The Baron leant forward to touch it, but Mr. Scarlett, with a sudden look of horror, shot out his right hand and clutched the Baron's hand so violently that he cried out.
"Don't touch it, sir! For God's sake, don't touch it. There's poison enough in that thing to kill a dozen men!" he gasped fiercely.
"What is it—what do you mean? Tell us!" we cried.
Some passengers coming along the deck, he instantly covered it with his sleeve.
"I generally wear a bandage over it," he said nervously. "The night was so hot that I took it off."
"Well, tell us about it," we urged him. "Where did you get it?"
"Jassim gave it to me," Mr. Scarlett answered, his black eyes burning strangely as he looked round to see that no one could overhear him. "I'll tell you when and how that snake came here. It's a long story—and a sad one. When you have heard it you will know why I do not want to go back to the Persian Gulf. But, for God's sake, sirs, don't ever mention it to a soul!"
We promised—we would have promised anything to learn its story.
CHAPTER II
The Story of the "Twin Death"