But there had been a new outrage, an attempt had been made to sever the arm close to the bangle which held the tiny key.

A heavy "kukri" knife--one of the leaf-shaped knives which the Gurkhas and others of the hill tribes of India use with such effect--had been taken from its place on the wall, and with it the attempt had been made.

It was manifest that just at the moment of striking, the blow had been arrested, for only the point of the knife and not the edge of the blade had struck the flesh.

As it was, the outer side of the arm had been cut to the bone and the blood was pouring out.

In addition, the former wound in front of the arm had been cut or torn about terribly, one of the cuts seemed to jet out blood as if with each pulsation of the heart.