The Lair of the White Worm

Mr. Salton had all his life been an early riser, and necessarily an early waker.

But early ashe woke on the next morning-and although there was an excuse for not prolonging sleepin the constant whirr and rattle of the "donkey" engine winches of the great ship-he metthe eyes of Adam fixed on him from his berth.

His grand-nephew had given him the sofa,occupying the lower berth himself.

The old man, despite his great strength and normalactivity, was somewhat tired by his long journey of the day before, and the prolonged andexciting interview which followed it.

So he was glad to lie still and rest his body, whilst hismind was actively exercised in taking in all he could of his strange surroundings.

Adam,too, after the pastoral habit to which he had been bred, woke with the dawn, and was readyto enter on the experiences of the new day whenever it might suit his elder companion.

Itwas little wonder, then, that, so soon as each realised the other's readiness, theysimultaneously jumped up and began to dress.

The steward had by previous instructionsearly breakfast prepared, and it was not long before they went down the gangway on shorein search of the carriage.They found Mr. Salton's bailiff looking out for them on the dock, and he brought them atonce to where the carriage was waiting in the street.

Richard Salton pointed out with prideto his young companion the suitability of the vehicle for every need of travel.

To it wereharnessed four useful horses, with a postillion to each pair."See," said the old man proudly, "how it has all the luxuries of useful travel-silence andisolation as well as speed.

There is nothing to obstruct the view of those travelling and noone to overhear what they may say.

I have used that trap for a quarter of a century, and Inever saw one more suitable for travel.

You shall test it shortly. We are going to drivethrough the heart of England; and as we go I'll tell you what I was speaking of lastnight.

Our route is to be by Salisbury, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Worcester, Stafford; andso home."