again?” “No; he did not refer to it again in words, but he left a note behind him about it.” “Ah, that is better still! I begin to think that a pirate can leave clues behind him, after all.” “Oh, it was not much,” said Kane. “Such as it was, however, let me see it.” Kane produced his pocketbook, and from one of the compartments took a slip of paper, which he gave into the hand of the detective. “There it is,” he said. “Read it for yourself.” [34] [34] The detective spread the note open before him, and read aloud: “I have taken your trophies, Mr. Kane, as you will observe, but I will give you my promise that you shall hear from me concerning them, and be given an opportunity to redeem them, if you care to do so, before they are destroyed; and for that you have the word of Captain Sparkle, of the Shadow.” “That must be the name of his craft, the Shadow,” said Kane. “Without doubt.” “What do you get from the note? Anything?” “I get a specimen of Sparkle’s handwriting, which, it is true, amounts to little or nothing; but we also get that promise, which I have no doubt he will keep, that he will communicate with you again, and in that communication will make some sort of a suggestion by which you may redeem your cups.” “And do you think you might be able to get on the track in that way?” “I think that such a thing is possible, although extremely improbable. We will have to wait until we receive the communication before we bank too much on what it may contain.” “Exactly. That is what I thought.” “Tell me, did
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