Across his lap lay the short stick with the long lash which we had noticed during the day. His chin was pointed upward and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling. Round his head he had a peculiar yellow band, with brownish speckles, which seemed to be tied tightly. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion.

"The band! The speckled band!" whispered Holmes.

I took a step forward. In an instant the strange headgear began to move, and there appeared among his hair the squat diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a monstrous serpent.

"It is a swamp adder!" exclaimed Holmes; "the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, punish the violent, and the schemer falls into the trap which he digs for another. Let us thrust this creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place of safety and let the county police know what has happened."

As he spoke he drew the whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the iron safe, which he closed tightly.