Long before daylight, and before the mob could again muster its motley spirits, the little Swallow spread her wings and once more stood out to sea.
And when Merle looked out upon the water he realized that the first stages of the journey back to doom had begun.
As for Belle Demona, that same day she rode homeward, but in her wake was the same implacable shadow destined in time to settle the old score forever.
There was a wait of a week in Melbourne, but at the end of that time Old Broadbrim and his prisoner, accompanied by Dick Waters, stepped on board a United States man-of-war, and the sea trail stretched once more toward the New World.
One bright morning while Clippers was in the act of opening his little house near the famous alley in New York, a footfall greeted his ear, and the next moment he fell back with a cry of astonishment.
Old Broadbrim stood before him.
"Back!" cried Clippers. "I'd given you up, and Hargraves and Irwin are still at fault. They declare that the mystery of Fifth Avenue is as dark as ever, and no one can throw any light upon the death of Jason Marrow."
"Wait, Clippers," smiled the detective. "Wait till you see Merle, the murderer——"
"What, did you find him?"