her and let out a curse; but the girl was his match, though
timmersome enough in an ordinary way.

"Iss, iss," she said scornful-like; "I know the kind of coward you are,
Mr. Phoby Geen. But I bless this here corner of the road twice over;
first because it has given me a look into your sneaking heart, and next
because 'tis within earshot of Halsetown, where I've a brace of tall
cousins living that would beat you to a jelly if you dared lift a hand
against me. I'm turning back to ask one of them to see me home; and he'll
not deny me, as he'll not be backward to pound every bone in your
ill-shapen body if he hears what I've to tell."

Phoby Geen glowered at her for half a minute longer, and then snapped his
fingers.

"As it happens," said he, "you're doing me a cruel injustice; but we
needn't talk of that. A man o' my savings--though you've sneezed at 'em--
doesn't want to be searching the country for two-hundred-and-fifty
pound."

He swung on his heel and walked off towards St. Ives. Amelia Sanders
watched him round the next bend, and turning, began to run homewards for
dear life, when, just at the corner, she fell into the arms of Tummels.

"A nice dance you've led me," grunted Tummels, as she fought down her
hysterics. "I've been pulling hot-foot after the man all the way from
Penzance. I tracked him there; but you and he between you gave me the
slip in the crowd. 'Tis the Lord's mercy you didn' lead him all the way
to Stack's Folly: for if I'd a-caught up with him there I must have
committed murder upon him."

"Oh, take me home!" sobbed Amelia Sanders.

"Take you home? How the dickens be I to take you home?" Tummels demanded.
"I've got to follow that villain into St. Ives if he goes so far, and
stick to him like a shadow."

So Amelia Sanders trudged it back to Porthleven, calling herself every
name but what she was christened: and Phoby Geen trudged it fore to St.
Ives, cursing his luck, but working out a problem in his wicked little
mind. At the top of the hill over the town he stood quiet for a minute
and snapped his fingers again. Since 'twas near St. Ives that Dan'l lay
in hiding, what could the hiding-place be but Stack's Folly! Tummels had
hidden him: Tummels' brother-in-law rented the farm of Stack's Folly and
kept the keys of the house. Why, the thing fitted in like a child's
puzzle! Why hadn't he thought of it before?

None the less he did not turn aside towards the great desolate ba