Part 23 (2/2)

”Splendid!” exclaimed Miss Raven, already excited to enthusiasm by these antiquarian discoveries. ”I wonder if there are inscriptions on the other tombs?”

”No doubt,” I a.s.sented, ”and perhaps some, or things of interest, on this fallen masonry. This place is well worth careful examination, and I'm wondering how it is that I haven't come across any reference to it in the local books. But to be sure, I haven't read them very fully or carefully--Mr. Cazalette may know of it. We shall have something to tell him.”

We began to look round again. I wandered into the base of the tower; Miss Raven began to explore the weed-choked ground towards the east end. Suddenly I heard a sharp, startled exclamation from her. Turning, I saw her standing by the great clump of overgrown gorse of which I have already spoken. She glanced at me; then at something behind the gorse.

”What is it?” I asked.

Unconsciously, she lowered her voice, at the same time glancing, half-nervously, at the thick undergrowth of the wood.

”Come here!” she said. ”Come!”

I went across the weed-grown surface to her side. She pointed behind the gorse-bush.

”Look there!” she whispered.

I knew as soon as I looked that we were not alone in that wild, solitary-seeming spot; that there were human ears listening, and human eyes watching; that we were probably in danger. There behind the yellow-starred clump of green was what at first sight appeared to be a newly-opened grave, but was in reality a freshly-dug excavation; a heap of soil and stone, just flung out, lay by it; on this some hand had flung down a mattock; near it rested a pick. And suddenly, as by a heaven-sent inspiration, I saw things. We had stumbled on the graveyard which Salter Quick had wished to find; de Knaythville and Netherfield were identical terms which had got mixed up in his uneducated mind; here the missing treasure was buried, and we had walked into this utterly deserted spot to interrupt--what, and who?

Before I could say a word, I heard Miss Raven catch her breath; then another sharp exclamation came from her lips--stifled, but clear.

”Oh, I say!” she cried. ”Who--who are these--these men?”

Her hand moved instinctively towards my arm as she spoke, and as I drew it within my grasp I felt that she was trembling a little. And in that same instant, turning quickly in the direction she indicated, I became aware of the presence of two men who had quietly stepped out from the shelter of the high undergrowth on the landward side of the clearing and stood silently watching us. They were attired in something of the fas.h.i.+on of seamen, in rough trousers and jerseys, but I saw at first glance that they were not common men. Indeed, I saw more, and realized with a sickening feeling of apprehension that our wandering into that place had brought us face to face with danger. One of the two, a tallish, slender-built, good-looking man, not at all unpleasant to look on if it had not been for a certain sinister and cold expression of eye and mouth, I recognized as a stranger whom I had noticed at the coroner's inquest on Salter Quick and had then taken for some gentleman of the neighbourhood. The other, I felt sure, was Netherfield Baxter. There was the golden-brown beard of which Fish had told me and Scarterfield; there, too, was the half-hidden scar on the left cheek. I had no doubt whatever that Miss Raven and myself were in the hands of the two men who had bought the _Blanchflower_ from Jallanby, the s.h.i.+p-broker of Hull.

The four of us stood steadily gazing at each other for what seemed to be a long and--to me--a painful minute. Then the man whom I took to be Baxter moved a little nearer to us; his companion, hands in pockets, but watchful enough, lounged after him.

”Well, sir?” said Baxter, lifting his cap as he glanced at Miss Raven.

”Don't think me too abrupt, nor intentionally rude, if I ask you what you and this young lady are doing here?”

His voice was that of a man of education and even of refinement, and his tone polite enough; there was something of apology in it. But it was also sharp, business-like, compelling; I saw at once that this was a man whose character was essentially matter-of-fact, and who would not allow himself to stick at trifles, and I judged it best to be plain in my answer.

”If you really want to know,” I replied, ”we are here by sheer accident. Exploring the wood for the mere fun of the thing, we chanced upon these ruins and have been examining them, that's all?”

”You didn't come here with any set purpose?” he asked, looking from one to the other. ”You weren't seeking this place?”

”Certainly not!” said I. ”We hadn't the faintest notion that such a place was to be found.”

”But here it is, anyway,” he said. ”And--there you are! In the possession of the knowledge of it. And so--you'll excuse me--I must ask a question. Who are you? Tourists? Or--do you live hereabouts?”

The other man made a remark under his breath, in some foreign language, eyeing me the while. And Baxter spoke again watching me.

”I think you, at any rate, are a resident?” he said. ”My friend has seen you before in these parts.”

”I have seen him,” I said unthinkingly. ”I saw him amongst the people at Salter Quick's inquest.”

The faintest shadow of an understanding glance pa.s.sed between the two men, and Baxter's face grew stern.

”Just so!” he remarked. ”That makes it all the more necessary to repeat my question. Who are you--both?”

<script>