lower floor the sign of
any other presence in the house but my own. Passing hastily through what
appeared to be a sort of rude parlor, I stepped into the kitchen and
tried one of the windows. Finding I could easily lift it from the
inside, I drew my breath with ease for the first time since I had
alighted among the broken glass above, and turning back, deliberately
opened the door of the kitchen stove, and looked in. As I half expected,
I found a pile of partly charred rags, showing where the wretches had
burned their prison clothing, and proceeding further, picked up from
the ashes a ring which whether or not they were conscious of having
attempted to destroy in this way I cannot say, but which I thankfully
put in my pocket against the day it might be required as proof.

Discerning nothing more in that quarter inviting interest, I asked
myself if I had nerve to descend into the cellar. Finally concluding
that that was more than could be expected from any man in my position, I
gave one look of farewell to the damp and desolate walls about me, then
with a breath of relief jumped from the kitchen window again into the
light and air of day. As I did so I could swear I heard a door within
that old house swing on its hinges and softly close. With a thrill I
recognized the fact that it came from the cellar.

* * * *

My thoughts on the road back to Melville were many and conflicting.
Chief above them all, however, rose the comfortable conclusion that in
the pursuit of one mysterious affair, I had stumbled, as is often the
case, upon the clue to another of yet greater importance, and by so
doing got a start that might yet redound greatly to my advantage. For
the reward offered for the recapture of the Schoenmakers was large, and
the possibility of my being the one to put the authorities upon their
track, certainly appeared after this day's developements, open at least
to a very reasonable hope. At all events I determined not to let the
grass grow under my feet till I had informed the Superintendent of what
I had seen and heard that day in the old haunt of these two escaped
convicts.

Arrived at the public house in Melville, and learning that Mr. Blake had
safely returned there an hour before, I drew the landlord to one side
and asked what he could tell me about that old house of the two noted
robbers Schoenmaker, I had passed on my way back among the hills.

"Wa'al now," replied he,