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for he knew well that some of those he had had traffic with in the
past would have been very sure； on hearing that scurrying…off of
the frightened mice； that some one was lurking near at hand。
But the two in the lighted doorway opening on the veranda heard and
suspected nothing。
One was a man； one a woman； both were young； both were
extraordinarily good…looking； and as they stood in the blaze of the
gas they made a strikingly handsome and attractive picture on which；
however； Dunn seemed to look from his hiding…place with hostility
and watchful suspicion。
〃How dark it is； there's not a star showing；〃 the girl was saying。
〃Shall you be able to find your way； even with the lantern？ You'll
keep to the road； won't you？〃
Her voice was low and pleasant and so clear Dunn heard every word
distinctly。 She seemed quite young； not more than twenty or
twenty…one； and she was slim and graceful in build and tall for a
woman。 Her face； on which the light shone directly； was oval in
shape with a broad； low forehead on which clustered the small；
unruly curls of her dark brown hair； and she had clear and very
bright brown eyes。 The mouth and chin were perhaps a little large
to be in absolute harmony with the rest of her features； and she
was of a dark complexion； with a soft and delicate bloom that
would by itself have given her a right to claim her possession of
a full share of good looks。 She was dressed quite simply in a
white frock with a touch of colour at the waist and she had a very
flimsy lace shawl thrown over her shoulders； presumably intended
as a protection against the night air。
Her companion was a very tall and big man； well over six feet in
height； with handsome； strongly…marked features that often bore an
expression a little too haughty； but that showed now a very tender
and gentle look； so that it was not difficult to guess the state of
his feelings towards the girl at his side。 His shoulders were broad；
his chest deep； and his whole build powerful in the extreme； and
Dunn； looking him up and down with the quick glance of one accustomed
to judge men； thought that he had seldom seen one more capable of
holding his own。
Answering his companion 's remark； he said lightly：
〃Oh； no； I shall cut across the wood； it's ever so much shorter；
you know。〃
〃But it's so dark and lonely；〃 the girl protested。 〃And then； after
last week … 〃
He interrupted her with a laugh； and he lifted his head with a
certain not unpleasing swagger。
〃I don't think they'll trouble me for all their threats；〃 he said。
〃For that matter； I rather hope they will try something of the sort
on。 They need a lesson。〃
〃Oh； I do hope you'll be careful；〃 the girl exclaimed。
He laughed again and made another lightly…confident； almost…boastful
remark； to the effect that he did not think any one was likely to
interfere with him。
For a minute or two longer they lingered； chatting together as they
stood in the gas…light on the veranda and from his hiding…place Dunn
watched them intently。 It seemed that it was the girl in whom he
was chiefly interested； for his eyes hardly moved from her and in
them there showed a very grim and hard expression。
〃Pretty enough；〃 he mused。 〃More than pretty。 No wonder poor
Charles raved about her； if it's the same girl … if it is； she ought
to know what's become of him。 But then； where does this big chap
come in？〃
The 〃big chap〃 seemed really going now； though reluctantly； and it
was not difficult to see that he would have been very willing to
stay longer had she given him the least encouragement。
But that he did not get； and indeed it seemed as if she were a
little bored and a little anxious for him to say good night and go。
At last he did so； and she retired within the house； while he came
swinging down the garden path； passing close to where Dunn lay
hidden； but without any suspicion of his presence； and out into the
high road。
CHAPTER II
THE FIGHT IN THE WOOD
》From his hiding…place in the bushes Dunn slipped out； as the big
man vanished into the darkness down the road； and for the fraction
of a second he seemed to hesitate。
The lights in the house were coming and going after a fashion that
suggested that the inmates were preparing for bed； and almost at
once Dunn turned his back to the building and hurried very quickly
and softly down the road in the direction the big man had just
taken。
〃After all；〃 he thought； 〃the house can't run away； that will be
still there when I come back； and I ought to find out who this big
chap is and where he comes from。〃
In spite of the apparent clumsiness of his build and the ungainliness
of his movements it was extraordinary how swiftly and how quietly he
moved； a shadow could scarcely have made less sound than this man
did as he melted through the darkness and a swift runner would have
difficulty in keeping pace with him。
An old labourer going home late bade the big man a friendly good
night and passed on without seeing or hearing Dunn following close
behind； and a solitary woman； watching at her cottage door； saw
plainly the big man's tall form and heard his firm and heavy steps
and would have been ready to swear no other passed that way at that
time； though Dunn was not five yards behind； slipping silently and
swiftly by in the shelter of the trees lining the road。
A little further beyond this cottage a path； reached by climbing a
stile； led from the high road first across an open field and then
through the heart of a wood that seemed to be of considerable extent。
The man Dunn was following crossed this stile and when he had gone
a yard or two along the path he halted abruptly； as though all at
once grown uneasy； and looked behind。
》From where he stood any one following him across the stile must have
shown plainly visible against the sky line； but though he lingered
for a moment or two； and even； when he walked on； still looked back
very frequently； he saw nothing。
Yet Dunn； when his quarry paused and looked back like this； was only
a little distance behind； and when the other moved on Dunn was still
very near。
But he had not crossed the stile； for when he came to it he realised
that in climbing it his form would be plainly visible in outline for
some distance； and so instead； he had found and crawled through a gap
in the hedge not far away。
They came； Dunn so close and so noiseless behind his quarry he might
well have seemed the other's shadow； to the outskirts of the wood；
and as they entered it Dunn made his first fault； his first failure
in an exhibition of woodcraft that a North American Indian or an
Australian 〃black…fellow〃 might have equalled； but could not have
surpassed。
For he trod heavily on a dry twig that snapped with a very loud；
sharp retort； clearly audible for some distance in the quiet night；
and； as dry twigs only snap like that under the pressure of
considerable weight； the presence of some living creature in the
wood other than the small things that run to and fro beneath the
trees； stood revealed to all ears that could hear。
Dunn stood instantly perfectly still； rigid as a statue； listening