the contrary. I maintained a keen
watch at the mouth of the cavern until about midnight, my estimate of
the time being based upon the position and posture of the Southern Cross
in the sky--that constellation being visible from the mouth of the
cavern--when Mrs Vansittart came stealing out to me with the whispered
enquiry as to whether I was not tired enough to require a relief. As a
matter of fact I was, and did not hesitate to say so, since the night
was quiet, I had seen nothing of a suspicious character, and Julius had
had a good long rest. The lady retired, and presently Julius came
along, gaping and yawning, and stretched himself out beside me. I
remained with him, conversing in low whispers, for about ten minutes,
until I was satisfied that he was broad awake, and then, with a final
word of caution, I left him and retreated to my own couch, where I soon
fell asleep.

I had been asleep about an hour when I was startled into instant
wakefulness by the sound of five rifle shots fired in quick succession;
and, rushing to the mouth of the cavern, I found Julius in a high state
of excitement. Seizing my arm as I came beside him, he exclaimed:

"See that, Walter?"

Looking in the direction toward which the lad pointed, I was able to
descry just dimly a motionless something lying in the pathway, about ten
yards from the mouth of the cavern, while something else, still more
dimly visible, but recognisable as a little crowd of men, appeared about
twice as far away, evidently in somewhat hasty retreat.

"I believe I hit him," continued Julius, his teeth chattering with
excitement as he fidgeted with his rifle.

"Hit him!" I interrupted; "I should think there is very little doubt
about that. The man appears to be dead."

As the words left my lips we were joined by the women folk, who,
awakened by the rifle shots, came in a body to where we stood,
clamouring to know what was the matter.

"Let me tell you just what happened," interposed the boy. "I was lying
down here, watching the path, with my rifle beside me, as I had been
doing ever since Walter left me. Everything was quite quiet; I had not
seen a thing, or heard a sound, and I was beginning to feel a bit
sleepy. So I stood up and moved about a bit to keep myself awake, since
Walter had told me it was of the utmost importance that a good look-out
should be kept. I just walked across and across the mouth of the
cavern, three steps this way and three that