oods, guiding their
steps by a ship lantern.

Where were they going? Was Black Rock Creek a regular hiding place of
the "Terror?" Had her commander a depot here for stores or
provisions? Did they come here to restock their craft, when the whim
of their wild voyaging brought them to this part of the continent?
Did they know this deserted, uninhabited spot so well, that they had
no fear of ever being discovered here?

"What shall we do?" whispered Wells.

"Wait till they return, and then--" My words were cut short by a
surprise. The men were not thirty feet from us, when, one of them
chancing to turn suddenly, the light of their lantern fell full upon
his face.

He was one of the two men who had watched before my house in Long
Street! I could not be mistaken! I recognized him as positively as my
old servant had done. It was he; it was assuredly one of the spies of
whom I had never been able to find any further traces! There was no
longer any doubt, my warning letter had come from them. It was
therefore from the "Master of the World"; it had been written from
the "Terror" and this was the "Terror." Once more I asked myself what
could be the connection between this machine and the Great Eyrie!

In whispered words, I told Wells of my discovery. His only comment
was, "It is all incomprehensible!"

Meanwhile the two men had continued on their way to the woods, and
were gathering sticks beneath the trees. "What if they discover our
encampment?" murmured Wells.

"No danger, if they do not go beyond the nearest trees."

"But if they do discover it?"

"They will hurry back to their boat, and we shall be able to cut off
their retreat."

Toward the creek, where their craft lay, there was no further sound.
I left my hiding-place; I descended the ravine to the quay; I stood
on the very spot where the grappling-iron was fast among the rocks.

The "Terror" lay there, quiet at the end of its cable. Not a light
was on board; not a person visible, either on the deck, or on the
bank. Was not this my opportunity? Should I leap on board and there
await the return of the two men?

"Mr. Strock!" It was Wells, who called to me softly from close at
hand.

I drew back in all haste and crouched down beside him. Was it too
late to take possession of the boat? Or would the attempt perhaps
result in disaster from the presence of others watching on board?

At any rate, the two men with the lantern were close at hand
returning down