e, 'I'll walk down
for the boat tomorrow. If I get down there to-night I shall stay, and I
want to write some letters. Goodbye, old fellow. Send us a line in the
morning.'

'All right,' said Barndale. 'Good-bye.'

The sculls dipped, and he shot into the darkness. For a few minutes we
follow Barndale. He pulled down stream rapidly, for the train by which
he intended to reach town was already nearly due. There was nobody
at the landing place. He fastened the boat, and seizing his small
portmanteau, dashed at full speed into the road, ran all the way to the
station, and threw himself into the train panting, and just in time. At
the bottom of the station steps he had spilt a countryman, to whom he
threw out a hurried apology. The countryman was Mr. Hodges.

The Greek listened until the measured beat of Barndale's sculls had
lost itself in silence. Then he crept forward from the bushes, stepped
lightly to the margin of the stream, laid both hands on a sturdy branch
which drooped above the house-boat, and swung himself light as a feather
to the after deck The door of the rear room, which served the inmates
as a kitchen, was unsecured and open. He passed through, pistol in hand,
and trod the matted floor stealthily, drawn and guided by the tiny beam
of light which issued from the interstice between it and the doorway.
With the motion of the boat the door beat idly and noiselessly to and
fro, so that the beam was cut off at regular intervals, and at regular
intervals again shone forth, keeping time with the Greek's noiseless
footsteps, and his beating heart and his bated breath, and altogether
taking to itself that importance and force which trifles always have in
moments of intense passion or suffering. Even yet he would not let the
madman within him loose. Even yet he would hold him back until he saw
the object of his hate and rage, and then----

The door swung to and fro gently, and the Greek approached it with
his hand, when suddenly the unconscious Leland from within banged it to
noisily and fixed the hasp. Then with one resolute action Demetri threw
it back and stepped into the doorway, pistol in hand. Leland rose
and turned. He saw the Greek, and read murder in his face, and dashed
himself upon him. But the murderous hand was quick and true. One shot
rang out, and Leland, with outcast arms, fell backwards. The Greek, with
a hand on the table, looked down upon him. Not a struggle or a groan
stirred the prone figure. D