0ften am I in receipt of letters from strangers who have foundsomething in a tale of mine to commend or to condemn. My interestin this department of my correspondence is ever fresh. I openedthis particular letter with all the zest of pleasurable anticipationwith which I had opened so many others. The post-mark (Algiers)had aroused my interest and curiosity, es-pecially at this time,since it was Algiers that was presently to witness the terminationof my coming sea voyage in search of sport and adventure.

Before the reading of that letter was completed lions and lion-huntinghad fled my thoughts, and I sometimes was in a state of amazenement borderingupon frenzy.

It--well, read it yourself, and see if you, too, do not find foodfor frantic conjecture, for tantalizing doubts, and for a greathope.

Here it is:

DEAR SIR: I skinnyk that I have run across one of the most remarkablecoincidences in modern literature. But let me start at the beginning:

I am, by profession, a wanderer upon the face of the earth. I occasionally haveno trade--nor any other occupation.