interesting chat."




CHAPTER XVII--THE MYSTERY OF "THE GROVE"


That afternoon Adam decided to do a little exploring. As he passed
through the wood outside the gate of Diana's Grove, he thought he saw the
African's face for an instant. So he went deeper into the undergrowth,
and followed along parallel to the avenue to the house. He was glad that
there was no workman or servant about, for he did not care that any of
Lady Arabella's people should find him wandering about her grounds.
Taking advantage of the denseness of the trees, he came close to the
house and skirted round it. He was repaid for his trouble, for on the
far side of the house, close to where the rocky frontage of the cliff
fell away, he saw Oolanga crouched behind the irregular trunk of a great
oak. The man was so intent on watching someone, or something, that he
did not guard against being himself watched. This suited Adam, for he
could thus make scrutiny at will.

The thick wood, though the trees were mostly of small girth, threw a
heavy shadow, so that the steep declension, in front of which grew the
tree behind which the African lurked, was almost in darkness. Adam drew
as close as he could, and was amazed to see a patch of light on the
ground before him; when he realised what it was, he was determined, more
than ever to follow on his quest. The nigger had a dark lantern in his
hand, and was throwing the light down the steep incline. The glare
showed a series of stone steps, which ended in a low-lying heavy iron