IMRAYhadachievedtheimpossibleWithoutwarning，fornoconceivablemotive，inhisyouthandatthethresholdofhiscareerhehadchosentodisappearfromtheworld-whichistosay，thelittleIndianstationwherehelivedUponadayhewasalive，well，happy，andingreatevidenceathisclub，amongthebilliard-tables。
Uponamorninghewasnot，andnomannerofsearchcouldmakesurewherehemightbeHehadsteppedoutofhisplace；hebadnotappearedathisofficeatthepropertime，andhisdog-cartwasnotuponthepublicroadsForthesereasonsandbecausehewashamperinginamicroscopicaldegreetheadministrationoftheIndianEmpire，theIndianEmpirepausedforonemicroscopicalmomenttomakeinquiryintothefateofImrayPondsweredragged，wellswereplumbed，telegramsweredispatcheddownthelinesofrailwaysandtothenearestseaporttown-1，200milesaway-butImraywasnotattheendofthedrag-ropesnorthetelegramsHewasgone，andhisplaceknewhimnomoreThentheworkofthegreatIndianEmpiresweptforward，becauseitcouldnotbedelayed，andImray，frombeingaman，becameamystery-suchathingasmentalkoverattheirtablesintheclubforamonthandthe，forgetutterlyHisguns，horses，andcartsweresoldtothehighestbidderHissuperiorofficerwroteanabsurdlettertohismother，sayingthatImrayhadunaccountablydisappearedandhisbungalowstoodemptyontheroad。
Afterthreeorfourmonthsofthescorchinghotweatherhadgoneby，myfriendStrickland，ofthepoliceforce，sawfittorentthebungalowfromthenativelandlordThiswasbeforehewasengagedtoMissYoughal-anaffairwhichhasbeendescribedinanotherplace-andwhilehewaspursuinghisinvestigationsintonativelifeHisownlifewassufficientlypeculiar，andmencomplainedofhismannersandcustomsTherewasalwaysfoodinhishouse，huttherewerenoregular-timesformealsHeeat，standingupandwalkingabout，whateverhemightfindonthesideboard，andthisisnotgoodforthein-sidesofhumanbeings。
Hisdomesticequipmentwaslimitedtosixrifles，threeshotguns，fivesaddles，andacollectionofstiff-jointedmasheerrods，biggerandstrongerthanthelargestsalmonrodsThesethingsoccupiedonehalfofhisbungalow，andtheotherhalfwasgivenuptoStricklandandhisdogTietjens-anenormousRampurslut，whosungwhenshewasordered，anddevoureddailytherationsoftwomenShespoketoStricklandinalanguageofherown，andwhenever，inherwalksabroadshesawthingscalculatedtodestroythepeaceofHerMajestytheQueenEmpress，shereturnedtohermasterandgavehiminformationStricklandwouldtakestepsatonce，andtheendofhislaborswastroubleandfineandimprisonmentforotherpeopleThenativesbelievedthatTietjenswasafamiliarspirit，andtreatedherwiththegreatreverencethatisbornofhateandfearOneroominthebungalowwassetapartforherspecialuseSheownedabedstead，ablanket，andadrinking-trough，andifanyonecameintoStrickland’sroomatnight，hercustomwastoknockdowntheinvaderandgivetonguetillsomeonecamewithalightStricklandoweshislifetoher。
WhenhewasonthefrontierinsearchofthelocalmurdererwhocameinthegreydawntosendStricklandmuchfurtherthantheAndamanIslands，TietjenscaughthimashewascrawlingintoStrickland’stentwithadaggerbetweenhisteeth，andafterhisrecordofiniquitywasestablishedintheeyesofthelaw，hewashangedFromthatdateTietjensworeacollarofroughsilverandemployedamonogramonhernightblanket，andtheblanketwasdouble-wovenKashmircloth，forshewasadelicatedog。
UndernocircumstanceswouldshebeseparatedfromStrickland，andwhenhewasillwithfevershemadegreattroubleforthedoctorsbecauseshedidnotknowhowtohelphermasterandwouldnotallowanothercreaturetoattemptaidMacarnaght，oftheIndianMedicalService，beatherovertheheadwithagun，beforeshecouldunderstandthatshemustgiveroomforthosewhocouldgivequinine。
AshorttimeafterStricklandhadtakenImray’sbungalow，mybusinesstookmethroughthatstation，andnaturally，theclubquartersbeingfull，IquarteredmyselfuponStricklandItwasadesirablebungalow，eight-roomed，andheavilythatchedagainstanychanceofleakagefromrainUnderthepitchoftheroofranaceilingcloth，whichlookedjustasniceasawhitewashedceiling。
ThelandlordhadrepainteditwhenStricklandtookthebungalow，andunlessyouknewhowIndianbungalowswerebuiltyouwouldneverhavesuspectedthatabovetheclothlaythedark，three-corneredcavernoftheroof，wherethebeamsandtheundersideofthethatchharboredallmannerofrats，hats，ants，andotherthings。
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