The Island of Fu Manchu

“Thank God we’re alive Kerrigan!” he said. “We lose the triumph, but we were the instruments of retribution!”

“Smith! What happened? What hellish thing happened?”

He began to walk up and down the small room.

“So far as I can make out—I have been over there all this morning—lightning struck the laboratory and was conducted (possibly down the lift cable) into the great cavern! At any rate, a new gorge has appeared, a gorge of extraordinary depth. It has swallowed up part of the sisal works and the whole of one plantation: in fact, the side of a mountain has moved!”

“Good God!”

“The first blast split the laboratory in half. That was when Doughty went—”

“Then he—”

“Fell into the pit which yawned not five feet from where you were standing! I hauled you back and we all ran out through the gap in the wall. We were half way across the quadrangle when the second blast—which seemed to come from underground—threw us off our feet. The fumes were appalling; but we all managed to struggle on for another hundred yards or so. I don’t remember much more.”

“Good God!” I said again. “Can you picture what happened below-ground!”

“Yes!” he snapped. “I can . . , and Fu Manchu was below-ground!”

“What news of Barton?”

“Did the job. But they had to put out to sea and make for Port au Prince. All’s well with Barton; and I think, Kerrigan, my long fight is won. Now—I am going to send your nurse to see you.” Before I could utter any word of protest, he went out, but left the door open.

Ardatha came in . . .

The End