ight in other things.
The shape of these traces indicates that they were made by human feet,
and their closeness together shows that the man stood looking at the
house. If he had been walking along they would be much wider apart."

He examined the traces again with long and minute care.

"The toes point toward the house, consequently he was looking at it,"
he said. "He was a heavy man, and he stood here a long time, not moving
from his tracks. That's why he left these traces, which are so clear and
evident to me, George, although they're hidden from a blind man like you."

"Well, what of it?"

"Nothing much to you, but a lot to me."

He rose to his feet and examined the boughs of the pine.

"As I thought," he whispered with great satisfaction. "Despite his
courage and power over himself, both of which were very great, he became
a little excited. Doubtless he saw something that stirred him deeply."

"What under the stars are you talking about, Harry?"

"See, he broke off three twigs of the pine. Just snapped them in two
with nervous fingers. Here are pieces lying on the ground. Now, a man
does that sort of thing almost unconsciously. He will not reach up for
the twig or down for it, but he breaks it because it presents itself to
him at the corner of his eye. This man was six feet in height or more
and built very powerfully. I think I know him! Yes, I'm sure I know
him! Nor is it at all strange that he should be here."

"Shall we make a thorough search for him among the pines? You say he's
tall and built powerfully. But maybe the two of us could master him,
and if not we could call for help."

"Too late, George. He left a long time ago, and he took with him what he
wanted. We needn't look any farther."

"Lead on, then, King of Trailers and Master of Secrets! If the mighty
Caliph, Haroun al Kenton, wishes to prowl in these grounds, seeking the
heart of some great conspiracy, it is not for his loyal vizier, the
Sheikh Ul Dalton to ask him questions."

"I'm not certain that a vizier is a sheikh."

"Nor am I, but I'm certain that I want to go home and go to bed. Vikings
of the land like ourselves can't stand much luxury. It weakens the
tissues, made strong on the march and in the fields."

They left the grounds silently and unobserved and soon were in their own
quarters, where they slept nearly the whole day. Then they spent three
or four days more in the social affairs which were such a ke