nding to make a circle, and
coming in their rear, follow cautiously until these strangers have
passed up the stream beyond the point where the boat is tied to the
shore. He then will return the boat. After reporting to Sir Donald and
Esther, the police shall be notified, and together they will search for
the missing body.

Oswald continued for some distance, but saw no chance, without
detection, of getting back of those in the rear. In this way he traveled
until entirely exhausted. Crawling a few rods out of their path, but in
full view, he watched them, expecting to be seen.

Four men passed between him and the shore. One remarked: "Say, pards,
that empty boat down there looks suspicious. Why hasn't anybody showed
up? Wonder what's their bloody lay."

"Oh, you're a little off, old chappie, to-night! Guess that red bottle
you emptied got you a bloody eye!"

The quartette gave a boisterous laugh, and passed by.

When these were out of sight, Oswald arose and started back toward the
boat, but soon was compelled again to sit down. Despairing of his
ability to return that night, he crawled into some bushes away from the
path, and slept.

The sun is brightly shining when he awakes. His left arm is sore, but he
finds that it is only a deep flesh wound, which had caused excessive
flow of blood. The complications of his position daze Oswald. How can he
return and give information of Alice Webster's death? What reasonable
excuse can be assigned for his delay? How seemingly transparent this
yarn! Will it not be evident that he manufactured a tissue of
falsehoods, and to clinch these preposterous lies inflicted on himself
this slight wound?

Return is not to be considered. There is no avoiding the gallows but in
flight. But how escape?

Oswald feels feverish thirst, and hoping to find clear water follows
toward its source a muddy little rivulet emptying into the river. In
this way he travels about a mile from shore, where, in the corner of a
fenced strip of ground, are a boy and a girl drinking from a clear
stream.

Frightened by this pale-looking, bareheaded tramp, the children fled.
Oswald drank deeply of the refreshing water, and was moving away, when a
loud voice commanded him to stop. Looking up, Oswald saw a burly
citizen, just over the fence, puffing with swelling sense of
proprietorship.

Oswald's combative faculties are aroused, and in defiant attitude he
awaits the attack.

"Who be ye, man, and what ye do