se the turmoil of the water drowned the
splash, but Charnock lost his balance and rolled off the logs. He fell
into the snow, and when he got up the man had gone.

For a few moments he stood still, hesitating and abusing his folly. He
did not know if the fellow had seen the drill fly past or not, but he
had thrown away his weapon, and might have a dangerous antagonist.
For all that, he meant to discover who his antagonist was. Floundering
through the snow, he reached the end of the pile, but found nobody
there. The lumber gang had made a path along the water's edge, but
Charnock could see nobody among the scattered trees. He climbed to
the top of the logs and looked down on the other side, but saw nothing
between the water and the pile.

After this, he felt the fastening of the chain, which did not seem to
have been tampered with, because the toggle was securely fixed
across the strap-link. Then he crept about the pile again, with an
uncomfortable feeling that the other might be lying in wait for him, but
saw nothing suspicious, and there was no use in examining the trampled
snow. By and by he gave up the search and returned to the path, feeling
disturbed. It was impossible to guess what the man had meant to do, or
who he was, but Charnock resolved to watch.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE LEWIS BOLT

Charnock went back next morning and examined the chain, but found none
of the links or fastenings damaged. This was puzzling, and he wondered
whether the man he had seen, knowing that somebody was about, had
stolen away without beginning what he came to do. The explanation was
plausible, but left Charnock uncertain who the fellow was. He suspected
Wilkinson, but only because he could think of nobody else with any
ground for wishing to do him or Festing an injury.

On the whole, he thought it better not to tell Festing. It was rather an
improbable story, and Stephen might think him imaginative, but he would
watch and try to catch the fellow if he came again. For a week, he made
excuses for going out after supper, and Festing did not object although
he looked surprised, but he saw nothing and it was very cold lurking
about the track. Moreover he was generally tired after his day's hard
work, and was glad to give up the search.

Some time later, he returned from Norton's office one night and had
reached the track when he saw a man coming obliquely up the slope. There
was moonlight, and the snow glittered between the shadows