terprises. What could
Isabel and her father do, beset by criminals of the worst type?

"Good God!" exclaimed Simon. "How could Lord Bakefield be so rash as
to risk this journey? Look here, Antonio, the lady's-maid told you
that Lord Bakefield had gone to London by train, with his wife and
daughter. . . ."

"A misunderstanding," declared the Indian. "He must have seen the
duchess to the station and arranged the expedition with Miss
Bakefield."

"Then they're alone, those two?"

"No, they have two men-servants with them. It's the four riders whose
tracks we picked up."

"What imprudence!"

"Imprudence, yes. Miss Bakefield told you of it in the intercepted
letter, counting on you to take the necessary measures to protect her.
Moreover, Lord Bakefield had given orders to his secretary, Williams,
and his valet, Charles, to join them. That is why those two poor
fellows were put out of action on the road by Rolleston and his six
accomplices."

"Those are the men I'm afraid of," said Simon, hoarsely. "Have Lord
Bakefield and his daughter escaped them? Did the departure of which
Miss Bakefield speaks take place before their arrival? How can we find
out? Where are we to look for them?"

"Here," said Antonio.

"On this deserted wreck?"

"There's a whole crowd inside the wreck," the Indian affirmed. "Here,
we'll begin by questioning the boy who is watching us over there."

Leaning against the stump of a broken mast, stood a lean, pasty-faced
gutter-snipe, with his hands in his pockets, smoking a huge cigar.
Simon went up to him, muttering:

"Very like one of Lord Bakefield's favourite Havanas. . . . Where did
you sneak that cigar?" he asked.

"I ain't sneaked nuffin, sure as my name's Jim. It was giv' me."

"Who gave it you?"

"My old man."

"Where is he, your old man?"

"Listen. . . ."

They listened. A noise echoed beneath their feet in the bowels of the
wreck. It sounded like the regular blows of a hammer.

"That's my old man, smashin' 'er up," said the urchin, grinning.

"Tell me," said Simon, "have you seen an elderly gentleman and a young
lady who came here on horseback?"

"Dunno," said the boy, carelessly. "Ask my old man."

Simon drew Antonio to where a companion-ladder led from the deck to
the first-class cabins, as a still legible inscription informed them.
They were going down the ladder when Simon, leading the way, struck
his foot against something and nearly fell. By the light of a
pocke