from
view.

The two brothers might pass by within a few yards, or their paths might
diverge by miles, but in either case they would be equally invisible.
The only hope was to go on sending out the familiar cry, which would at
once prove their identity. "Not that we should be any better off with
them than without!" he told himself dolefully.

Margot did not ask for a completion of the unfinished sentence, perhaps
because she guessed only too truly its import. A few steps farther on
her foot came in contact with a stone hidden beneath a clump of furze;
she stumbled, tried in vain to recover herself, and fell forward on her
knees. The shock and the severe pricking which ensued forced a cry of
dismay, and the Editor turned back hurriedly, and uttered a startled
inquiry.

"Miss Vane, where are you?"

"I'm here!" replied a doleful voice, and a dark form stirred at his
feet. "I--_fell_! On a horrid bush! My hands are full of prickles."

"I'll light a match while you get them out. It's my fault. I might
have guessed what would happen. I'd like to kick myself for being so
thoughtless."

"Please don't! We don't want any more tribulations. I--I'm quite all
right!" cried Margot, with tremulous bravery. The flicker of a match
showed a pale face, and two little hands grimed with dust and earth.
She brushed them hastily together, and peered up into his face. "It's
pretty thick, isn't it?"

"Abominably thick! I have heard of the sudden way in which these
mountain mists come on, but I've never been in one before. I could kick
myself once more for not having noticed it sooner. I suppose I was too
much absorbed in our conversation."

The match died out, and there was a moment's silence, in which Margot
seemed to hear the beating of her own heart. Then in the darkness a
hand lifted hers, and placed it against an arm which felt reassuringly
solid.

"You must let me help you along. A moor is not the easiest place in the
world to cross in the dark. You won't mind my shouts? I want to let
the other fellows know where we are, if they are within hearing."

"Oh, I don't mind. I'll shout, too! They must be near. It seems
ridiculous that we can't see each other."

But still no answering cry came back, and Margot's sense of comfort in
the supporting arm gradually gave place to a revival of her first dread.
She shivered, and swallowed a lump in her throat before daring a
fateful question.

"Mr Elgood, do you kn