ndon.

"My heart is in my mouth," he said. "A sudden fear has overtaken me.
This madman--it may be that he has turned against his own and those
who are his best friends. There is a thing lunatics will do. It
follows--while we are away--do you not see? There are only two women
at 'Crow's Nest' now, and he might come and make a clean sweep--is
it not so?"

"You think that?"

"With God and the devil all things are possible," answered the
other, his eyes lifted to the house on the cliffs.

"You're right. Run in. There may be a danger for her."

Doria was triumphant.

"Even you do not think of everything," he cried; but the other did
not answer. On him lay a load of responsibility and a heavy sense of
failure.

He directed Doria how to act, however.

"Tell Mrs. Pendean and the servant to lock up the house and then
join us," he said. "They had better come to Dartmouth, and they can
return presently with you, after you have landed me. Beg that they
do not delay a moment."

Doria obeyed and in ten minutes returned with Jenny, dazed and pale,
and the frightened domestic still fumbling at her bodice buttons.
They were both in great fear and full of words; but Brendon begged
them to be quiet. He warned Jenny that the worst was to be dreaded
for her uncle, and their awful news reduced her to silence quickly
enough. Thus they sped on their way, leaped between the harbour
heads before sunrise, and soon came ashore at the landing stage.

Doria's work was now done and, having directed him to take the women
back, Mark bade them all keep the house until more news should reach
them.

"Telephone to the police station if you have anything to report," he
directed, "but should the man appear and attempt to enter, prevent
him from doing so."

He gave them further directions and then they parted.

In half an hour the news had spread, search parties set out by land,
and Brendon himself, with Inspector Damarell and two constables, put
to sea in the harbour-master's swift steam launch. Some food had
been brought aboard and Mark made a meal as he described the
incidents of the night. It was eight o'clock before they reached the
cavern and began a methodical search over the ground and upward.
Mark had arranged with Doria that a signal should fly from "Crow's
Nest" for him if there were any news; but nothing had happened, for
the flagpole was bare.

Then began a laborious hunt in the cave and the tunnel by which it
was approached