“Ah, that is better still! I begin to think that a pirate can leave clues behind him, after all.”
“Oh, it was not much,” said Kane.
“Such as it was, however, let me see it.”
Kane produced his pocketbook, and from one of the compartments took a slip of paper, which he gave into the hand of the detective.
“There it is,” he said. “Read it for yourself.”
The detective spread the note open before him, and read aloud:
“I have taken your trophies, Mr. Kane, as you will observe, but I will give you my promise that you shall hear from me concerning them, and be given an opportunity to redeem them, if you care to do so, before they are destroyed; and for that you have the word of Captain Sparkle, of the Shadow.”
“That must be the name of his craft, the Shadow,” said Kane.
“Without doubt.”