ickered among the trees.

"A polisman's trick," Pete said in a low voice. "A poacher would not
ha' let ye see the light."

Foster felt that he must find out who the men were. The thing was
risky, but it was worth trying, and he crawled out from behind the
stones. The rock was rough and wet; his hand plunged into some water
and he scraped his knee, but he made a few yards and then stopped and
lay flat as the light went out. It looked as if the others had heard
him, and he lowered his head until his face was buried in withered
fern. There was silence for a few moments, and then his nerves tingled
as he heard steps; the men, he thought, were coming out to look for
him. He did not move, however, and the footsteps got farther off. By
and by there was a sharp rustle and he cautiously looked up. Two hazy
figures showed among the trees, but it was plain that they were going
away.

It was impossible to follow them without being heard, and he waited
until Pete joined him. So far as he could judge by the noise they
made, the men were hurrying across the bog.

"They're awa', but I wouldna' say they'll no' come back," Pete
remarked. "If they dinna' strike the right place, they'll no' find it
easy to cross the burn. She rins in a deep cut an' the bottom's saft."

"What's likely to happen if they get off the track?"

"Weel," said Pete, with a chuckle, "it's verra possible they'll stop in
the flow till morning, maybe up to the knees in mire. I dinna' think
there's much reason they should get in deeper, but they might."

"But suppose they find the way and cross the burn?"

"Then, if they ken the dale, I would expect them to haud a bit south
for Shopford, where they would find an inn, or maybe west by the
Clattering ford to Canonbie. If they dinna' ken, it's likely they'll
hae to sleep behind a dyke. Noo, however, we'll turn back and gang up
the dale."

They recrossed the bog and skirted the moor for some time, after which
they went down a long slope and reached a level space of grass and
heath. They followed it north until a light shone ahead and the
barking of dogs indicated that they were approaching a farm. Pete went
in first, and Foster did not know what explanation he gave, but the
farmer told him to sit down when he entered the big, flagged kitchen.
He was not surprised when a woman who came in looked at him curiously,
because he was wet and splashed, and bits of fern and heather stuck to
his clothes, bu