"
"How shall I communicate with you?"
"Only by word of mouth. When you have anything to say, write to
me--there is my address"--he pointed to his card--"Duke Street, St.
James's. Write just three lines, asking me to lunch, nothing more; I
shall understand."
"And about this hated McKay?"
"Let me know when he returns to the Crimea. We shall be able to hit
upon a plan then. But it will require some thought, and a reckless,
unscrupulous tool."
"I know the very man. He is devoted to my interests, and a bitter
enemy of McKay's."
"We shall succeed then, never fear," and with these words Mr. Hobson
took his leave.
CHAPTER XXIII.
WAR TO THE KNIFE.
Since we left him at Gibraltar McKay had led a busy life. The "Horse
Purchase" was in full swing upon the north front, where, in a short
space of time, many hundreds of animals were picketed ready for
shipment to the East. Having set this part of his enterprise on foot,
he had proceeded to the Spanish ports on the Eastern coast and
repeated the process.
Alicante was the great centre of his operations on this side, and
there, by means of dealers and contractors, he speedily collected a
large supply of mules. They were kept in the bull-ring and the grounds
adjoining, a little way out of the town. A number of native muleteers
were engaged to look after them, and McKay succeeded in giving the
whole body of men and mules some sort of military organisation.
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