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companions. She continued to work over Rishi, encouraged by the tiny bit of color that was returning to his face.
    Bess and George questioned the elderly caretaker, and after explaining several times what they wanted, succeeded in making him comprehend them. He led the cousins to a medicine cabinet in a corner.
    As George selected a stimulant, Bess said, “Mr. Batt, how are you feeling?”
    “I kin walk, that’s about all,” he replied.
    After Nancy had administered the stimulant, she was relieved to notice that Rishi’s heartbeat became stronger. Soon he stirred and his eyelids fluttered open. He murmured something in his native tongue. Gradually he became aware of the little group around him and smiled at Nancy in recognition.
    “Nancy save Rishi,” he whispered weakly.
    “Don’t try to talk yet,” she told him. “Just lie still and rest.”
    Rishi did not obey the order. His eyes fastened on the ivory charm Nancy wore around her neck, and he took hold of it.
    “Rishi’s life safe because of power in elephant charm!” he said.
    “Please don’t try to talk,” Nancy advised again.
    For some minutes Rishi remained quiet, gaining strength. Then, rousing, he indicated that he felt able to sit up.
    The girls had paid little attention to Jasper Batt, knowing that he no longer needed their aid. They had actually forgotten his presence until he suddenly ran forward, waving a fist at Rishi.
    “Now I remember! It comes back to me! He’s the one who struck me!”
    “Impossible!” George exclaimed. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Mr. Batt.”
    “Rishi is a friend of ours,” Bess added.
    “Rishi,” the caretaker repeated. Obviously the name was unfamiliar to him. “No, he was the one!” he insisted wildly. “He told the other man to strike me.”
    “Only a moment ago you said that Rishi struck you,” Nancy reminded him. “At first you declared you didn’t see your attacker.”
    “This man was the person,” the caretaker mumbled.
    “Why, he’s not a man at all—only a boy of twelve,” Nancy cried.
    “You are in league with him. You plotted with him to steal my papers! Give them back to me or I’ll lose my job.”
    “The man is completely out of his mind,” Bess murmured in an undertone. “Don’t pay any at tention to him.”
    It was impossible to ignore Jasper Batt, however, for he was quarrelsome and determined to make trouble. No amount of argument or explanation could convince him that Nancy and her friends knew nothing of the mysterious papers that had been stolen from him.
    “You’re all my enemies,” Batt accused belligerently. “If you didn’t come to trick and cheat me, why are you here?”
    “We came to this house just to look around,” Nancy said soothingly. “We’ll leave immediately.”
    “Oh, no you won’t!” the caretaker shouted. “Not until you hand over my papers. Give them to me.”
    “I tell you I know nothing of your papers. Try to be reasonable, Mr. Batt.”
    “If you won’t give them to me, I’ll take them!”
    The caretaker seized Nancy roughly by the arm, and tried to thrust his hand into the pocket of her jacket. Bess and George, enraged, went to their friend’s aid. The struggle lasted only a brief time, as Jasper Batt had not fully recovered his strength. He fell back against the wall, gasping.
    “As soon as he regains his breath he’ll be after you again, Nancy,” Bess warned. “What shall we do?”
    “We must get away from here before he becomes more violent.”
    Overhearing Nancy’s remark, Jasper Batt moved swiftly to the foot of the stone steps. He believed that the girls intended to escape through an upper window.
    “Oh, no you don’t!” he sneered.
    “We must slip out through the secret tunnel,” Nancy whispered.
    She helped Rishi to his feet, and with George supporting him on the opposite side, the four moved stealthily into the passageway. Midway down the long tunnel, the girls paused to listen. They could not hear