ant of the hero--was passionately devoted to this page
of history, and used to sign himself `1 _versus_ 53,' and so, by yonder
sign, I know he lives, and lives looking for me to find him, and to read
the hand he wrote, which to all others would, of course, be utterly
unintelligible." And Leigh again set to and fairly danced with joy and
excitement at this truly singular and fortunate discovery.

Whilst being thoroughly surprised, Kenyon could but congratulate himself
at seeing the hall-mark of absolute accuracy thus unexpectedly stamped
upon every link in the chain of his pet theory, and both men were now
equally eager to descend the rocky pathway--the reason for the existence
of this last being, under the circumstances, a positive enigma to them--
and recommence their search for the lost one on the other side of the
kloof.

After a hasty breakfast, however, the pair decided that, as they were
already on the spot, it would be best to thoroughly satisfy themselves
regarding their own side of the chasm, more especially as, by the time
they had descended the rocky pathway and called at the camp, it would
have been too late to attempt the ascent of the cliffs, which were now
believed by them to provide a rampart for the enemy, and a prison for
their friend.

The twain, therefore, scrambled down the rocks facing towards the north,
and quickly found, as Kenyon had predicted, that the position on that
side was rendered altogether inaccessible by the presence of the swamp,
which just here was very much in evidence. In every direction, as far
as the eye could reach, it spread itself out brightly verdant and
inviting in the sunshine, but utterly treacherous and unstable, and the
nearer it approached to the rocks the more palpable did the fraud
appear, as, at the point where the stony ground impinged upon the veldt,
the swamp was little better than stagnant pools of slimy, evil-smelling
water, overgrown with reeds and rushes.

Re-ascending the rocks, Leigh and Kenyon sheltered themselves in the
woods from the rays of the vertical sun, utilising their time by making
themselves, as they believed, thoroughly conversant with the place, and
when the day began to grow towards evening, they left the bush-clothed
heights, and again turned their faces towards the camp.

Just as the pair commenced the descent of the narrow rocky path Kenyon
suddenly paused, and drew in his breath with an angry hiss, and
following the direction of his