ners. He had the intense perception of a delicate plant,
those wonderful warnings which only come to those who live close to
nature, who study from feeling the thousand moods and tenses of living
vegetables and animal life. He was a born hunter, and it was not easy
to surprise him when every nerve was sharp with premonition. He saw
the marks of the hoofs of Sheila's and her mother's horses in the road,
knowing them by the freshness of the indentations. An hour, two hours
passed, and they then approached the monasterial ruin of which Boland
had spoken. Here, suddenly, Dyck dropped to the ground, for he saw
unmistakable signs of fright or flurry in the hoofmarks.

He quickly made examination, and there were signs of women's feet and
also a bare native foot, but no signs of struggle or disturbance. The
footprints, both native and white, were firmly placed, but the horses'
hoof-prints showed agitation. Presently the hoofmarks became more
composed again. Suddenly one of Dyck's supporters exclaimed he had
picked up a small piece of ribbon, evidently dropped to guide those who
might come searching. Presently another token was found in a loose bit
of buckle from a shoe. Then, suddenly, upon the middle of the road was a
little pool of blood and signs that a body had lain in the dust.

"She shot a native here," said Dyck to his men coolly. "There are no
signs of a struggle," remarked the most observant.

"We must go carefully here, for they may have been imprisoned in the
ruin. You stay here, and I'll go forward," he added, with a hand on
his sword. "I've an idea they're here. We have one chance, my lads,
and let's keep our heads. If anything should happen to me, have a
try yourselves, and see what you can do. The ladies must be freed, if
they're there. There's not one of you that won't stand by to the last,
but I want your oath upon it. By the heads or graves of your mothers,
lads, you'll see it through? Up with your hands!"

Their hands went up. "By our mothers' heads or graves!" they said in low
tones.

"Good!" he replied. "I'll go on ahead. If you hear a call, or a shot
fired, forward swiftly."

An instant later he plunged into the woods to the right of the road, by
which he would come upon the ruins from the rear. He held a pistol as he
stole carefully yet quickly forward. He was anxious there should be no
delay, but he must not be rash. Without meeting anyone he came near the
ruins. They showed serene in the shade of