to you? Ah, yes, and I, too, remember now that you
appeared to be disconcerted. You recognized them, of course?"

"Yes, we recognized them," Miss Belcher admitted. But let me
finish:--"

"'Right fork, four feet. Red cave under hill, four hundred and
seventy-five yards from foot of tree, N.N.W. The stones here,
under rock four spans, left side'"

"--Which means, I suppose, that the cave lies some way up the face of
the rock, and can only be seen by climbing out upon the right fork of
the tree; and that the stones--that is to say, the jewels--are hidden
under a rock to the left; which rock either measures four spans or
lies, four spans within the entrance of the cave."

"I know of no such cave, ma'am," said Dr. Beauregard, bending his
brows. "Though, to be sure, the cliff is of a reddish colour
thereabouts, due to a drip of water and the growth of some small
fungus."

"I was a fool," said Captain Branscome, "to leave the tools in the
gig. If we go back to fetch them, sunset will be upon us before we
get to work."

The Doctor rose, with a smile.

"You might have guessed, sir, that I am not unprovided with spades
and picks, or with ropes and a ladder, which also I foresee we shall
need. Come; if you have drunk your tea, I will ask you to follow me
into the house--the ladies included--and choose your outfit."

They went in after him. I was in the act of following--I had, in
fact, taken a couple of steps towards the French window--when a
slight shiver seemed to run through my hair, and I stood still.

"Little boy!"

The words came in a whisper from the end of the verandah. I stole
back, and, leaning well across the rail, peered around the corner of
the house.

"Little boy!" whispered the voice again, and I saw the little lady of
the graveyard. She was standing close back against the
side-boarding, her body almost flattened against it. "Come," she
whispered, beckoning with a timid glance over her shoulder towards
the rear of the house.

I looked at her for a second or two, and shook my head.

"But you must come," she insisted, still in a whisper, and took a
step or two as if to entice me after her. Then she halted, and,
seeing that I made no motion to follow, came tip-toeing back.

"If you do not come," she said, "he will kill you! He will
sar-tain-ly kill you all!"

She nodded vehemently, and so, after another glance to right and
left, beckoned to me once again. Her face