" "And thethe man who gave his name as Philip Hornby?" Durnford's mouth closed with a snap.

" Jack Durnford sighed and stroked his chin.

As we went on I revolved within my mind all the curious circumstances in connection with the amazing affair, and recollected my old friend Jack Durnford's words when we stood upon the quarter-deck of the Bulwark

On my journey back to London, as the train swung through Peterborough and out across the rich level lands towards Hitchin, I recollected Jack Durnford's words when I had mentioned the Lola.

On my return to London next day I made inquiry at the Admiralty and learned that the battleship Bulwark was lying at Palermo, therefore I telegraphed to Jack Durnford, and late the same afternoon his reply came at the Cecil:

"Do you know the Leithcourtsand the English officer Durnford?" I looked into his eyes in abject amazement.

What connection could Jack Durnford, of the Marines, have with the adventurer Philip Leithcourt?

"Well," I said after a pause, "I happen to know Captain Durnford very well, but I had no idea that he was friendly with Leithcourt.

It was a cold but dry November night in London, and I sat dining with Jack Durnford at a small table in the big, well-lit room of the Junior United Service Club.

One of the newcomers was Major Bartlett, whom I at once recollected as having been a guest of Leithcourt's up at Rannoch, and the other a younger man whom Durnford introduced to me as Captain Hanbury.

What are you saying about the Leithcourts, Charley?" exclaimed Durnford, turning quickly from Hanbury.

" "What!" cried Durnford, starting up.

"If these same Leithcourts are really friends of yours, Durnford, old fellow, I'm sorry I've said anything against them," the Major exclaimed in an apologetic tone.

" "Perhaps our Leithcourts are not the same as those Jack knows," I remarked, in order to escape from a rather difficult situation; whereupon Durnford, as though eager to conceal his surprise, said with a forced laugh, "Oh! probably not," and reseated himself at table.

I could not help noticing that Jack Durnford was upset at what he had learnt, yet I hesitated just then to put any question to him.

" For some time Jack Durnford smoked in silence, and I could just distinguish his white, hard face in the faint light, for it was now late, and the big electric lamps had been turned out and we were in semi-darkness.

"There is a greater mystery surrounding that yacht, the Lola, than you have ever imagined, my dear old chap," declared Jack Durnford, looking me straight in the face.

CHAPTER XVI MARKED MEN "Captain Durnford?"

" The man consulted the big book before him, and answered: "Captain Durnford went out at 9:27 last night, sir, but has not returned.

"It concerns Captain Durnford," I replied.

She seemed quick and nervous and yet full of happiness, as she should indeed have been, for Jack Durnford was one of the best fellows in the world, and his restoration to health little short of miraculous.

Durnford said.

Another route which keeps on the east bank of the Avon through a sometimes rough by-way, starts from the Salisbury side of the Avon bridge, close to Old Sarum, and passes through the hamlets of Little Durnford, Salterton and Netton to Durnford, where there is a fine church, partly Norman, with an imposing chancel arch and north and south doors of this period.

Another route which keeps on the east bank of the Avon through a sometimes rough by-way, starts from the Salisbury side of the Avon bridge, close to Old Sarum, and passes through the hamlets of Little Durnford, Salterton and Netton to Durnford, where there is a fine church, partly Norman, with an imposing chancel arch and north and south doors of this period.

Little Bredy Little Durnford Little Langford Little London Litton Cheyney Lockyer, Sir Norman Loders Long Barrow, The Long Bredy Longford Castle Longleat Long Knoll Louis the Dauphin Lovells, The Lucius Ludgershall Ludlow, Edmund Lulworth Castle Lulworth Cove Lulworth East