e he would encounter before long,
running at right angles across his path, and this he felt equally sure
would be the way down into the gorge and to Leather's home.

"And if he can go down it," said Nic to himself, "I can, and what's
more, I will."

But at the end of another hour there was no sign of any rift such as he
had pictured, and beginning to grow hot and weary, he turned to find a
sheltered spot where he could rest and refresh himself with some of the
provisions that he had intended to share with the convict, when, to his
astonishment, he found himself face to face with him, for Leather stood
with his back against a stone.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

IN SANCTUARY.

"You here?" cried Nic excitedly.

"I have been following you for the last hour," was the quiet reply.

"And I've been tramping along here for nothing. Why didn't you speak?"

"Because I wanted you to tramp along there for nothing," replied the
convict. "You were not looking for me--I could see that. You were
trying to find a way down there below."

"Well, yes, I was," said Nic, who felt startled by his companion's
keenness; "but I _wanted_ to see you too."

"Well, have you found anything?"

"You know I've not," cried Nic. "I say, you might trust me. How do you
get there?"

"Why should I show you the way to the only place of safety I have got?"

"Because you like me," said Nic, with a smile, as he held out his hand,
which the other grasped and held.

"Yes," he said; "you made me like you, Nic, and brought me back a little
to a better belief in human kind just when I was growing day by day more
and more into a brute--a savage. Well, I will show you; but you are
tired now."

"Not too tired for that," said Nic eagerly, for there was a suggestion
of adventure which attracted him. "I'm ready. Are you going to bind my
eyes again? You can if you like, and then you can lead me down and I
shall not know the way."

"Why should I do that when I said that I would trust you? Besides,"
said the convict rather grimly, "you will want your eyes."

"Is it dangerous?" cried Nic.

"In places; but you will not shrink."

"Is it far?"

"A mile from here. This way, then. But wait a few minutes."

Nic stared, for the convict suddenly darted to one side and disappeared,
leaving the boy wondering at his singular behaviour. Then there was
utter silence, and it seemed as if he had gone for good.

All at once he reappeared from quite a diffe