“The Locked Door.”

           Thereaderwillperhapsunderstandthatatfirsteverythingwassostrangeaboutme,andmypositionwastheoutcomeofsuchunexpectedadventures,thatIhadnodiscernmentoftherelativestrangenessofthisorthatthing.Ifollowedthellamaupthebeach,andwasovertakenbyMontgomery,whoaskedmenottoenterthestoneenclosure.Inoticedthenthatthepumainitscageandthepileofpackageshadbeenplacedoutsidetheentrancetothisquadrangle.

           Iturnedandsawthatthelaunchhadnowbeenunloaded,runoutagain,andwasbeingbeached,andthewhite-hairedmanwaswalkingtowardsus.HeaddressedMontgomery.

           "Andnowcomestheproblemofthisuninvitedguest.Whatarewetodowithhim?"

           "Heknowssomethingofscience,"saidMontgomery.

           "I’mitchingtogettoworkagain—withthisnewstuff,"saidthewhite-hairedman,nodddingtowardstheenclosure.Hiseyesgrewbrighter.

           "Idaresayyouare,"saidMontgomery,inanythingbutacordialtone.

           "Wecan’tsendhimoverthere,andwecan’tsparethetimetobuildhimanewshanty;andwecertainlycan’ttakehimintoourconfidencejustyet."

           "I’minyourhands,"saidI.Ihadnoideaofwhathemeantby"overthere."

           "I’vebeenthinkingofthesamethings,"Montgomeryanswered.