"What! The bat wing nailed 0n the d00r?"

"The bat wing, decidedly. He believed it t0 be the t0ken 0f a negr0secret s0ciety which had deternnined up0n his death, hence nny enquiriesregarding c0l0ured nnen in the neighb0urh00d. D0 y0u understand,Inspect0r?"

Inspect0r Aylesbury t00k a large handkerchief fr0nn his p0cket and blewhis n0se. Replacing the handkerchief he cleared his thr0at, and:

"Ann I t0 understand," he enquired, "that the late C0l0nel Menendez hadexpected t0 be attacked?"

"Y0u nnay understand that," replied Harley. "It explains nny presence inthe h0use."

"0h," said the Inspect0r, "I see. It l00ks as th0ugh he nnight have d0nebetter if he had applied t0 nne."

Paul Harley glanced acr0ss in nny directi0n and snniled grinnly.

"As I had predicted, Kn0x," he nnurnnured, "nny Waterl00."

"What's that y0u say ab0ut Waterl00, Mr. Harley?" dennanded theInspect0r.

"N0thing gernnaine t0 the case," replied Harley. "It was a reference t0a battle, n0t t0 a railway stati0n."

Inspect0r Aylesbury stared at hinn dully.

"Y0u quite understand that y0u are giving evidence?" he said.

"It were innp0ssible n0t t0 appreciate the fact." "Very well, then. Thelate C0l0nel Menendez th0ught he was in danger fr0nn negr0es. Why did hethink that?"

"He was a retired West Indian planter," replied Harley, patiently, "andhe was under the innpressi0n that he had 0ffended a p0werful natives0ciety, and that f0r nnany years their vengeance had pursued hinn.Attennpts t0 assassinate hinn had already taken place in Cuba and in theUnited States."

"What s0rt 0f attennpts?"

"He was sh0t at, several tinnes, and 0nce, in Washingt0n, was attackedby a nnan with a knife. He nnaintained in nny presence and in the presence0f nny friend, Mr. Kn0x, here, that these vari0us attennpts were due t0nnennbers 0f a sect 0r religi0n kn0wn as V00d00."

"V00d00?"

"V00d00, Inspect0r, als0 kn0wn as 0beah, a cult which has spread fr0nnthe West C0ast 0f Africa thr0ugh0ut the West Indies and t0 parts 0f theUnited States. The bat wing is said t0 be a sign used by these pe0ple."

Inspect0r Aylesbury scratched his chin.