som. Later on, they left me alone. Then I heard two shots and, a
little after, they returned with his lordship and Miss Bakefield. Both
of them had their hands and feet tied."

"At what time did all this happen?" asked Simon, quivering with
impatience.

"Nine o'clock, sir, or thereabouts."

"Then they have a day's start of us?"

"Oh, no! There were provisions in the saddle-bags. They sat eating and
drinking and then went to sleep. It was at least two o'clock in the
afternoon when they strapped his lordship and Miss Bakefield to a
couple of horses and started."

"In what direction?"

"That way," said the man-servant, pointing.

"Antonio," cried Simon, "we must catch them before night! The
ruffian's escort is on foot. Three hours' gallop will be enough.
. . ."

"Our horses are badly done up," objected the Indian.

"They've got to get there, if it kills them."

Simon Dubosc gave the servant his instructions:

"Get Mr. Rolleston under shelter in the wreck, look after him and
don't leave him for a second. Jim, can I count on you?"

"Yes."

"And on your father?"

"All depends."

"Fifty pounds for him if the wounded man is in Brighton, safe and
sound, in two days' time."

"Make it a hundred," said Jim. "Not a penny less."

"Very well, a hundred."

At six o'clock in the evening, Simon and Antonio returned to the
Indians' camp. They quickly bridled and saddled their horses, while
Old Sandstone, who was strolling around, ran up to them shouting:

"My fault, Simon! I swear we are over my fault, the fault in the Paris
basin, which I traced to Maromme and near the Ridin de Dieppe . . .
the one whose fracture caused the whole upheaval. Get on your horse,
so that I may give you my proofs. There's a regular Eocene and
Pliocene mixture over there which is really typical. . . . Heavens,
man, listen to me, can't you?"

Simon stepped up to him and, with drawn features, shouted:

"This is no time to listen to your nonsense!"

"What do you mean?" stammered the old fellow, utterly bewildered.

"Mean? Why, shut up!"

And the young man leapt into the saddle:

"Are you coming, Antonio?"

"Yes. My mates will follow our trail. I shall leave a mark from spot
to spot; and I hope we shall all be united again to-morrow."

As they were starting, Dolores, on horseback, brought up her mount
alongside theirs.

"No!" said Antonio. "You come on with the others. The professor can't
walk all the time."

She made no rep