were a child. Presently he began to breathe heavily,
as old men breathe in sleep. But Jacqueline crouched there in the same
motionless silence, and I knew that she was awake and suffering.

And then my watch began hammering again, just as the alarm-clock had
hammered on that awful night in my apartment when I crouched outside
the door, not daring to go in. My mind was working against my will and
picturing a thousand possibilities.

What was Leroux doing? He would act with his usual hammer force. All
depended on Pierre.

The hours wore away, and we three lay there, two waiting and one
dreaming of the old days of youth, no doubt. I tried to light the
candle to see the time, but my shaking hand sent it flying across the
cave, and when I searched for my matches, I found that the box was
empty.

It seemed an eternity since we had come there. It is one thing to wait
for dawn and quite another thing to wait where dawn will never come.

It must be day. And still Pierre did not come. As I lay there,
listening for his returning footsteps, I heard Jacqueline breathe at
last.

She was asleep from weariness after her long night's watch. Somehow
the thought that she had passed into the world of dreams comforted me.
For a brief time the dreadful accusation of murder had been lifted from
my head, and my numbed mind was free to follow my will and leave its
mad career of fancy. I could act now.

Why should I not follow where Pierre had led? If Leroux had captured
him within his hut, as seemed only too likely, he would never return,
and we should wait in vain. And with each hour of waiting our chances
to escape grew less.

I resolved to follow the exit for a little distance to see whither it
led, and if I could discover the light of day.

So I took my sword and sallied out through the passage in the cliff.

CHAPTER XX

AT SWORDS' POINTS

I entered the tunnel, sword in hand, keeping both arms stretched out to
feel my way. I resolved that I would always keep the left hand in
contact with the wall upon that side, so that, in case the tunnel
should divide, by reversing the process I could ensure my safe return.

I had only proceeded a few steps when the air grew cold and sweet. And
before I had traversed two hundred yards I saw a dim light in the
distance. This was no candle light, but that of day. So I had endured
all those agonies of mind with the open air but a short distance away!

As I advanced I