“From a mountain man with whom I was in prison. He was also there because he was a sorcerer.”
“Had he the stone with him in prison?”
“No, but we made all the arrangements about it while we were in prison, and when we were liberated he got the stone from its hiding-place in the forest, and handed it over to me after I had paid him a big price.”
“Where was it hidden?”
“In a white ants’ nest. The man made a hole in the nest, put the stone in, and the ants soon built all round it and covered it up, and the man only knew where to look for it.”
“You really believe the stone has all the power you claim for it?”
“Yes; and I do not want the police to get it.”
“Well, now we will unwrap it and put the matter to the test.”
“You must not look at it. I will not stay to see you look at it.”