Magic
+Carpet was a thing of the past.
+
+The carpet itself was left floating out at sea, and from that day to
+this I have not heard of it again.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. IV
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE DUCHESS
+
+
+It all began with the collar-stud--at least I put it down at that.
+
+You see, I was dressing rather nervously to go to a charity "At Home" at
+the Duchess of Kingslake's. I had not met the lady previously, but some
+young friends of mine had been invited to the "At Home," and they had
+persuaded the Duchess to ask me too.
+
+I do not know many titled people, and had never before visited a real
+live Duchess, so I was just telling myself that I must really be on my
+very best behaviour, and above all, that I must not be late in arriving.
+The card had mentioned "4 to 6.30," and it was past three o'clock now.
+
+I was just struggling to fix my collar, which was rather stiff and
+tight, when suddenly the stud popped out and rolled away to--where?
+
+Down I got on my hands and knees, and groped about in every direction
+that I could think of. I lit a candle, and searched in every available
+hiding-place; but no--no collar-stud could be anywhere found.
+
+And the time was going on. I rang the bell for Mrs. Putchy, my
+housekeeper.
+
+"Please, Mrs. Putchy, send at once to the nearest hosier's and buy me a
+plain collar-stud, and kindly ask Mary to get back as quickly as
+possible. I am expecting the cab every moment."
+
+"It is at the door, sir," said Mrs. Putchy; "and I don't know, I'm sure,
+where Mary will be able to get a collar-stud for you to-day. This is
+Thursday, you know, sir, early closing day."
+
+Too true. It was indeed _most_ unfortunate. In my neighbourhood all the
+shops close at two o'clock Thursdays, and it would have been as easy to
+buy a collar-stud as an elephant at Kensington just then.
+
+What was to be done?
+
+A sudden inspiration struck me.
+
+I ran across to the study, and undoing my desk, I found a little
+yellow-covered book attached to a golden chain which I had picked up
+just after my friend Shin Shira had vanished the last time he had
+visited me.
+
+It was the book which the fairies had given him, and contained
+directions as to what to do when in any difficulty. I hurriedly turned
+to the letter C, intending to look for "collar-stud"--but, to my great
+disappointment, there was no such word to be found.
+
+"Of course not," I suddenly thought; "the people who live in the land
+from which Shin Shira comes don't wear such things," and I let my mind
+wander back to my little friend with his yellow silk costume and turban.
+
+"Hullo! though," I exclaimed a moment later, "what's this?"
+
+My eyes had caught the words "_To obtain your wishes_" at the top of one
+of the pages.
+
+I hastily read what followed, and gathered from what was written that
+_anybody_ could have at least _two_ wishes granted by the fairies if he
+only went about it in the right way and followed the given directions
+closely. It appeared that one must hop round three times, first on one
+foot and then on the other, repeating the following words aloud, and
+wishing very hard--
+
+     "Fairies! fairies! grant my wishes,
+       You can do so if you will,
+     Birds and beasts and little fishes
+       One and all obey you still.
+     Fairies! Please to show me how
+       You can grant my wishes _now_."
+
+Of course _I_ immediately wished for a collar-stud, and I was just
+hopping round on my right leg for the third time, having begun with the
+left one, when Mrs. Putchy entered the room.
+
+She looked rather surprised at seeing me engaged in what must have
+seemed to her rather an extraordinary occupation, but she is so used to
+strange things happening with me that she made no remark, except to
+point to a spot just in front of the fire-place, where, to my great
+surprise, I could see the very collar-stud which I had wanted.
+
+"Extraordinary!" I exclaimed, as I picked it up. "I could have declared
+that it was not there a minute ago, for as you know, Mrs. Putchy, I
+searched everywhere for it."
+
+"The cabman, sir, is getting impatient," said Mrs. Putchy, as she put
+down my coat and hat which she had thoughtfully brought to my room.
+
+"Well, we won't keep him waiting long now," I smilingly said as I
+hurriedly completed my dressing, and a very few minutes later, the cab
+was quickly bowling me towards my destination.
+
+The mansion near Grosvenor Square, at which the Duchess resided, was a
+very grand one, and red carpet was laid down the steps and across the
+pavement for the convenience of the guests, who were arriving in large
+numbers at the same time as myself. Fortunately, just inside the hall I
+met my little friends the Verrinder children; Vera, the little girl,
+looking very pretty in her white party frock; and her two brothers, Dick
+and Fidge, full of excitement and high spirits.
+
+They fastened on me at once and dragged me most unceremoniously up to
+our hostess, who it appears was Vera's godmother, and introduced me in
+their own fashion.
+
+"This is the gentleman who tells stories, godmamma," said Vera.
+
+"And knows all about the Wallypug and the Dodo and Shin Shira, and all
+sorts of things," declared Dick.
+
+"And if you ask him--" began Fidge, when the Duchess interrupted him.
+
+"Really, children, you mustn't rattle on so. I am very pleased to meet
+your friend, and I trust that he will have an enjoyable afternoon," and
+the lady smiled graciously and held out the tips of her fingers for me
+to shake.
+
+I bowed as politely as I knew how, and, following the children, was soon
+in the large drawing-room, which was already half filled with young
+people who had come to the "At Home."
+
+It appeared that a very grand personage indeed was to be present. A real
+live Princess was coming to receive purses of money which the children
+had collected themselves, on behalf of the poor and sick in the East-end
+of London; and, after the purses had been given, there was to be a kind
+of concert and entertainment.
+
+Footmen were walking about with tea and cakes of all sorts, and the time
+passed very pleasantly, till presently there was a commotion at the
+door, and Her Royal Highness the Princess entered and was led to the end
+of the room, where a tiny little girl presented a beautiful bouquet of
+flowers.
+
+The Princess made a gracious little speech, saying how glad she was to
+come on behalf of the poor people to receive the purses of money which
+the children had collected; and then as they passed up one by one and
+laid their purses on the silver tray beside her, she had a smile and a
+little happy nod for each of them.
+
+It was a very pretty sight, but soon over, for the Princess, who is
+devoted to good works, had to hurry away to another work of charity in a
+distant part of London.
+
+We were all sorry when she went, but were not allowed to get dull, for
+almost immediately afterwards the concert began.
+
+Several ladies and gentlemen sang, and a wonderful boy-pianist played
+some music of his own composing; a little girl played the violin
+delightfully; and a very humorous gentleman was giving a musical sketch
+at the piano and making us all laugh very much, when I suddenly noticed
+that the Duchess, who was sitting by herself on a settee, had raised her
+lorgnette and was staring curiously, and rather apprehensively, at
+something beside her.
+
+It was yellow in colour and seemed to grow larger every minute. I had
+imagined at first that it was a cushion, but now it suddenly occurred to
+me that it was Shin Shira appearing.
+
+Of course! and a minute or two later there he sat, cross-legged,
+composedly fanning himself on the settee beside the Duchess.
+
+I could see her draw her skirts aside and regard the little Yellow Dwarf
+in a puzzled and bewildered manner; and, as soon as the musical sketch
+was concluded, she called one of the footmen to her and told him to
+"remove that extraordinary-looking person immediately."
+
+Vera and the boys, however, had caught sight of Shin Shira, and flew
+forward to claim acquaintance with him.
+
+"It's Shin Shira, you know, godmamma. He's a friend of the gentleman
+who came with us--and--"
+
+"He was not invited," said the Duchess, looking with great disfavour at
+the little Yellow Dwarf, "and it was exceedingly impertinent of your
+friend to bring him without an invitation--I am displeased."
+
+"Madam," said Shin Shira, getting down to the floor and bowing low in
+the Oriental manner, "you are mistaken in thinking that I came with a
+friend. I--er--appeared, because I was _obliged_ to do so--I--"
+
+The Duchess came over to where I was sitting.
+
+"_Do_ you know this person?" she inquired, pointing with her glasses
+towards Shin Shira. "Who and what is he? Did you bring him here, and if
+so why?"
+
+"I am acquainted with the gentleman, Duchess," I admitted, "but he did
+not come with me. I can tell you, however, that now he is here he can be
+made very useful in entertaining your guests--he is a conjurer of very
+remarkable powers, and I've no doubt whatever but that he would be only
+too happy to exercise them for the amusement of the company."
+
+"That is a different matter," said the Duchess, evidently somewhat
+mollified. "You may introduce me."
+
+I went to fetch Shin Shira, and had soon performed the necessary
+ceremony.
+
+"The Duchess would be very much obliged if you would perform some
+conjuring tricks, as I know you will do with pleasure," I whispered.
+
+"Delighted, I'm sure," replied the little Yellow Dwarf; "that is one
+thing which I flatter myself I can do very well, owing to my fairy
+powers," and so it was arranged that he was to begin immediately.
+
+I cannot possibly tell you of all the wonderful things he showed us. He
+made flowers grow straight up from the carpet, and turned a gentleman's
+walking-stick into a kind of Christmas-tree, upon which hung a little
+present for every child in the room: a fan for each of the ladies, and a
+suitable gift for each of the gentlemen.
+
+This was a most popular trick, it is needless to say, and the numerous
+ladies and gentlemen who had by this time joined the party were as
+delighted as were the children themselves.
+
+Shin Shira had become quite a centre of attraction, and the Duchess
+smiled at me approvingly.
+
+"Your friend is a great acquisition," she remarked, coming over to the
+settee on which I was seated. "Look! look! whatever is he going to do
+now?"
+
+I was as interested and puzzled as herself, for, knowing of the
+extraordinary powers which my little friend possessed, I could never
+be sure what to expect from him in the way of the marvellous.
+
+[Illustration: "Shin Shira placed them in the Crystal Bowl."]
+
+This time it was really a most interesting trick.
+
+First of all he turned an inkstand into a large clear crystal bowl, and
+placed it on a little table which stood in front of him. Then he asked
+for anything to be given to him which the owner wished to disappear.
+
+Several gentlemen gave their watches, and one or two ladies laughingly
+took off their bracelets and handed them to Shin Shira, who immediately
+placed them in the crystal bowl.
+
+To our utter astonishment, each article as it was placed into the bowl
+vanished from sight, and Shin Shira turned the bowl upside down to show
+that nothing was inside.
+
+"It's really most marvellous," murmured the Duchess, taking off a most
+valuable diamond ornament and handing it to the Yellow Dwarf. "Please
+make this disappear too. I shall value it more highly than ever if I
+know that it has been through such a wonderful adventure."
+
+Shin Shira bowed, and taking the jewelled ornament from the lady, he
+dropped it into the bowl, where it at once shared the same fate as the
+other articles.
+
+"Ha! Hum!" said a grave and somewhat pompous voice, "our friend here
+might readily become a very dangerous person if he exercised his
+remarkable gifts in private, and made things disappear in this
+extraordinary fashion, and then refused to produce them again. Eh? Ha!
+Hum!"
+
+"Yes--ha! ha! very good. Ha! ha!" laughed a number of people who were
+standing near to the guest who had spoken.
+
+"That's the Lord Chief Justice," explained a gentleman who stood near
+me. "That's why everybody is laughing; it's considered very improper not
+to laugh when the Lord Chief Justice makes a joke--however feeble it
+is."
+
+I hardly listened to what he was saying, though, for I had suddenly
+noticed something which caused me a good deal of anxiety.
+
+Shin Shira was beginning to look very thin and vapoury about the head,
+and, while I was watching him, to my horror, he began to vanish
+piecemeal till he had entirely disappeared from sight, after giving me a
+strange, apologetic look.
+
+The people clapped and stamped and laughed, evidently imagining that it
+was all part of the trick--but I--_I_ knew differently, and scarcely
+dared realise what it all meant for me.
+
+For a few minutes everybody waited patiently for him to appear again,
+and clapped and stamped in great good humour. Presently, however, they
+began to get rather tired and impatient, and, after we had waited for
+about twenty minutes, the delay began to get very awkward.
+
+"Why doesn't he come back?" inquired the Duchess, in an impatient voice,
+coming over to where I was standing. "The delay is becoming very
+embarrassing."
+
+I turned very red, I am afraid, for I hardly liked to explain that the
+probability was that he would _not_ come back at all.
+
+"Several of my guests are wanting to go early, and they must have their
+jewellery before they depart," she continued. "Can you not tell him to
+hurry up?"
+
+"I--I--I--am--afraid n--not," I stammered.
+
+"But you _must_," insisted the lady. "He's your friend, and you brought
+him here, and I shall look to you to--"
+
+"Oh, Duchess! I'm sorry to interrupt your charming party, but will you
+please ask the clever little gentleman who made my diamond and ruby
+bracelet disappear if he would kindly return it, as I really must be
+going," said a lady, hurrying up. "And my emerald chain, dear Duchess."
+"And my gold and pearl locket," chimed in several other voices.
+
+"Yes, you simply must fetch him back somehow," said the Duchess,
+clutching my arm nervously. "You see my guests are beginning to get
+alarmed. You must!--you must!"
+
+"B-but I can't--it's impossible," I endeavoured to explain.
+
+The Duchess grew pale. "Do you mean to say," she gasped, "that the man
+has _really_ disappeared--and--and taken the things with him? It's too
+terrible--too dreadful! What _am_ I to do? And all my guests! What will
+they think of me? Oh! _Do--do_--do something! I don't mind so much about
+my beautiful diamond pendant, but do somehow get back the things
+belonging to my guests. You brought him here. You _must_!"
+
+The grown-up guests were whispering together in little anxious and
+indignant groups, and things were beginning to look very serious--so
+serious that I sank into a chair and buried my head in my hands, trying
+to think of some possible way out of the difficulty.
+
+The Duchess was almost in tears, and several ladies were trying to
+console her, when suddenly I thought of a means of escape. Of course!
+the wish! I had another wish left according to what the little book had
+told me. I had _wished_ for a collar-stud, and had found my own.
+_Perhaps_ if I wished for the jewellery--
+
+The thought no sooner entered my head than I jumped up and began hopping
+on one leg repeating--
+
+     "Fairies, fairies! grant my wishes,
+       You can do so if you will,
+     Birds and beasts and--"
+
+"Oh, he's mad, he's gone mad. Hold him, somebody!" cried the Duchess
+when she saw me hopping about in what must have appeared to her a _most_
+eccentric manner; but, though several gentlemen came up and caught hold
+of me, I managed to get round three times on one leg, and three times on
+the other, repeating the magic rhyme, and then I wished--_wished_ as
+hard as ever I could--for the jewellery to be found, before I sank down
+exhausted with my struggle.
+
+Then a most remarkable thing happened, for the gentleman who had been
+pointed out to me as the Lord Chief Justice, and who had apparently been
+more indignant than anyone else at the disappearance of the jewellery,
+suddenly began behaving in a very strange manner too, diving his hands
+first into one pocket and then into another and muttering--"Strange!
+remarkable! Most extraordinary!" and finally drawing out from every part
+of his clothing watches, chains, rings, bracelets and jewellery of all
+kinds, till _every_ missing article, including the Duchess's diamond
+pendant, was restored to its proper owner.
+
+There was a pause at first, and then everybody began to talk at
+once--laughing and protesting that "of course they all _knew_ it was
+part of the trick, and they weren't _really_ anxious at all," and so on,
+and I knew that the situation was saved.
+
+Even the Duchess beamed and admitted that it was "really _quite_ the
+most marvellous performance she had ever seen," and thanked me over and
+over again for having introduced such a remarkable conjurer to her
+party. The guests were all equally delighted, and amidst the laughter
+and chatter that followed, the Verrinder children and myself made good
+our escape, and I felt very thankful that the fairies' "wish" had got me
+out of what at one time bid fair to have been a very awkward
+predicament.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Duchess called on me the next day to thank me again, and to ask
+where she might write to my little friend to thank him also. This
+information, however, I was naturally unable to impart.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. V
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE LAME DUCK
+
+
+It was during the summer holidays and my young cousin Lionel was staying
+with me again. We had been spending the hot afternoon strolling about
+Kensington Gardens, and had just been enjoying a cup of tea and some
+cakes under the trees at the little refreshment place near the Albert
+Memorial.
+
+"I think we'd better be going home now," I said. "We'll get a motor-'bus
+at the gate."
+
+"Oh! must we go yet?" pleaded Lionel. "It's so jolly out here under the
+trees. Let's walk home past the Round Pond."
+
+"I've some letters to write before dinner," said I, "but--"
+
+"Oh, bother the old letters!" interrupted Lionel. "It won't take much
+longer to walk, and you'll get them done all right. Come on!"
+
+With a sigh of resignation, I not altogether unwillingly let the young
+scamp have his way.
+
+It was the best part of the day: the lengthening shadows and the cool
+breeze which had sprung up made walking very enjoyable.
+
+We had nearly reached the Round Pond when I heard a startled
+"squ-a-a-k!" at my feet, and a lame duck struggled up from the grass and
+limped painfully off.
+
+"Poor thing!" cried Lionel, who was a kind-hearted little chap. "You
+nearly trod on it. I wonder how it got to be lame."
+
+"Some boys," said an indistinct voice close at hand, "some boys threw a
+stone at it this afternoon and injured its leg."
+
+We looked round in great surprise, for there seemed to be nobody about
+to account for the voice; but presently I could just discern Shin
+Shira's face and yellow turban appearing.
+
+"Can't shake hands yet," said he, nodding amiably, "for they haven't
+arrived at present, but I've no doubt they'll be here shortly."
+
+"I wonder how he'd get on if he wanted to scratch his nose," whispered
+Lionel, who had a keen sense of the ridiculous.
+
+"It's rude to whisper in company," said Shin Shira severely, evidently
+aware that some remark had been made about himself--"but there, you're
+only a boy, and boys are--Hullo! here come my legs! that's all right! I
+thought I shouldn't have to wait long for them. Where are you off to?"
+and the little Yellow Dwarf hurried up to us now that he was quite
+complete.
+
+"Oh, we're just walking home," I replied, "only Lionel had a fancy to
+pass the Round Pond on our way; the little model yachts one often sees
+there are very amusing to watch."
+
+"Yes," agreed Shin Shira. "There's one been left behind to-day," he
+continued. "The boys who threw the stone at the duck were seen by the
+park keeper, and when he came after them they ran away, leaving their
+boat behind them. Serve them right if they lose it."
+
+"Oh, yes! There it is now!" cried Lionel, running towards the edge of
+the Round Pond. "What a jolly little yacht. Why, it's a perfect model,"
+and he regarded it with the greatest admiration. He took it from the
+water and inspected it carefully.
+
+"I say!" he cried excitedly, "wouldn't it be ripping if we could become
+small enough to go for a sail in it!"
+
+"It's a very simple matter to arrange, if you wish it," remarked Shin
+Shira composedly.
+
+"D-do you really m-mean that it would be possible for you to make us as
+tiny as that?" stammered Lionel in his eagerness, his eyes bright with
+excitement.
+
+"I couldn't do it, but the fairies might," said the Dwarf, taking up the
+little yellow book which I had restored to him after our last adventure.
+
+"But should we be able to return to our proper size again?" I inquired
+carefully, for I remembered from previous experience that Shin Shira's
+magical powers had an unfortunate habit of going wrong at times.
+
+"Without the least doubt," replied he; "in fact, from the time that you
+are reduced to the size which you desire to be, you very gradually
+increase, till your original size is reached."
+
+"Then there's no danger?" I hazarded.
+
+"None whatever," was the reassuring reply.
+
+"Then do, _do_ please let us be 'reduced,'" pleaded Lionel eagerly.
+
+"Very well, then," said I. "And do you propose that we should go for a
+trip in the model yacht?"
+
+"Of course!" declared Lionel.
+
+"Put it in the water then," said Shin Shira, "and I'll see what I can
+do."
+
+Lionel quickly put down the boat, and stood watching Shin Shira to see
+what would happen.
+
+The little Yellow Dwarf was busily gathering pebbles from the edge of
+the pond, examining each carefully, and then throwing them down again in
+what appeared to be an aimless and unintelligible manner.
+
+Presently, however, he said, "There's _one_," and putting a stone
+carefully away in his belt, he continued to search till he had found
+another like it.
+
+"And there's the other," he said, coming towards us.
+
+"Now then, all you have to do is to swallow these two little white
+stones and wish to be--let's see--an inch and a quarter high, and there
+you are."
+
+"It seems rather a venturesome proceeding," I said, hesitatingly.
+
+"Oh no! it'll be all right! Come along! Let's swallow them!" cried
+Lionel, suiting the action to the word and popping one of the stones
+into his mouth without further ado.
+
+He immediately became so small that I had some difficulty in seeing him
+at all amongst the stones at the edge of the Pond.
+
+"Are you not going to swallow one of the stones too?" I inquired of the
+Dwarf before swallowing mine.
+
+"No, I think not," was the reply. "I'll remain as I am, I think, in
+case you may require assistance of a kind which only a larger person
+than yourself could afford."
+
+I then swallowed my stone, and immediately became almost as tiny as my
+small cousin, having, for my part, wished to be reduced to the height of
+an inch and a half, thinking that _some_ sort of distinction ought to be
+preserved in our relative sizes.
+
+"There!" exclaimed Lionel in a vexed voice, when I had joined him. "It's
+no use after all! How on earth are we going to get on board?"
+
+"Ah!" cried Shin Shira, laughing good-humouredly and now looking, to us,
+like a good-natured giant, towering as he did high above our heads.
+"_Now_ you see the wisdom of my having remained as I am. I can simply
+lift you on board and push the boat off for you too."
+
+Suiting the action to the word, he very gently and carefully picked up
+first Lionel and then me from the ground and placed us on board the
+yacht, then gave the boat a little shove which, though he didn't intend
+it to do so, sent us both sprawling on the deck and the boat itself well
+out into the water.
+
+I think I have mentioned that a slight breeze had sprung up, and the
+Pond was rippled over with tiny waves, upon which our yacht danced
+merrily, the sails having filled out with wind which drove her along at
+a fine rate.
+
+Lionel was running all over the deck examining everything eagerly.
+
+"I wish there was a real cabin," he said; "this is only a dummy one, and
+I find a lot of the ropes to the sails won't act properly. I wonder how
+you steer the thing, too."
+
+"By means of the rudder, I should imagine," I said.
+
+"Of course!" exclaimed Lionel impatiently; "any baby would know that;
+but this one is fastened up so tightly that I can't move it."
+
+"Well, never mind," said I, "it is evidently set in the right direction;
+for see, we are heading straight across the Pond, and there's Shin Shira
+walking round to be there to meet us when we go ashore," and I settled
+myself down comfortably to enjoy the pleasant trip.
+
+"Hullo! Look at that!" cried Lionel a moment or two later, pointing to
+the shore.
+
+The lame duck had been disturbed by Shin Shira's passing, and was slowly
+waddling towards the water.
+
+"She's coming in!" declared Lionel. "By Jove! doesn't she look a size
+now we're so tiny!"
+
+The boy was right, for, to us, the duck now appeared a formidable
+monster of strange and uncouth shape. Her bill, as she came quacking
+into the water, opened and shut in an alarming manner, revealing the
+fact that, if she desired to do so, she could make a meal of us at one
+gulp.
+
+Somewhat to our dismay, she seemed impelled by some vague curiosity to
+swim in our direction, and the situation began to get distinctly
+alarming as she drew nearer and nearer.
+
+"What on earth shall we do?" exclaimed Lionel. "I hope to goodness she
+isn't going to attack us. It would be too silly to be swallowed by a
+duck."
+
+"I fancy she's only coming to have a look at us," I said, "and at any
+rate, if we shouted at her loudly if she came too near it would probably
+frighten her away."
+
+This seemed to be the only thing to do, and as the duck continued to
+swim directly towards us we both began to shout and wave our arms about
+in what must have appeared to Shin Shira a perfectly mad fashion.
+
+The noise, however, seemed to have the desired effect, for the duck
+paused, looked at us in a puzzled manner for a moment, and then turned
+tail and began moistening her bill in the water, lifting her head and
+shaking it after each mouthful, as their habit is.
+
+"I wish she'd get out of the way," said Lionel anxiously. "We shall run
+into her directly, she's right in our course," and he began to shout
+vigorously again, in the hope of startling her.
+
+I added my voice to his, and we both yelled our loudest, with not the
+slightest effect, however, for the duck continued unconcernedly to enjoy
+herself in her own fashion in the middle of the lake. Presently what
+Lionel had feared came to pass, and with a bump which sent us both off
+our feet, the yacht was driven straight on to the duck, which gave a
+terrific "Quack!" and swam off in a hurry.
+
+"Our bowsprit's broken," announced Lionel, directly he had recovered his
+feet, "and it's fallen in the water and is dragging the sails with
+it--and--look out!" This as a gust of wind filled the mainsail and
+caused the boat to careen over on to her side in a highly dangerous
+manner.
+
+"Look out!" and this time another and a stronger gust completed the
+matter, and the sail touched the water and immediately became saturated,
+so that the boat could not right itself.
+
+"Well, we shan't sink, that's one thing," I said, for Lionel was looking
+at me in an alarmed manner. "The water cannot get into the hull, thanks
+to there not being a 'real' cabin and the hatches only being sham ones."
+
+"That's all very well," said Lionel, though giving a little sigh of
+relief at my reassuring words, "but we can't stop here for ever. I
+should like to know how we are to get ashore."
+
+Shin Shira, who had seen our accident, was shouting and gesticulating at
+the edge of the Pond, but the wind was blowing in his direction and
+carried the sound of his voice away from us, so that we couldn't hear a
+single word of what he was saying.
+
+"I suppose eventually we shall drift ashore," I said hopefully.
+
+"Yes, but not for hours and hours perhaps," said Lionel dolefully,
+"because the wind may change, you know, and besides it's getting dusk."
+
+"It certainly isn't a very pleasant look-out," I agreed. "I can't see
+what we are to do, unless--I say! what's that big box floating towards
+us?"
+
+Lionel looked in the direction in which I was pointing.
+
+"It's an empty match-box," he said uninterestedly; "that's no good."
+
+"I'm not so sure about that," said I. "Try and get hold of it as it
+drifts this way. I've an idea."
+
+"I can't see what good an empty match-box can be to us," grumbled
+Lionel, doing his best, however, to aid me in capturing the prize as it
+blew against the side of the overturned yacht, which we at last did with
+some difficulty.
+
+It was a very large box and had evidently been in the water for some
+time; the paper around it had become unstuck from the sides and hung
+loose in the water beside it.
+
+"We must get the paper at all cost, and pray be careful not to tear it,"
+I cried.
+
+"Whatever for?" asked Lionel in amazement.
+
+"Do as you're told and don't ask questions," I replied rather crossly,
+for I was very anxious to try an experiment which I had in my mind. So
+we hauled the paper aboard and stretched it on the bulwarks to dry.
+
+Then we hauled the broken bowsprit aboard and freed it from the broken
+ropes with our pen-knives--a long and difficult job--and by the time we
+had finished, the paper which had been around the box had become dry and
+quite stiff by reason of the gum with which it had been stuck to the
+sides of the box.
+
+"Oh, I see!" cried Lionel, as I clambered on to the box (which was
+fastened by a rope to the side of the yacht) and began to cut a hole in
+the middle. "You're going to make a raft."
+
+"I'm going to try to," I answered grimly, for I wasn't at all sure that
+my experiment would be a success.
+
+By dint of real hard work, cutting and contriving, however, we did
+eventually succeed in making a raft of a sort, the stiff paper, fixed to
+the broken bowsprit, making a capital sail; and somewhat in fear and
+trembling, we both got aboard and pushed off from the derelict yacht.
+
+All went well for some time till we were nearing the shore, and then I
+noticed something which caused me grave alarm.
+
+We were both growing rapidly! The raft, which had before been quite
+large enough to support us, was now low down in the water with our
+weight, and there was great danger of the water getting into the inside
+of the box, in which case it would undoubtedly sink.
+
+Lionel noticed the difficulty at the same time as myself, for he gave me
+a startled glance.
+
+"We're getting bigger," he said. "Do you think the raft will hold out?"
+
+"I don't think so," I replied, "but we're quite near the water's edge
+now--perhaps I could swim ashore with you."
+
+"Good gracious! I can swim twice that distance myself, thank you. Why, I
+beat Mullings Major hollow in the swimming competition last term, and
+he's four years older than me, and--"
+
+Whatever Lionel was going to add was lost, for at that instant he had to
+put his boasted prowess to the test. The box, having filled with water
+just as I had feared it would do, sank slowly down, and we were left in
+the water.
+
+Fortunately Lionel's boast was not a vain one, and he reached the shore
+before I did, laughing and wringing the water out of his clothes.
+
+"Well, it's good to be on dry land once more at any rate," he said, as
+I waded ashore, "isn't it?"
+
+"Yes," I agreed, looking about to see if I could discover any traces of
+Shin Shira in the dusk.
+
+"There he is!" at last cried Lionel, "but his head has vanished, and
+there are only his legs and arms waving about. _They_ won't be much use
+to us, and--by Jove! yes! Look, here comes that wretched old duck after
+us. We'll have to cut," and he gathered up his things and set the
+example.
+
+It was quite true; the old duck had evidently come to the conclusion
+that we were something dainty to eat--in the frog line probably--and was
+waddling towards us as quickly as her game leg would allow.
+
+Fortunately we were soon able to out-distance her; and having fixed our
+latitude by Kensington Palace, which we could just see in the distance,
+we set out for the gate.
+
+To our tiny, but rapidly growing bodies the distance seemed an
+interminable one, especially as darkness was now quickly falling. We
+could see the lights in Kensington, but they seemed far, far away; and
+to add to our dismay, when at last, tired and exhausted, we did reach
+the gate, it was only to find it closed for the night, and that during
+our journey from the Pond we had grown too big to be able to squeeze
+through the railings.
+
+We waited a few minutes uncertain what to do, till presently a cab came
+in sight, the horse walking leisurely and the cabby evidently on the
+look-out for a fare.
+
+"Cabby! cabby!" I called, and Lionel added his shrill voice to mine.
+
+The cabman looked about in bewilderment.
+
+"Here, by the Park gates!" I yelled, and he got down from his seat and
+came over to where we were standing.
+
+"Well, I'm blowed!" he exclaimed when he had had a good look at us.
+"What the Dickens are you? Kids or dwarfs or what?"
+
+"Never mind what we are, cabby; get us out of here somehow, and drive us
+home to Kensington Square, and I'll give you a sovereign."
+
+"Will you, though?" said the cabby. "Well, I'm gaun to do it, but the
+question is--how? I'll go and knock up the park keeper."
+
+"No, no, don't do that!" I said hastily. "He'll want such a lot of
+explanations, and we're wet and uncomfortable and anxious to get home.
+Do please try and think of some way of getting us out without having to
+call him."
+
+Our cabby was a man of resource, for having considered for a moment, he
+backed the horse close against the gate, stood on the top and lowered
+the horse's nosebag by means of a long rope which he kept by him in case
+of emergencies, and cried--
+
+"Now then, get in there, one at a time, and I'll soon have you over
+here."
+
+Lionel got in first, and as the cabby had said, was easily hauled up and
+deposited on the top of the cab.
+
+I followed, and in a very short space of time we were both inside the
+cab and rattling home at a good pace.
+
+I got the cabby to knock at the door, and Mrs. Putchy, to whom I quickly
+explained everything, gave him a sovereign for me. In a very few minutes
+Lionel and I were warm and comfortable each in our respective beds.
+
+In the morning we had both grown to our original sizes, and the
+adventure of the day before was nothing but a memory.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. VI
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE DIAMOND
+
+
+I was exceedingly surprised a few weeks after our latest adventure with
+the little Yellow Dwarf to receive the following extraordinary letter
+from him. It was dated from Baghdad, and bore two very unusual postage
+stamps, which Lionel promptly claimed for his collection.
+
+
+     "Kind and obliging Sir," it began, "I am in great and serious
+     trouble and in danger of my life, and I appeal to you to come to
+     my assistance by the first boat. I will explain everything when
+     we meet, but kindly do not delay, as everything depends upon your
+     presence here.
+
+        "Again beseeching you not to delay,
+           "Your miserable and much-afflicted friend,
+              "SHIN SHIRA SCARAMANGA MANOUSA
+                          YAMA HAWA.
+
+
+     "P.S.--Inquire for me at the State Prison, Baghdad."
+
+
+"Well!" I exclaimed, after perusing this remarkable epistle, "of all the
+extraordinary requests I have ever received this is the strangest. This
+man, whom I have only met at the most half-a-dozen times in my life,
+expects me to neglect my work and rush off to Baghdad, of all places in
+the world, to his assistance, because he has got into some trouble which
+has landed him in the State Prison there. I always thought somehow that
+those uncanny powers which he possesses would get him into serious
+difficulties at some time or another. I'll send him a letter stating
+that I cannot go to him." And here I endeavoured to dismiss Shin Shira
+and his affairs from my mind.
+
+I was so worried about the matter, however, that I couldn't settle to
+work, so I lit my pipe and settled myself in my easy-chair to think the
+matter out.
+
+Poor little fellow! If he really was in such desperate straits it seemed
+very heartless to leave him to his fate if in any way I could be of real
+assistance to him; and, after all, I could work almost as well while I
+was away as I could at home, and the voyage would probably give me
+plenty of new ideas for my book. I thought of all the kind things the
+little chap had done for me, and how he had always somehow come to the
+rescue when I had been in difficulties in my adventures with him; and
+finally I came to the conclusion that it would be most ungrateful and
+selfish of me if I let anything stand in the way of my going to my
+friend's assistance.
+
+I had no sooner made up my mind on this point than I called a cab and
+set out at once for Messrs. Cook's office and booked a passage by the
+next steamer.
+
+I will not tell you anything about the somewhat uninteresting journey
+either by sea or land, with the exception that when I at last stepped
+ashore in an Oriental port, I found in the curious costumes and strange
+surroundings many things to amuse me and to wonder at.
+
+The entire journey on the whole, however, was decidedly tedious, and I
+was very glad to find myself at last in the ancient city of Baghdad.
+
+I went at once to the British Consul there and told him my object in
+coming to the city.
+
+"Shin Shira!" he exclaimed. "Why, there is scarcely anything talked
+about in these days but Shin Shira. He has stolen one of the most
+valuable crown jewels, and was caught with it in his possession.
+Despite the indisputable evidence against him, however, he persists in
+declaring his innocence, and pleads that, with the assistance of a
+friend from London, he can prove it conclusively. I suppose, sir, that
+you are the friend from London."
+
+I told him that I was, and that I was deeply grieved to hear of the
+trouble that Shin Shira was in, and that I felt convinced that there was
+some mistake in the matter which could somehow or other be cleared up.
+
+"I should be very glad to think so," said the Consul, shaking his head,
+"but I fear it is hopeless. You see, the stone--an almost priceless
+diamond--was actually found in his possession. But come, you will be
+anxious to see your friend as soon as possible. I will come with you to
+the prison and see that you are admitted."
+
+The kind-hearted official called his carriage, and together we drove
+through the unfamiliar narrow streets to the dismal-looking building in
+which my poor friend was confined.
+
+A brief consultation with the authorities and the signing of various
+papers made me free to enter the prison, and having thanked the Consul
+for his kind offices, I was led away by one of the officials to a
+terribly dark dungeon, in which, crouched in a corner, I found my poor
+friend Shin Shira, looking the picture of misery.
+
+His face lit up with a smile of hope, however, when he saw me, and his
+whole aspect changed.
+
+"My friend! my deliverer!" he cried, using all kinds of extravagant
+Oriental phrases to express his delight at seeing me. "Ah! at last you
+have come, and I shall be saved! May all the blessings of Allah be on
+your head!"
+
+The official withdrew, locking the door carefully behind him, having
+first given me to understand by various signs that he would return for
+me in about half-an-hour.
+
+"Well, now," I inquired, when we were alone, "what is this terrible
+trouble which has brought you here? What have you been doing?"
+
+"Nothing!" declared Shin Shira solemnly. "Nothing whatever to merit this
+punishment. It is all a horrible mistake. Let me begin at the beginning.
+About two months ago, after a series of my usual adventures, I suddenly
+appeared here in Baghdad. Now I have been acquainted with the city for
+many, many years--in fact, ever since the time of Sinbad the Sailor,
+whom I knew quite well, and with whom I was at one time very friendly.
+Well, I have many times appeared here since then, and on each occasion I
+have taken a great interest in the place on account of old
+associations. I have made many friends here, too; so when I found myself
+here once more I was greatly delighted, and was making my way to the
+Bazaar, where I knew I should be sure to find some acquaintances, when
+greatly to my surprise I saw several passers-by stop and stare at me
+curiously and then, whispering amongst themselves, follow me at some
+distance behind.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"It could not be my clothing which was attracting all this attention,
+for it was more or less of the same pattern to which they were
+accustomed. I caught sight of myself in a polished steel mirror in one
+of the shops in the Bazaar, and stole a glance at myself, but could see
+nothing wrong. What could be the cause? I had not long to wait, however,
+before I found out to my cost what was wrong.
+
+"The crowd following me had increased in size, and at last two enormous
+men in uniform came up and seized me by my arms, and I was immediately
+surrounded by a throng of curious faces.
+
+"'Where did you get that diamond?' demanded one of my captors, pointing
+to my turban, in which, as you know, I always wear the jewel which the
+Princess gave me.
+
+"'Oh that! That was given to me many years ago by a friend--a
+Princess--who has been dead now for many hundreds of years,' I said.
+
+"'Many hundreds of years? And you say she was a friend of yours?'
+exclaimed the man. 'Absurd!'
+
+"'Preposterous!' declared the other. 'Look here! If you can't give us
+some more reasonable explanation than that, we shall take you off at
+once to the Chief Magistrate, and charge you with having stolen it.'
+
+"'But why?' I gasped. 'Why should you think that I have stolen it?'
+
+"'A diamond of exactly that size and colour has disappeared from amongst
+the Crown jewels, and it strikes me very forcibly that this is the very
+one.'
+
+"It was in vain for me to protest. I was taken before the Magistrate,
+and experts were called to examine the jewel.
+
+"They weighed it and examined it carefully through powerful magnifying
+glasses, and finally unanimously agreed that it was indeed the missing
+jewel.
+
+"I was closely cross-questioned as to how it came into my possession,
+and also as to my movements during the past six months. My explanations
+were considered most unsatisfactory, and no one would believe me;
+consequently I was thrown into prison and condemned to death. It was
+only by the most earnest pleading that I managed to gain time for you to
+get here, as I assured them that you would be able to put everything
+right, and explain matters to their entire satisfaction."
+
+"I?" I stammered. "I am very, very sorry for you, my poor friend, and I
+would do anything to help you, but what am I to say or do which will
+convince them when you tell me that you have failed to do so?"
+
+"It is easy--easy," declared Shin Shira hopefully. "Now attend carefully
+to what I say. I am of course not allowed outside the prison walls, and
+there is no one here whom I would dare to trust with an important
+commission.
+
+"Now I want you to go at once to the Bazaar, and find a man named
+Mustapha, a dealer in old curiosities; and, without letting him know
+whom it is for, purchase from him a large round crystal which you will
+find in his shop. He will probably want a lot of money for it, but
+whatever he asks offer him just half, and you will find that after a lot
+of argument he will let you have it at that. These Oriental shopkeepers
+are all like that. And then, having secured the crystal, hurry back here
+and the rest will be easy."
+
+Although I could not in the least see what Shin Shira wanted the crystal
+for, I was careful to execute his commission to the letter.
+
+I found no difficulty in reaching the Bazaar, and, once there, soon
+found out Mustapha. I did not like the look of the man at all.
+
+He was a fawning, obsequious little man, with shifting eyes which never
+looked you straight in the face.
+
+He stood bowing and smiling and rubbing his hands when I entered the
+shop and asked to see the crystal.
+
+"Ah yea--very fine crystal--for those who know how to use it. Very
+vallyble--lot money. You know this? You got?" and he gave me a searching
+glance with his little bead-like eyes.
+
+"Oh yes, I can pay for it if I want it," I said, "but what do you call a
+_lot_ of money? How much do you want for it?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+He named a price which I knew to be very excessive, and I shook my head
+decidedly.
+
+"No! too much!" I declared.
+
+"Oh! but see! Beautiful crystal!" he argued.
+
+"No," I replied, "too much! I'll give you half," and I began to walk
+unconcernedly out of the shop.
+
+"And you give me little present besides?" pleaded Mustapha.
+
+"Not a penny," said I.
+
+The man gave a little sigh.
+
+"Oh well, you take him," he said. "Not enough money, but Mustapha very
+poor, must sell him. I wrap him up for you, see!"
+
+I paid him the money and hurried out of the shop, for I must confess
+that I had taken a great dislike to the little man with his smooth, oily
+manner.
+
+However, I had got the crystal, and that was the main thing.
+
+I hastened back to the prison, and after a long argument with the
+authorities, I managed to gain permission to see the prisoner once more.
+
+I found Shin Shira all eagerness to know if I had secured the crystal,
+and when he saw it in my hand, his joy knew no bounds.
+
+"Now it is all easy," said he, "and I shall soon be free. This is a
+Magic Crystal, and by wishing very hard to see any particular object and
+gazing at it steadily for a moment or two, you will see just what you
+wish to see reflected in it. Now I'm just going to wish
+to--er--to--er--er--o--o-h! I'm going to vanish! To think that I've been
+here all this time hoping every day that I should be able to disappear,
+and now, just as I was about to get myself free--I--good-bye--!"
+
+And to my horror, the little Yellow Dwarf suddenly faded away, and I was
+left alone in the dungeon.
+
+I say to my horror, for what was I to say when the jailer appeared? How
+was I to account for the prisoner's escape? I was just puzzling about
+these things when the door opened and the jailer hurriedly came to tell
+me the time allowed for my visit was up.
+
+He saw at once that Shin Shira was not there, and in a great state of
+excitement plied me with questions.
+
+I felt, however, that the best thing to do was to preserve silence: it
+would at least gain time; so I shook my head and pretended not to
+understand a word of what he was saying in his broken English.
+
+The man doubly locked the door and hurried off to inform his superior
+officers, and I was left alone once more.
+
+My eyes fell upon the crystal, and I suddenly thought of what Shin Shira
+had said. Holding it carefully in my hands, I wished to see the real
+thief who had stolen the crown jewel.
+
+A vague mist spread over the crystal, which gradually cleared away, and
+I distinctly saw revealed the features of--Mustapha. Then I wished to
+see what he had done with the stone, and after gazing a moment or two
+longer, I saw him take it down to a cellar under his shop and bury it in
+a tin box under a stone, which he lifted up from the floor.
+
+That was enough for me. When the jailer and the other officers came
+hurrying back I was ready for them.
+
+"Where is the prisoner?" they demanded.
+
+"He has escaped," I replied coolly.
+
+"What!" they exclaimed. "You dare to admit this, and that you assisted
+him to do so? You shall take his place here, and will no doubt receive
+the punishment which was intended for him."
+
+"He is an innocent man," said I calmly, "and ought never to have been
+imprisoned. He did not steal the diamond."
+
+"How can you say that when we found it upon him? Why, he was actually
+impudent enough to go walking about in the street with it boldly stuck
+in his turban."
+
+"The stone he was wearing was his own, and he had every right, to wear
+it where and how he liked," I replied steadily.
+
+"His own! Pooh! a likely story. Where is the missing jewel then? Can you
+tell me that?"
+
+"Yes," I replied, to their great astonishment.
+
+"And the thief?" they questioned eagerly.
+
+"I know who he is too. Take me before the Magistrate at once, and I will
+soon restore the lost jewel."
+
+My assured tone of voice seemed somewhat to impress the officials, and
+they left me for a few moments to consult amongst themselves as to what
+was best to be done.
+
+Presently they returned and told me to follow them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I found myself conducted to a plainly-furnished room where a
+dignified-looking gentleman was seated at a table strewn with papers. He
+looked up at me sharply as we entered the room, and addressing me in
+excellent English, said--
+
+"What is this extraordinary story I hear about the escape of the
+prisoner Shin Shira, and that you are prepared to inform us of another
+person who has, as you say, the crown jewel in his possession?"
+
+"It is true," said I, "and if you will allow some of your officers to
+accompany me into the Bazaar I will point out the thief at once, and
+show you where he has hidden the stone."
+
+The Magistrate thought for a moment. "I will come with you myself," he
+said at last. "Have ready six men to accompany us," he commanded; and a
+few minutes later we were on our way to Mustapha's shop.
+
+The wretched man gave a start and turned very pale when he saw us, but
+endeavouring to put a bold face upon it, he came bowing and cringing
+towards us, smiling and wringing his hands.
+
+"What an honour to my poor house!" he exclaimed. "How unworthy am I to
+receive such august guests!"
+
+"We've come to see if you have any more crystals like the one I bought
+of you to-day, Mustapha," I said.
+
+"Alas! honoured patron, none!" cried Mustapha in a relieved voice,
+thinking that he now knew the object of our visit.
+
+"Think--think, Mustapha," said I. "Have you no piece of clear glass
+that could be used in its place?"
+
+[Illustration: "I took up the stone."]
+
+"Alas, none!" he replied, shaking his head.
+
+"Look about," said I. "Here in the shop--and down in the cellar."
+
+The little man's face turned green.
+
+"The cellar? Noble patron, how should I find such a thing there?"
+
+"Lead the way and I will try to show you," said I; and despite his
+agonised protests, the trembling wretch was made to lead us to the very
+spot where the jewel was hidden.
+
+I took up the stone and showed the Magistrate the box in which the
+diamond was concealed, while Mustapha grovelled on the ground, pleading
+for mercy.
+
+What followed was a matter of course. The merchant Mustapha was
+arrested, I was released and commissioned to let Shin Shira know that if
+he applied in person for his jewel it would be returned to him, and an
+apology offered for his unwarranted arrest.
+
+And so I was set free--a stranger and alone in Baghdad.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. VII
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE ROC
+
+
+When I found myself alone in Baghdad after my extraordinary adventure
+with the Magic Crystal, my first intention was to return at once to
+England.
+
+I found, however, that it would be impossible for me to do so for at
+least four days; so I prepared to make the best of matters by doing a
+little sight-seeing while I was still confined to the ancient and
+interesting city.
+
+There were two additional reasons which made the delay less disagreeable
+to me.
+
+The first one was that I might possibly happen to meet Shin Shira again
+before I departed; and the other was that, on the second day of my stay,
+I saw a printed notice to the effect that, according to the ancient
+usage of the country relating to condemned prisoners, all of Mustapha's
+goods were to be immediately sold by public auction, and the money
+realised was to be confiscated by the Crown.
+
+I had noticed a number of very quaint and curious articles in the shop,
+and thought that it would be an excellent opportunity for me to purchase
+some souvenirs of my visit, to take back with me to England.
+
+The sale took place the next day, and I was able to secure several
+interesting pieces, which have a place in my study to this day. In fact,
+I was tempted to buy so many things that I began to fear that I should
+soon not have enough money left to take me back again to London; and I
+was just about to leave the auction, in order to be out of the way of
+temptation, when I caught sight of the quaintest, most uncanny-looking
+brass lamp being offered for sale that you could possibly imagine.
+
+It was slightly damaged too, and looked very old, so I hoped that it
+might be going very cheap.
+
+I was right, and to my great delight it was knocked down to me for a
+mere trifle.
+
+Clutching my treasures about me, I hurried back to my hotel, and spent
+the whole of the rest of the day examining and admiring my purchases.
+
+The lamp, though, pleased me most of all, although it was so old and
+battered. It was so very quaint and uncommon, and so typically Oriental
+in design--in fact, I felt sure there was not another like it in the
+world.
+
+The time came, however, for packing up, and I had to get everything
+ready for the morning, so that I might be in time for the early train.
+
+I had carefully wrapped up the other things, and was just taking a last
+look at the lamp before putting it into the bag, when, turning around
+for no apparent reason, I caught sight of a yellow turban on the floor.
+
+"Dear me!" I thought, "I suppose I must have brought this away from the
+Bazaar, with my other things, by mistake. What a nuisance! Now I shall
+have to take it back again, I suppose, or--No! it's Shin Shira's. And
+here comes the rest of him!" for I could see a little hazy yellow figure
+gradually growing out of nothing.
+
+"Ah! just in time, I see," said the little fellow, when he had quite
+appeared. "I did so hope that I should be able to be visible again
+before you left Baghdad. Well, how did you get on? You've got out of
+prison, I'm glad to see."
+
+I told him about the crystal, and how I discovered that it was Mustapha
+who stole the diamond.
+
+"Phew!" he whistled when he heard this. "I felt sure someone had stolen
+it, but I didn't think of Mustapha. I never liked the man, though,
+personally, and I'm glad he's found out at last. He has done a lot of
+harm to many people in Baghdad, and he will be rightly punished. What is
+to be done with _my_ diamond?" he inquired anxiously.
+
+"Oh, you're to have it back whenever you like to go for it, and you'll
+receive an apology at the same time," said I.
+
+"Very well, then, I'm off to get it first thing in the morning," said
+the little fellow gleefully. "I prize that stone far above its intrinsic
+value, for it was given to me by my beautiful Princess, you know, and I
+would not lose it for anything. But, I say! what's that curious-looking
+old lamp in your hand? May I look at it?"
+
+I handed it over to him.
+
+"It's just a little thing which took my fancy at Mustapha's sale, and
+which I picked up for a trifle," said I.
+
+"It's very dirty--wants cleaning badly," declared Shin Shira. "Why, I
+believe it's solid brass, though it looks like rusty iron in its present
+neglected state," and he seized a duster which was lying handy and gave
+the lamp several smart rubs.
+
+"Just as I thought," said he, going on vigorously with the polishing.
+"Why, it's splendid--"
+
+"Oh!" I exclaimed, sinking into a chair. "See! see what you've done!"
+
+An enormous form was rising from the floor, and presently stood before
+us making a deep salaam.
+
+"W-who are you?" I stammered.
+
+"The Slave of the Lamp, Master," said he.
+
+"Good gracious!" I exclaimed, "you don't mean to say that this is--"
+
+"Aladdin's lamp," burst in Shin Shira. "I thought somehow that it looked
+familiar. I knew Aladdin well, and I've often handled this lamp before."
+
+"Impossible!" I exclaimed, gazing at the big black giant who stood, with
+his arms folded, in dignified silence before us.
+
+"Nothing is impossible in the East," said Shin Shira, "as you'll quickly
+find out if you remain here long. And now--now that you are the
+possessor of Aladdin's lamp--what are you going to do with it?"
+
+"I--I don't know," I stammered. "I must have time to think."
+
+"I should have diamonds," advised Shin Shira: "they're so easy to carry
+and can always be converted into money. Command him to bring you a bag
+full of diamonds of all sizes."
+
+"But, but," I said hesitatingly, as visions of untold wealth floated
+before my eyes, "will he really do it?"
+
+"Try him and see," said Shin Shira. So I took the lamp in my hand, and
+rather nervously commanded the Slave to bring me a bag of diamonds.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Slave fell to the ground and touched his head to the floor, paying
+me the deepest mark of respect.
+
+"Alas, Master, that it should be so, but you ask your slave that which
+is impossible, unless you would have me take from the shops that which
+is not thine."
+
+"Not for worlds," I interrupted. "But how is it that you cannot get me
+the diamonds from the mines as you used to do for your former Master
+Aladdin in the olden days?"
+
+A bitter smile spread over the Slave's face.
+
+"The age, Master, has greatly changed, and now the mines in Africa,
+which were known only to us, are being worked by greedy men with noisy
+machinery, and we may not be seen there under peril of death. This is
+the will of the Spirit of the Lamp of whom I am the Slave, and who also
+calls you Master, though you will never see her."
+
+"Oh, well then, that's all knocked on the head," I said to Shin Shira,
+who had been listening attentively. "I'll dismiss the man now, shall I,
+and we'll talk over what's best to be done?"
+
+Shin Shira nodded, so I told the Slave I had no further use for him at
+the moment, and he vanished.
+
+I stood looking at my little friend in great bewilderment.
+
+"It is a great power to possess," I said, regarding the lamp with awe
+and amazement. "I hope I shan't do anything foolish with it."
+
+"Don't be silly," said Shin Shira crossly. "I only wish I had your
+chance. Why, you can do _anything_ with a power like that. Leave it to
+me to think over for to-night, and I'll tell you the best thing to do in
+the morning."
+
+"But I'm starting for England the first thing to-morrow," I objected.
+
+"Oh! you must put that off for the present," was the decided reply.
+"I'll be here about eleven, and we'll talk over what's best to be done.
+Good-night!" and the little fellow held out his hand and strutted off.
+
+I slept very little that night, as you may imagine, and all sorts of
+vague ideas came into my head as to what I should do with the wonderful
+power which had so mysteriously come within my grasp.
+
+I had arrived at no definite decision as to what was best to be done,
+however, by eleven the next morning, when, punctual to the minute, Shin
+Shira, looking very spruce and alert, knocked at my door.
+
+I noticed with considerable interest that he wore in his turban the
+diamond which I had so often admired, and he saw me looking at it at
+once.
+
+"Yes," he said, with a series of little nods, "it was very easy. An hour
+ago I called on the Chief Magistrate, and found him full of apologies
+and quite convinced that he had made a grievous mistake. It appears that
+the original diamond, which Mustapha stole, when found, had some of the
+gold setting still attached to it, proving beyond doubt that it was the
+missing jewel, so that my own was returned to me; and the Magistrate
+even insisted on providing a new aigrette and in having it replaced in
+my turban by a skilled person. So here it is," and he took off his
+head-dress and regarded it with considerable pride. "But now to your
+affairs. I am still in favour of the idea of the diamonds."
+
+"But how--" I began, when Shin Shira interrupted me.
+
+"Are you game for a very exciting adventure?" said he.
+
+"I--don't know." I hesitated. "I seem to have had about enough of
+exciting adventures."
+
+"It will be something to write about," suggested the Dwarf, "and will
+undoubtedly make your fortune."
+
+"Well," I said, "what is it? Let's hear."
+
+"Do you remember where Sinbad the Sailor got _his_ diamonds from?"
+
+"Yes, of course!" I replied, for I knew my _Arabian Nights_ by heart.
+
+"Very well, then," said Shin Shira. "All you've got to do is to get the
+Slave of the Lamp to bring us the Roc, which I happen to know is still
+alive; we can then fasten ourselves to his claws, and he will fly back
+to his home with us, and there, as you know, the ground is strewn with
+precious stones."
+
+"But why not send the Slave for them?" I argued.
+
+"He evidently doesn't know where they are, and it's as well to keep him
+ignorant on the subject, in case the lamp passed out of your power, in
+which case he might use his knowledge in favour of his next master. And,
+besides, the Roc couldn't carry him there."
+
+"He wouldn't have to," said I. "The Slave evidently has the power of
+being able to transport himself to any place at will."
+
+"But _we_ don't know where to direct him to," said Shin Shira
+impatiently. He was evidently bent upon carrying out his project, and at
+last I somewhat weakly consented to his proposal.
+
+I rubbed the lamp and summoned the Slave, who appeared promptly as
+before.
+
+"I'm sorry to ask such a difficult thing, but can you catch the Roc for
+me and bring it here?" said I, somewhat apologetically.
+
+"It shall be here, Master, in twenty minutes," replied the Slave
+imperturbably, vanishing again at a wave from my hand.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure, what I want diamonds for, when I have such a
+willing servant," I grumbled, still rather unwilling to venture upon
+what I regarded as an uncanny undertaking.
+
+"He can't provide you with money," said Shin Shira.
+
+"Why not?" I asked.
+
+"He'd have either to steal it or make it. If he did the latter it
+wouldn't be legal, and, besides, if it was found out, you might be
+arrested for circulating unauthorised coin."
+
+"Oh, very well, then, let's go on this wild-goose chase if you're so
+bent upon it," I said, seeing that he was determined to have his way. A
+few minutes later we heard a great commotion in the courtyard, and
+looking from the balcony we saw my Slave carrying by the legs an
+enormous bird, who turned his head about from side to side, staring
+stupidly at everything around him. Shin Shira bustled about and got
+ropes and straps, and with the assistance of the landlord and one or
+two onlookers, we were soon harnessed in quite an ingenious manner to
+the claws of our strange steed (if one may call him so).
+
+[Illustration: "His pinions were strong and mighty."]
+
+The Slave released him, and the Roc immediately flew slowly up into the
+air, violently shaking his claws now and then in a vain endeavour to get
+rid of the unusual weight. Fortunately, however, the straps and ropes,
+which had been fastened over the bird's back as well, were very strong,
+and so the worst thing that happened to us was a thorough shaking.
+
+This was of no consequence, and when I realised that I was quite safe, I
+began actually to enjoy the strange experience of being carried through
+the air, I knew not whither. In this case, however, the distance was not
+nearly so great as one might have expected, for leaving the city, the
+great bird soared over a tract of forest land, above one or two more
+towns, and so out into the open desert, in the midst of which was a
+range of rocky mountains. His pinions were strong and mighty, so that he
+flew very rapidly, and in a little less than two hours he had alighted
+on a kind of tableland, at the top of one of the mountain peaks, and we
+were at our journey's end.
+
+There was no doubt but that we were at the right place, for the ground
+was strewn with stones which, though uncut, sparkled, in the places
+where they had been chipped or broken, with a hundred different
+brilliant colours and shades.
+
+Shin Shira drew his knife and quickly cut the ropes and straps which
+bound us to the now struggling bird, and he was soon released from his
+uncomfortable burden.
+
+He shook himself once or twice and preened his great feathers, and then
+stalked off to where an enormous nest could be seen in a cleft in the
+rocks.
+
+I have no doubt the patient and stupid bird told his mate in bird
+language what a very strange and uncomfortable experience he had had,
+and at all events he kept out of our sight from that moment.
+
+Shin Shira at once busied himself by gathering some of the largest gems
+as quickly as possible; and taking from his pockets some strong linen
+bags which he had thoughtfully provided, he handed two to me and told me
+to fill them for myself.
+
+This I did, and also put several into my various pockets. I was just
+about to say that I thought we had sufficient, when Shin Shira called my
+attention to a balloon hovering just above our heads.
+
+There were two people in the basket, and they were peering at us over
+the edge through glasses.
+
+Presently one of them shouted an order, and the balloon quickly
+descended, so that we could hear the rush of escaping gas as it was
+being released.
+
+"Hullo there!" shouted a voice over our heads, "who are you? We've never
+before heard that these mountains were inhabited."
+
+"Neither are they," replied Shin Shira. "We are geologists from Baghdad,
+and are taking home specimens of the rocks and stones."
+
+"Oh, we're going to Baghdad. Can we give you a lift?" said the voice
+kindly, and the balloon descended still further, till at last we were
+able to see the two occupants distinctly.
+
+"It's really very kind of you;--I--I think we will accept your offer,"
+said I, while Shin Shira frowned disapproval.
+
+"Don't go," he whispered, "we can get some more precious stones if we
+wait a little longer."
+
+"But how are we to get back?" I answered.
+
+"The Magic Lamp," said he.
+
+"Oh, but I've left that behind at the hotel," I replied.
+
+"In that case," said Shin Shira regretfully, "there's nothing else to be
+done, I suppose."
+
+So we thankfully accepted the aeronauts' kind invitation, and were soon
+floating comfortably towards Baghdad.
+
+I must confess that it was far more pleasant than the outward journey
+had been.
+
+Before we got to Baghdad, though, Shin Shira had the misfortune to
+disappear, much to the horror of the aeronauts, who thought he had
+fallen out of the basket, and who would scarcely credit my explanation
+when I told them of Shin Shira's peculiar misfortune in this respect.
+
+He left the two bags of precious stones behind him, and they stood
+beside mine at the bottom of the basket.
+
+For a few minutes the balloon, being freed from Shin Shira's weight,
+rapidly ascended, but presently there was a terrible escape of gas and
+we began to descend again at a great rate.
+
+"Throw out the ballast!" cried one of the aeronauts, and the other,
+seeing the four bags of what he thought were worthless stones, in his
+haste and eagerness thrust them overboard.
+
+I was too alarmed at the moment to notice what he was doing, and it was
+only when matters had been put right, by stopping the escape of gas,
+that I realised what had happened.
+
+It was useless, however, to cry over spilt milk, and all my thought now
+was to get back to the hotel in safety.
+
+This we eventually did, and my ballooning friends accepted my invitation
+to take dinner at the hotel with me, so that after my adventure of the
+day I had a very pleasant evening. It was not till the next morning that
+I discovered that Aladdin's Lamp had vanished--had, in fact, probably
+been stolen.
+
+There was nothing left to do now but to set out for England, which I
+eventually reached; and on arriving in London, and having the stones
+which I had brought back in my pockets valued, I found that there were
+many worthless ones among them, and that the few good ones, when sold,
+only realised sufficient to pay the rather heavy expenses of my journey
+to and from Baghdad, with a very little over for myself to repay me for
+the loss of my time.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. VIII
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE MAD BULL
+
+
+The Verrinder children were in a state of great excitement and glee, for
+we were going to spend the day at Burnham Beeches.
+
+The plan was to drive over in a wagonette and have a picnic under the
+trees in the middle of the day.
+
+Lionel was amongst the party, and Lady Betty, a young friend of the
+Verrinders, so that we were a merry crowd as we scrambled into the
+wagonette.
+
+"It doesn't matter about your being old," said Fidge, snuggling up to me
+and catching hold of my arm; "you're not like most grown-ups, and don't
+mind us larking about a bit."
+
+"I hope not," I said smilingly.
+
+"Besides, he isn't old," chimed in Lady Betty, "at least not very," she
+qualified. "He hasn't even got a beard, and if he wasn't a little bit
+grown-up he couldn't afford to take us about," she added practically.
+
+"I expect we'll have some jolly decent grub," I heard Dick whisper to
+Lionel. "Mrs. Putchy makes ripping pastry. I know, because we used to
+stay at his place sometimes before you came."
+
+Marjorie looked up from her book and smiled and nodded across at me.
+"It's lovely," she said, as we drove along. "We're going to have a
+perfectly splendid day."
+
+We were sitting three aside, and there was just comfortable room for us;
+and when we had got well into the country I began to tell the younger
+ones, Fidge and Lady Betty, a story. Marjorie closed her book too and
+leaned forward to listen, but the two big boys, evidently considering it
+_infra dig_. to listen to anything so childish, were eagerly comparing
+school experiences. Dick was at Harrow and Lionel at Marlborough, so
+they had a lot to talk about.
+
+Presently, in the middle of my story, Marjorie called out, without
+looking up, "Move further along, Dick, don't crowd so."
+
+"I'm not!" retorted Dick, "it's you. I can't move any further without
+crowding Lionel out of the trap."
+
+"Oh, it's this cushion," cried Marjorie, turning about and trying to
+remove what looked at first like a yellow silk cushion beside her.
+
+It was evidently too heavy though, and she gave a start as she touched
+it. "Why!" she exclaimed, "it's got something alive in it!"
+
+We all turned around to see what she meant, and at once I knew that it
+was Shin Shira appearing.
+
+"Oh, jolly!" cried all the children but Lionel, when I explained to them
+what was happening.
+
+"It's all very well, and he's good fun and all that," said my young
+cousin, "but if you'd had the experience that I had with his old Magic
+Carpet, you'd be very careful not to have much to do with him--he's
+rather dangerous."
+
+"But think of the adventures you have with him," said Dick enviously. "I
+wouldn't funk it if he asked me to go anywhere with him."
+
+"Who's funking it?" demanded Lionel angrily.
+
+"Well, _you_ didn't seem to have much desire to repeat your experiences,
+my friend," laughed Shin Shira. "My head and ears just happened to
+arrive in time for me to gather that."
+
+Lionel turned very red. "Oh well, sir, I did have rather a rough time on
+the Magic Carpet, you know."
+
+"So you did, so you did," agreed Shin Shira, amiably beaming on us all.
+"And where may all you young people be off to this fine day?"
+
+"We're having a picnic," said Lady Betty shyly.
+
+"Going to have, you mean," corrected Fidge. "It isn't a picnic till you
+begin to eat, you know."
+
+"Would you mind if I joined you?" asked the Yellow Dwarf, appealing to
+me.
+
+"Well, it strikes me that you have done so," I laughed; "but we shall be
+delighted with your company if you care to stay."
+
+"That's all right then," said Shin Shira, settling down comfortably;
+"there's nothing I should like better this warm day," and he took off
+his turban and rubbed his little bald head with a yellow silk
+handkerchief.
+
+The sight of the jewel in it reminded him to ask me what became of the
+two bags of diamonds he left in the basket of the balloon when he
+disappeared on our way back to Baghdad.
+
+I told him what had happened, and how I had lost all of mine except the
+few almost worthless ones which I had put in my pocket.
+
+"I was rather more fortunate," said Shin Shira, "for amongst those which
+I saved were one or two very valuable ones, and several more which I can
+sell at a very good price when it becomes necessary."
+
+"But I thought you could have whatever you wished for?" said Dick.
+
+"Oh no," replied the Dwarf, "not money, you know--almost anything else,
+but not money, because, you see, it wouldn't be legal to make money, and
+I can tell you I have often found it very awkward to have appeared in a
+strange place with no money at all in my pocket. I have indeed once or
+twice almost been tempted to sell even the jewel which the Princess gave
+me. Now fortunately that will never be necessary."
+
+"What part of Burnham Beeches do you wish me to drive to, sir?" asked
+the coachman at this moment; "we're just coming to the village."
+
+"Oh, you'd better put the horses up at the stables, and get a man to
+help you with the hampers, and we'll walk on to the wood. You know where
+I generally have luncheon."
+
+"Very well, sir!" said the man, touching his hat with his whip and
+stopping at the old-fashioned inn in the village.
+
+We were all very glad to stretch our legs after the long ride, and
+having had some lemonade and fruit at a little shop in the High Street,
+we quite enjoyed the walk up to the wood.
+
+Here under the trees in a beautiful spot we sat down to wait for the men
+with the hampers.
+
+After waiting for some time with growing impatience, our coachman turned
+up with a rueful face.
+
+"There ain't no hamper, sir," he said.
+
+"What?" I exclaimed. "No hamper! What do you mean?"
+
+"There ain't no hamper in the trap, sir. I didn't have it up in front,
+so I thought you had it in with you. Do you think it's fallen out, sir?"
+
+"By Jove, sir!" cried Lionel suddenly, "it's my fault. You told me to
+see that the man put the hampers on in front, and I clean forgot all
+about it."
+
+If it hadn't been such a serious matter it would have been highly
+amusing to watch the blank dismay depicted on every face on hearing this
+disastrous news.
+
+"What on earth are we to do?" exclaimed Dick, with almost tragic
+concern.
+
+"There's only one thing to be done, I suppose," said I resignedly, after
+sending the man away; "we shall have to return to the village and have
+our luncheon at the inn."
+
+"It won't be a picnic at all then," pouted Lady Betty ruefully.
+
+Shin Shira was the only one who did not seem distressed about the
+matter. He had seated himself cross-legged on the ground under one of
+the old Beeches, and was slowly turning over the leaves of the little
+yellow book fastened to his belt with a golden chain, which he always
+wore.
+
+"I think I can be of some assistance to you here," said he, getting up
+after a time and coming towards me. "Has anybody some paper and a
+pencil?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This seemed a strange request at such a moment, but between us we
+managed to find what he asked for.
+
+The Dwarf suddenly tore the paper into seven parts, handing us each one
+and keeping one for himself.
+
+"Now," said he, "each of you write on the piece of paper the name of
+something you would wish for luncheon."
+
+He handed me the pencil first, and just for fun I wrote "Lobster salad."
+
+Marjorie wrote "Game pie."
+
+Dick thought that "Pies and tarts and plenty of them" was a suitable
+thing to ask for.
+
+Lionel could imagine nothing more to be desired than "Ham and tongue
+sandwiches."
+
+Lady Betty wanted "Fruit and nuts," and Fidge, after various painful
+attempts, wrote "Something nice to drink."
+
+Shin Shira read them out one by one.
+
+"Yes," he said, "they're all very well, but how are you going to eat
+them when you have got them? Now you see what I wish for," and he
+carefully wrote on his slip of paper, "Tablecloth, serviettes, plates,
+dishes, knives, forks, spoons, salt, pepper, mustard, oil, vinegar,
+glasses and a corkscrew." "There!" he exclaimed, "I think that will put
+us right. Now watch carefully. You see there is no deception!" and he
+laughingly rolled up his sleeves like a professional conjurer.
+
+He placed the paper upon which he had written his list into his turban,
+shaking it violently.
+
+To our surprise, in a few seconds it sounded as though there was
+something in it, and an instant later he drew forth from it a neatly
+folded snow-white tablecloth, the serviettes, spoons, forks, and in fact
+all the articles which he had named.
+
+He set the children to work laying the cloth, while he placed the other
+lists in his turban, and in turn, beginning with a deliciously
+fresh-looking lobster salad, and a large game pie, he brought forth
+every one of the good things which had been wished for.
+
+Fidge's "something nice to drink" turned out to be bottles of lemonade,
+milk, soda water, and a bottle of wine for the grown-ups.
+
+A more delicious feast it would be impossible to imagine.
+
+We were just sitting down to enjoy it, and I had stuck the knife and
+fork into the game pie, when Marjorie sprang up with a little scream,
+brushing something from her face.
+
+"Ough! a horrid caterpillar!" she cried.
+
+"And here's another!" declared Fidge, knocking one from his coat.
+
+"And an earwig!" exclaimed Dick, picking one up from the cloth.
+
+"Oh! and spiders!" screamed Lady Betty, jumping up and shaking her
+frock.
+
+"Dear! dear! this will never do!" I said, for the place was swarming
+with insects, owing to the very dry summer which we had had.
+
+"There ought to be a marquee like we had at the choir treat," said
+Fidge.
+
+"Oh, I vote we get on with the grub," said Dick greedily. "The insects
+won't kill us."
+
+"No, but a marquee would certainly be more comfortable," said Shin
+Shira. "Come into the meadow just over there, and I'll see if I can
+provide one."
+
+Leaving Lionel to guard our feast, the rest of us all trailed after him,
+over the fence into the meadow, which was carpeted with soft long grass.
+
+"The only thing is, I can't exactly remember what a marquee is like," he
+said. "Think, my dear boy, what the one was like which you had in your
+mind."
+
+"Why, it had four poles, one at each corner," said Fidge, "and some iron
+things connecting them at the top, and it was covered all over and round
+the sides with some stripey stuff. Then there were ropes and things, and
+pegs driven into the ground to tie the poles to, and a trestle table and
+two long forms each side. That's all. Oh, yes, and Piggott & Son,
+Tentmakers, was written in big letters on the stripey stuff."
+
+"Ah!" said Shin Shira, "I think I shall be able to imagine it
+sufficiently well now. I'll try," and after consulting his little yellow
+book again for instructions, he called for a stick, which the boys soon
+cut from the hedge, and marked out a large square space in the meadow;
+and then, using some magic words, he waved the stick three times, and
+there stood the very marquee which Fidge had described, even to the
+words Piggott & Son, Tentmakers, on the canvas covering.
+
+"Now go and bring the luncheon, children, and we'll try again," said
+Shin Shira, in a rare good humour with himself (the little fellow was
+evidently delighted to find that his fairy powers were acting so well
+to-day); and soon we were seated around the table, which, I must
+confess, I found a more comfortable way of enjoying my luncheon.
+
+To say that we did full justice to the good things provided, is but
+mildly describing the way the food disappeared.
+
+The two elder boys in particular seemed as though they would never leave
+off, but at last we settled down comfortably to the fruit and nuts, and
+were just discussing what we should do with the marquee and its
+contents, when we suddenly all started to our feet in alarm.
+
+A loud bellowing, combined with a dull sound of galloping hoofs, told us
+that something was coming our way.
+
+I rushed to the door and looked out.
+
+"Good heavens! A mad bull!" I cried, "tearing this way at a furious
+pace."
+
+Shin Shira sprang to the opening.
+
+"I'll attract him in another direction, and while he is after me you all
+escape over the fence," he cried hurriedly, and snatching a red silk
+handkerchief from Lionel's pocket, he rushed out into the open.
+
+The bull paused, and though I frantically shouted to Shin Shira to come
+back, the brave little fellow flourished the red handkerchief to attract
+the creature's attention. With a bellow of anger the infuriated animal,
+holding his head down, tore after the Dwarf, who ran with surprising
+swiftness in the opposite direction to the marquee.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Now children, quickly!" I cried, catching Lady Betty by the hand, and
+we all made for the fence as quickly as possible.
+
+We were no sooner in safety than we turned to see how our gallant little
+friend was faring.
+
+The yellow figure, still waving the red handkerchief, was running ahead
+of the bull, but to our great distress we could see that the beast was
+gaining on him.
+
+"Oh dear! he'll never reach the other side in time," cried Marjorie,
+hiding her eyes in her hands and sinking to the ground in a panic of
+fear and fright.
+
+Presently the boys gave an excited shout--"Hurrah! Bravo!" they cried,
+jumping from the fence and skipping about, tossing their caps into the
+air in an excess of relief. I sat down beside Marjorie and explained to
+her what had happened.
+
+The bull was rapidly gaining on Shin Shira and the little fellow was
+becoming exhausted, when, by a happy chance, at that very moment he
+began to disappear, and before the bull could reach him he had vanished
+altogether.
+
+The bull was rushing frantically about, bellowing and snorting and
+looking in vain for him, and at last, turning his attention to the
+marquee, he dashed into it, ripping up the canvas and over-turning the
+table, smashing the dishes, and altogether making a most terrific
+commotion.
+
+Now that we were all safe we could make light of the loss of the
+marquee and its contents, and could even smile at the quaint remark of
+Lady Betty when she said solemnly--
+
+"In future I shall prefer to picnic where there are spiders, instead of
+where mad bulls are about. In fact, I shall rather like spiders after
+this: they're so gentle and don't bellow at all."
+
+The boys were still watching the havoc which the bull was creating, when
+they noticed a man walking towards us beside the fence.
+
+He was a big, burly farmer and looked very angry.
+
+"Now then," he cried, in a surly voice, "what do you mean by all this?"
+
+"I don't understand you," I answered.
+
+"I speak plain English, don't I?" he said. "Wasn't it you that's been
+trampling in my long grass, and building tents and what not on private
+property? I'll learn you that I won't have no strangers in my meadows, I
+can tell ye."
+
+"I'm very sorry if I've done any harm," said I, "and I'm sure if--"
+
+"_If_ you've done any harm!" shouted the farmer. "Look at all that long
+grass trampled down all over the meadow."
+
+"Yes," I interrupted, "but it was your bull which did that."
+
+"He wouldn't have done it if you hadn't teased him," said the farmer
+obstinately. "I saw one of you myself teasing him with a red rag and
+making him furious. I'm not going to have any of it. Off you come with
+me to the police station."
+
+"No, no, I can't do that," I cried in alarm; "I have these children with
+me."
+
+"People shouldn't take children out if they can't do without getting
+into mischief," grumbled the farmer. "No, you come along of me," and he
+caught hold of my arm.
+
+"I'll give you my card," I said, "and if you have any serious complaint
+to make you can write to me."
+
+"Aye, a likely story; and when I write to you, as likely as not I'll
+find you've given me a wrong address."
+
+"Come back with me then to the inn: they know me there and will tell you
+whether or no the address is a correct one."
+
+The old farmer was gradually persuaded to this course, though he
+grumbled all the way there that I ought to be "locked up," while the
+children, thoroughly subdued, walked in silence behind us.
+
+"You'll have to pay a pretty penny for damages," said he warningly, when
+he had satisfied himself at the inn that I was known as "a gentleman
+who often drove over there in the summer, and always paid for what he
+had."
+
+I assured him that he should have what was just, and when he had gone I
+ordered tea in the arbour at the end of the old-fashioned garden, and
+over it we forgot the unfortunate, but exciting, termination to our
+picnic.
+
+We arrived home quite safely. Sure enough, a few days afterwards I
+received a preposterous claim for damage to the farmer's grass, which I
+left my solicitor to deal with; and more extraordinary still, I had a
+claim from Messrs. Piggott & Son for damages to a tent, which they
+"could not trace as having been hired to me, but which I must have hired
+at some time or another, since it bore their name marked as they only
+marked their tents let out on hire."
+
+This letter also went to my solicitor, and to this day I've heard
+nothing further about either matter.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. IX
+
+SHIN SHIRA AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
+
+
+It was many months after this last adventure before I saw my friend Shin
+Shira again.
+
+The summer was past, and it was the time of fires and warm drawn
+curtains. One evening, after dinner, I was sitting alone in my study,
+puzzling over a chess problem, when the servant brought me a card on
+which I read--
+
+    "DR. SHIN SHIRA SCARAMANGA MANOUSA YAMA HAWA."
+
+"Oh!" I laughed, "show him in at once, please." For I had been longing
+for an opportunity of thanking the gallant little fellow for the bravery
+he had shown in the matter of the mad bull--a bravery to which some of
+us, at all events, probably owed our lives.
+
+"Come in, come in! Delighted to see you!" I cried, getting up and
+making him comfortable in "the Toad," the chair which I know he likes
+best. I got out the tobacco jar, and we were soon chatting comfortably
+over our pipes.
+
+"By the way," I said, picking up his card again and looking at it, when
+we had exhausted most of the topics of conversation which came to our
+minds, "I didn't know before that you were a doctor."
+
+"Oh, I don't practise, and I seldom use the title except on my cards. It
+was given to me by the King of Hearts very many years ago. Ha-ha-ha!"
+And Shin Shira laughed heartily at what was evidently a humorous
+recollection.
+
+"Won't you tell me about it, please?" said I.
+
+"I don't know," replied the Dwarf, "that there is much to tell.
+
+"It was while I was travelling round the world in my earlier days, and I
+had come, in the course of my wanderings, upon the country ruled over by
+the King of Hearts and his most charming Queen.
+
+"Talk about turtle-doves! I had never seen such a perfectly devoted
+couple before in my life. They were like a pair of happy lovers,
+although they must have been married several years before I knew them.
+
+"I happened to appear at their Majesties' dinner-table one evening when
+they were dining alone, just as dinner was being served.
+
+"Of course they were greatly astonished at seeing me suddenly appear in
+their presence, especially as I arrived at a particularly awkward
+moment, when, the servants being busy with the dishes and having their
+backs turned, the King was squeezing her Majesty's hand under the table,
+and looking lovingly into her eyes.
+
+"The King turned to the Lord Chief Butler, when that official returned,
+and looking at me curiously, said, 'It's very thoughtless of me, but I
+do not remember that I invited any guests for this evening.'
+
+"'I had heard nothing of it either, your Majesty,' said the Lord Chief
+Butler, pursing up his lips and looking at me severely. 'Shall I request
+the Lord High Footman and the Lord Under Footman to remove the person?'
+
+"'By no means,' said the King kindly; 'I will ask him myself what brings
+him here.'
+
+"'It was a matter of compulsion, rather than of inclination, your
+Majesty,' said I. And I explained as well as I was able the curious
+affliction from which I suffer, of having to appear and disappear at the
+fairies' pleasure.
+
+"'Most interesting--most!' said the Queen, smiling sweetly, 'and we
+should be most inhospitable if we did not make you welcome here for so
+long as the fairies will spare you to us.'
+
+"This gracious speech, and the Queen's beauty, quite won my heart, and
+putting my hand on my heart, I bowed in the most graceful manner that I
+could command.
+
+"The Lord Chief Butler, seeing that I was in favour with their
+Majesties, now brought me a plate, and some glasses, and waited upon me
+most obsequiously.
+
+"'Tarts, my lord!' he announced, handing me a silver dish on which were
+piled some rather stodgy-looking jam affairs.
+
+"'No thank you,' I replied.
+
+"The man looked horrified, and the King and Queen greatly embarrassed by
+my refusal. 'Er--tarts--er--your Highness,--er--her Majesty's own make,'
+whispered the Lord Chief Butler.
+
+"'Oh, then by all means I will change my mind,' said I gallantly, and I
+took two of the tarts on my plate, while the King and Queen looked on
+approvingly.
+
+"I can safely say that in all my wanderings, through all these years, I
+have never before or since tasted such exceedingly unpleasant tarts.
+
+"I hesitate to say more, out of respect to the most beautiful and
+gracious Queen who ever lived, but I could say a great deal.
+
+"However, I managed to get through them, even to the bitter end, and
+had the satisfaction of seeing her Majesty look greatly delighted.
+
+"'I really must have another one, my love,' declared the King; 'they are
+most delicious, made as they were by your own royal and beautiful
+hands.'
+
+"'No--no--dearest,' smiled the Queen, her pride in her pastry battling
+with her consideration for her husband's health, 'you have already had
+two.'
+
+"'Perhaps, my darling, you are right,' replied the King, with a sigh of
+relief, and hurriedly motioning to the Lord Chief Butler to remove his
+plate.
+
+"'Perhaps our guest, though--' began the Queen sweetly.
+
+"'No--no--thank you, your Majesty,' I hastened to say. 'I
+never--_never_--by any chance indulge in more than two, under doctor's
+strict orders.'
+
+"'Very well then,' said her Majesty, 'we will have dessert.'
+
+"The rest of the dinner was uneventful, and I was more and more
+impressed as the time went on with the gracious and simple bearing of
+the exalted personages of whom I was an uninvited guest.
+
+"At last her Majesty rose, gave me a bow, and was led with old-fashioned
+courtesy by his Majesty to the door, which was thrown open by the
+servants, and the King and I were left alone to our coffee and cigars.
+After we had talked on various subjects for some time, I ventured to
+express my admiration of, and devotion to, the gracious lady who had
+just left us, and the King's eyes sparkled with delight.
+
+"'You may well admire her, sir; she is rightly beloved for her
+graciousness and beauty from one end of my kingdom to the other, and her
+thoughtfulness and kindness to myself are beyond expression.
+
+"'I _must_ tell you of a little incident (which you have just shared in)
+to prove to you how wholly devoted she is to my interests.
+
+"'I have, as many other royal personages have at times, some difficulty
+in regulating my affairs so as to make both ends meet comfortably.
+
+"'Her Majesty knew of this, and immediately began to take cooking
+lessons with a view to cooking for us when we are alone, and thus saving
+expenses in the kitchen. The tarts you tasted to-day are her Majesty's
+first attempt.'
+
+"'R-eally!' I murmured, seeing that the King paused as though he
+expected me to say something.
+
+"'Yes,' continued his Majesty, 'and to-morrow she has made me promise
+to catch her some blackbirds, with which to make a pie.'
+
+"'Catch them?' I cried; 'why not shoot them?'
+
+"'Oh! the Queen wouldn't think of letting me do anything so cruel, she
+is _so_ tender-hearted. But you'll come with me to-morrow, and help me
+to catch some, won't you?'
+
+"I assured his Majesty that unless I had unfortunately to disappear
+before then, I should be delighted, and we went up to join her Majesty
+in the drawing-room.
+
+"We found the Queen surrounded by her Maids of Honour, of whom some were
+sitting at the tambour frames, others doing fine embroidery, while two
+of their number were at the piano playing and singing.
+
+"I was presented to these ladies, and, at the Queen's request, related
+some of the extraordinary adventures which, as you know, have, at one
+time or another in my long career, befallen me. The evening was quite a
+success, and I felt that I had indeed fallen upon my feet in such
+charming company.
+
+"At a moderately early hour we retired, and in the morning, soon after
+breakfast, his Majesty and I started on our expedition in quest of
+blackbirds for the Queen's pie.
+
+"Her Majesty and the Maids of Honour watched us start off from the
+balcony, and several retainers followed at a respectful distance,
+carrying various bags and implements of which I could not even imagine
+the uses.
+
+"When we had got some distance from the Castle, his Majesty whispered to
+me confidentially that he must confess that he didn't know much about
+this sort of thing.
+
+"'Er--do you recommend--er--_salt_ for blackbirds?' he inquired
+anxiously.
+
+"'What for?' I asked.
+
+"'To put on their tails, you know,' said the King. 'I have a
+recollection of hearing something, somewhere, about catching birds by
+putting salt on their tails. But perhaps that doesn't refer to
+blackbirds?' he added.
+
+"I couldn't help smiling a little at the simple, good-natured,
+inexperienced King, but suggested immediately afterwards that some grain
+scattered before and inside a sieve propped up with a stick, to which
+some string was attached, would probably be a more effectual way of
+catching the birds.
+
+"'What a brilliant idea!' said the King. 'I'll send the salt back and
+order some sieves, grain, sticks and string, as you suggest. Is there
+anything else?'
+
+"'Something to put the birds in if we catch any, your Majesty,' said I.
+
+"'Oh! I've thought of that,' said the King, 'and have several baskets
+ready.'
+
+"The men were soon back with the sieves, and I quickly rigged up two of
+them as traps; and having baited them, I showed the King how to hide and
+pull the string directly one of the birds was under the sieve.
+
+"Fortunately, blackbirds seemed to abound in that country, and there
+were soon several fluttering about, pecking at and picking up the grain.
+
+"Presently, one got under my sieve, and pulling the support away by the
+string, I was fortunate enough to catch it. The King was delighted, and
+the more so when a few minutes afterwards he trapped two at once, in the
+same manner.
+
+"After this, the 'sport,' if it could be called so, became fast and
+furious, and ended in our catching four-and-twenty birds between us.
+
+"This the King considered would be sufficient, so we set off to the
+Castle again, the men bearing the baskets in triumph before us.
+
+"'Oh! the dear, sweet little things!' cried Her Majesty, when she was
+shown our captives, 'and how clever of you to have caught them all!
+They'll make a perfectly lovely pie!' And she set off in high glee to
+the kitchens, to try her hand at the culinary art again.
+
+[Illustration: "This was carefully set before the King."]
+
+"The afternoon was spent in the beautiful gardens surrounding the
+Castle, playing fives, for which there was a specially built court, and
+practising at archery, so that the time quickly passed, till we were
+called in by the first dinner gong.
+
+"The Maids of Honour, together with some of the State Ministers, joined
+us at dinner, and I could see that the Queen, though sweet and gracious
+as ever, was very anxious as the dinner proceeded.
+
+"Presently there was a flourish of trumpets heard at the door, and two
+pages appeared, bearing a silver salver upon which was an enormous pie.
+This was carefully set before the King, and his Majesty, after smiling
+at the Queen rather nervously, put the knife into the crust and removed
+a portion of it.
+
+"Immediately afterwards, there was a great commotion heard from inside
+the pie, and first one bird and then another began to sing, hopping out
+of the pie and on to the table, evidently delighted at regaining its
+liberty.
+
+"Finally, amid the breathless silence of all about the table, they flew
+off through the open window, and nothing was left but the crust.
+
+"The Queen sat back in her chair looking half-triumphant and
+half-ashamed.
+
+"'I'm afraid it isn't a very satisfactory pie, from the eating point of
+view,' she faltered, 'but I _couldn't_ have the poor pretty little
+things killed, and so I put them in the dish alive, and when the crust,
+which I baked separately, was nearly cold, I cut a hole in the top, so
+that they could breathe, and put it over them.'
+
+"'It does your heart much credit, my love,' cried the King, 'and, the
+thought of cutting a hole in the crust was a very kind one.'
+
+"And indeed, wherever and in whatever country I have been since that
+time, many years ago, and have related the story, the ladies of that
+country have always made a hole in the top of their pies, in honour of
+the beautiful and kind Queen who first invented it.
+
+"I did not hear much more of the conversation which followed this
+episode, for unfortunately, just then, I felt myself disappearing, and
+had only just time to incline my head respectfully to the King and Queen
+before I had vanished."
+
+"But," I remarked, when Shin Shira left off speaking, "you haven't told
+me yet how you came to get the title of 'Doctor.'"
+
+"Oh, that's all part of the same story," said Shin Shira, refilling his
+pipe; "it has a sequel. About seven months after the events which I have
+narrated" (you'll have noticed that Shin Shira loved using long words
+when he could), "I found myself again in the same country, and I thought
+I could not leave it without paying my respects to the amiable King and
+Queen; so, one fine afternoon, I made my way up to the Castle.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I found the King in his counting-house, industriously counting out his
+money. He left off when he saw me, though, and came forward to greet me
+heartily.
+
+"'The Queen, bless her! will be as delighted to see you as I am,' said
+he; 'we'll go and find her. I fancy I know where she is.'
+
+"He led the way at once to the parlour, and there we found her Majesty
+looking sweet and amiable as ever.
+
+"She was rather confused at being discovered in the act of eating some
+bread and honey.
+
+"'I am suffering from a very poor appetite,' her Majesty explained,
+after she had made me welcome, 'and have eaten nothing at all to-day,
+and just now I fancied a little honey, for which I have a great liking.'
+
+"'I hope your Majesty is not unwell, that your appetite is so feeble?' I
+inquired with great solicitation.
+
+"'Oh no!' replied the Queen, with an effort at brightness; 'I'm a little
+worried, that's all.'
+
+"'We're all worried, more or less,' chimed in the King. '_You_ remember
+that blackbird pie, don't you?'
+
+"'Yes, your Majesty, of course I do,' said I, smiling at the
+recollection.
+
+"'Well, those birds, the ones which were put into it, have become very
+spiteful and dangerous. They have taken to haunting the precincts of the
+Castle, and attack the servants when they go into the garden,
+particularly the laundry maids; for, when they go into the garden to
+hang out the clothes, they have to use both hands to do so, and then
+these wretched birds fly down and peck at their noses. One poor creature
+lost hers altogether, with the result that all of the maids have given
+notice, and we can't get laundry maids for love or money.'
+
+"'It's very trying,' said the Queen; 'the poor King has to wear his
+things much longer than he should, and I have a difficulty in even
+getting a clean pocket-handkerchief.'
+
+"It was a curious difficulty to be in, certainly, and I felt very
+anxious to help them if I could, so I asked permission to be allowed to
+visit the servants' hall, and talk to the maids on the subject.
+
+"This was readily given, and I spoke to them as earnestly as I could
+about their good Queen and mistress, and how willing and eager they
+ought to be to do everything they could for her.
+
+"I could see that they felt this keenly themselves, for some of them
+were in tears when I spoke of the Queen's goodness to everybody about
+her.
+
+"'B--but our precious noses, sir!' sobbed one good-natured girl; 'we
+can't afford to lose them, can we now?'
+
+"'No,' I said, 'but I have thought of a way by which it will be quite
+safe for you to go into the garden.
+
+"'Now, like good creatures, the first thing in the morning, set to and
+get some laundry work done, and I'll go out and hang up some of the
+clothes, and you'll see that the birds won't hurt me.'
+
+"They all agreed to this, and the good-natured girl who had been crying
+said, 'I'll come with you, if you like, and show you how to hang the
+things up.'
+
+"'So you shall,' said I, and went up to my room to make preparations for
+the morning.
+
+"It was quite simple. I sent for some coloured wax, and having made a
+wooden model of a nose, I made on it some little waxen cases which could
+be worn over one's own nose, and _then_, if the birds pecked at it, it
+wouldn't matter in the least.
+
+"In the morning, the wax cases were quite set and hard, and when the
+maid and I went out to hang up the clothes, it was great fun to see the
+bewilderment of a large blackbird when he flew away with the maid's
+false nose, and she calmly stuck on another.
+
+"The birds soon gave up their evil ways after that, but for some months,
+as a precaution, the maids never ventured out without a nose protector.
+
+"It was for this useful invention that the King of Hearts bestowed on
+me the title of 'Doctor to His Majesty's Household.'"
+
+"H'm!" I remarked, when he had finished, "it's a very remarkable story.
+I seem to have heard of some of the incidents before, somehow."
+
+"Very likely, very likely," said Shin Shira, "Well, I must be going
+now." And he shook hands and went out by the door, in a sensible way for
+once.
+
+As he went out of the house, I heard him singing softly--
+
+     "The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts
+     All on a summer's day"--
+
+And then he changed his song to--
+
+     "Sing a song of sixpence,
+       A pocketful of rye,
+     Four-and-twenty blackbirds
+       Baked in a pie.
+
+     "The maid was in the garden
+       Hanging out the clothes,
+     And along came a blackbird
+       And nipped off her nose."
+
+And I remembered then why his story had seemed so familiar.
+
+
+
+
+MYSTERY NO. X AND LAST
+
+SHIN SHIRA DISAPPEARS
+
+
+The day after my little friend had related to me his experiences in the
+land of the King and Queen of Hearts, I was surprised to receive a
+portmanteau addressed to me, which, on my opening it, I found to contain
+the little yellow costume, including the turban with the diamond
+ornament, which Shin Shira had always worn.
+
+There was no note enclosed, and I naturally wondered very much what had
+occasioned this strange parcel being sent to me.
+
+I had no means of communicating with Shin Shira, and so had to wait with
+what patience I could summon for an explanation from him.
+
+I had not long to wait, fortunately, for in the afternoon of the same
+day the little fellow burst in upon me, clothed in a frock coat, tall
+hat and regulation costume of a gentleman in easy circumstances.
+
+I must say he was not nearly such a picturesque looking person as he had
+been in his Oriental dress. He threw himself into a chair and seemed
+overflowing with news.
+
+"I've decided to settle down," he said breathlessly. "I didn't tell you
+yesterday because my arrangements were not quite completed, but I've
+begun now, and I'm going to settle down."
+
+"What _do_ you mean?" I inquired, utterly bewildered by my friend's
+abrupt statement.
+
+"Why," he began, "I'm tired of this constant changing from one place to
+another; and as I've not had to disappear now for some time, I've come
+to the conclusion that the fairies have overlooked the misdeeds of my
+ancestors and are going to give me a rest. I've taken a house in the
+highly respectable neighbourhood of Russell Square, and I've furnished
+it by means of my fairy powers with everything that is necessary;
+besides this, I've realised the full value of all my precious stones,
+except, of course, that which the dear Princess gave me, and have opened
+a banking account. There!" and the little fellow sat back, evidently
+feeling quite exhausted by his long speech and vainly searching for his
+little fan, which, of course, was not there.
+
+I scarcely knew what to say to this surprising statement, and waited for
+further developments before replying. "I've engaged a housekeeper to
+look after me, and two servants also; and--as you see--have discarded my
+Oriental costume for one more suitable to this country and climate; I
+sent you my old costume and turban by a trustworthy messenger this
+morning, having changed at my tailor's into the attire in which you see
+me. I hope it has arrived safely?"
+
+I assured him that it had, and sent for the portmanteau in order that he
+might see for himself.
+
+"That's all right, then," he said with a sigh of relief; "and now I want
+to hand you this blank cheque which I have signed, and, in case I
+disappear, I want you to draw out the whole amount standing to my
+account at the bank at the time, so that I may be able to get it in case
+I appear again. I have an idea that I shall not have to undergo these
+changes many more times. Of course, if I never come back, the money will
+be yours, as I have no one else to leave it to."
+
+I thanked him very heartily for the trust he reposed in me, and assured
+him that his wishes should be carried out to the letter.
+
+"That's all right, then!" he exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction; "and
+now I want to arrange for a nice little party at my new home to act as a
+kind of--er--home warming--I think you call it. Ask the children and any
+of your friends who know me, and, if you let me know beforehand how many
+are coming, I will arrange for what, I hope, will turn out to be a very
+enjoyable evening."
+
+We fixed the date, and after my little friend had gone, I wrote
+informally, as Shin Shira wished, to as many of my friends as would be
+likely to wish to come, to ask them to attend.
+
+Nearly everybody accepted--for the little fellow was a great favourite
+with everybody who knew him--and, as Shin Shira looked in every day to
+know how the replies were coming in, I was able to tell him in a few
+days that we might expect from twenty to twenty-five guests.
+
+From then till the date fixed Shin Shira was very busy, and I only saw
+him once or twice, and on the eventful day I did not see him at all.
+
+The Verrinder children were coming in the carriage with me, and,
+according to arrangement, we were the first to arrive.
+
+There was an awning at the door and a red carpet laid down the steps
+and across the pavement; the house was brilliantly lighted, and
+evidently grand preparations had been going on.
+
+I hurried up the steps, followed by Marjorie, Dick and Fidge.
+
+The servant who stood at the open door, and who knew me by sight, was
+looking very anxious, and whispered, "The housekeeper would like to
+speak to you at once in the dining-room, sir."
+
+"Anything the matter?" I asked.
+
+"Yes, sir, the master--he--he can't be found," said the man.
+
+I hurried down to the dining-room, and found the housekeeper in her best
+black silk dress, looking even more distressed than the manservant had
+been.
+
+"The master, sir," she began at once when I entered the room. "Whatever
+_is_ to be done? He can't be found anywhere--and the guests beginning to
+arrive--"
+
+"Never mind," said I, after thinking a moment. "I've no doubt he'll be
+here presently--and, in the meantime, as I know most if not all of the
+guests, I'll receive them, and explain that he has probably been called
+away and will no doubt be back presently."
+
+I hurried up into the drawing-room, and found that by this time several
+guests had arrived, and were looking greatly surprised at finding no
+host to receive them.
+
+I apologised for my friend as well as I was able, and pointed out that
+probably he would soon return, and, in the meantime, he would doubtless
+wish us to make ourselves at home.
+
+We found everything arranged for our comfort. Professional singers gave
+an excellent concert in the drawing-room--an excellent supper was served
+downstairs.
+
+The children were not forgotten, and, while the concert had been
+proceeding in the drawing-room, an amusing entertainment was provided
+for them in another room. Beside each plate at supper, also, there was a
+little present, chosen carefully, and our names written distinctly on
+each.
+
+Everything was thoroughly well thought out and provided for--but--there
+was no host to receive our thanks and to bid us "good-bye" when we went.
+
+The whole affair, therefore, though I naturally did my best for my
+friend's sake to "keep things going," concluded rather flatly, and I
+went home after it was all over feeling not a little depressed and
+anxious.
+
+I called the next day, and the day after, but Shin Shira had not
+returned, nor had anything been heard of, or from him.
+
+It was most mysterious, and I could only account for it by the fact that
+the fairies may have, in fact _must_ have, caused him to disappear once
+more.
+
+The housekeeper told me, on my inquiring of her, that he had been at
+home the whole of the day on which the party had been held,
+superintending all the arrangements, and had gone up early to his room
+to dress, and from that time all trace of him had been lost.
+
+I was very sorry, and the more so as days and weeks flew by and nothing
+happened to give us any clue as to his whereabouts.
+
+After a couple of months, I told the servants that they had better seek
+other situations, and when they had done so I let them go. I closed the
+house, and waited for events.
+
+It must have been quite a year later when I received the following
+letter--
+
+                                                  "_Isle of San Sosta_,
+                                                     "_ South Pacific._
+
+    "MY DEAR FRIEND,
+
+    "I write once more to let you know that I am again in great trouble,
+    but this time there is nothing in which you can help me, though I
+    know, in the goodness of your heart, you would wish to do so if it
+    were possible.
+
+    "When, in accordance with the fairies' decree, to which I must
+    always most humbly bow, I was called upon to disappear at the very
+    moment when I was hoping to welcome my guests to my newly
+    established home, I found myself most unexpectedly in this place.
+
+    "It is an island very little known, and far out of the beaten track
+    of vessels.
+
+    "Once a year, however, a trader calls, bringing and taking letters
+    and exchanging for the produce of this place such necessities as we
+    require from more civilised lands.
+
+    "The people of this country are very simple and of primitive habits,
+    so much so that it is the custom here if a maiden remains unmarried
+    after a certain age, and becomes a burden to her parents, to turn
+    her out of the community, and leave her to seek food for herself or
+    starve in the desert.
+
+    "This cruel and unnatural law I have constantly tried to get
+    altered, and the King and his advisers consent to do so only on one
+    condition, and that is, that I find a husband for the only unmarried
+    daughter of the King, who is at present an outcast in the
+    wilderness, being of most uncomely appearance and greatly deformed.
+
+    "I have been out into the wilderness to see the poor creature
+    myself. She is indeed in a pitiful plight, being far from fair to
+    look upon, and gaunt and thin with exposure and suffering.
+
+    "I conversed with her and found her intelligent, and patient
+    under her great afflictions; in fact, her sad case so touched my
+    heart that, not only for her sake, but for the sake of the other
+    unfortunate maidens who, unless this cruel law is altered, may
+    have to suffer a fate similar to hers, I have decided to marry
+    her myself, and thus rescue her and others who may follow her.
+
+    "I think of my sweet Princess and feel that she would approve--for
+    never shall I see her dear face again--and in making this marriage
+    she would know I was inclined to it from pity and not from any
+    untruthfulness to her most dear memory.
+
+    "The stone she gave me I cannot bear to see any more, and this I
+    ask you to keep _until I claim it again_; all my other goods and
+    the money in the bank I leave to you absolutely.
+
+    "I feel that I may never see you again, and if this be so, accept
+    my hearty and devoted thanks for all you have done for me. Think
+    of me sometimes and
+
+    "Believe me to be,
+       "Your friend always,
+          "SHIN SHIRA SCARAMANGA MANOUSA YAMA  HAWA."
+
+
+I sat a long while after I had read this letter, thinking of all the
+strange happenings since I had known my little friend.
+
+I had grown quite to love and respect him, and when I thought of the
+noble and chivalrous deed he intended performing in order to save the
+poor creature in that far-off island, I felt that he was indeed worthy
+of all admiration.
+
+I got down a map, and tried in vain to find the island he mentioned. It
+was not marked in any of those which I had by me.
+
+Then I found the portmanteau which Shin Shira had left with me, and
+looked at the little yellow costume, which reminded me so much of my
+friend.
+
+In lifting it from the bag, something heavy dropped from between the
+folds. It was the Magic Crystal. I held it in my hand, and wished I
+could see what Shin Shira was doing at that moment. The thought had no
+sooner entered my head than I gave an exclamation of surprise.
+
+A mist in which vague figures were moving filled the crystal, and
+presently I could see distinctly a large crowd of people gathered
+together. A man and woman stood beneath a canopy--the man I soon
+perceived was Shin Shira himself, still clothed in the immaculate frock
+coat and tall hat in which I had last seen him dressed. The woman was a
+poor, deformed thing and pitifully plain--her gaudy dress and many
+jewels but helped to point the contrast.
+
+Before them stood a priest, and at the side the King, surrounded by his
+warriors. It was evidently the celebration of a wedding, and the
+ceremony was over, for the bridegroom led the bride from under the
+canopy and knelt with her before the King, who stretched out his hands
+as though he were giving them his blessing--and then, to my
+astonishment, a most marvellous thing happened. A blaze of light flashed
+across the scene, and a beautiful being, who I am convinced was the
+Fairy Queen herself, floated down from the heights above, accompanied by
+a crowd of beings nearly as beautiful as herself. She waved her wand
+three times, and the bride became a beautiful Princess, and Shin Shira
+grew tall, young and handsome in an instant.
+
+The King and his court gazed in amazement at the scene, and the Princess
+fell into Shin Shira's arms.
+
+The Fairy waved her wand again, and a bright crown appeared on Shin
+Shira's head, in which flashed a single stone of great brilliancy. At
+the same instant the jewel vanished from the yellow turban beside me.
+
+The crystal grew clear as the beautiful scene faded away, and that was
+the last glimpse I ever had of my little friend.
+
+I often think of him, and I like to imagine, as, indeed, I believe to be
+the case, that the fairies have restored to him his full powers, and
+that the bride he had so unselfishly wedded turned out to be the very
+Princess to whom he had been faithful throughout his long life.
+
+It may be so--if the crystal spoke truly. Who knows?
+
+
+                         THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Shin Shira, by George Edward Farrow
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