e approaches the spot, by himself
made bloody. Trembling, nevertheless, and with cheeks pale. _Not_
strange. He is about being brought face to face with the man he has
murdered--with his corpse!

Nothing of the kind. There is no murdered man there, no corpse! Only a
gun, a hat, and some blotches of crimson!

Does Darke rejoice at seeing only this? Judging by his looks, the
reverse. Before, he only trembled slightly, with a hue of pallor on his
cheeks. Now his lips show white, his eyes sunken in their sockets,
while his teeth chatter and his whole frame shivers as if under an ague
chill!

Luckily for the assassin this tale-telling exhibition occurs under the
shadow of the great cypress, whose gloomy obscurity guards against its
being observed. But to counteract this little bit of good luck there
chances to be present a detective that trusts less to sight, than scent.
This is Clancy's dog. As Darke presents himself in the circle of
searchers collected around it, the animal perceiving, suddenly springs
towards him with the shrill cry of an enraged cat, and the elastic leap
of a tiger!

But for Simeon Woodley seizing the hound, and holding it back, the
throat of Richard Darke would be in danger.

It is so, notwithstanding.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Around the blood-stained spot there is a pause; the searchers forming a
tableau strikingly significant. They have come up, to the very last
lagger; and stand in attitudes expressing astonishment, with glances
that speak inquiry. These, not directed to the ground, nor straying
through the trees, but fixed upon Dick Darke.

Strange the antipathy of the dog, which all observe! For the animal,
soon as let loose, repeats its hostile demonstrations, and has to be
held off again. Surely it signifies something, and this bearing upon
the object of their search? The inference is unavoidable.

Darke is well aware their eyes are upon him, as also their thoughts.
Fortunate for him, that night-like shadow surrounding. But for it, his
blanched lips, and craven cast of countenance, would tell a tale to
condemn him at once--perhaps to punishment on the spot.

As it if, his scared condition is not unnoticed. It is heard, if not
clearly seen. Two or three, standing close to him, can hear his teeth
clacking like castanets!

His terror is trebly intensified--from a threefold cause. Seeing no
body first gave him a shock