they might prove to be, of that eccentric friend, whose experiment
(whether from some subconscious fear or some fancy of honor)
they had not ventured to interrupt. Hour followed hour,
and still nothing stirred in the wood save an occasional bird.
The Squire, like most men of his type, was an early riser,
and it was not likely that he would in this case sleep late;
it was much more likely, in the excitement in which he had
left them, that he would not sleep at all. Yet it was clear
that he must be sleeping, perhaps by some reaction from a strain.
By the time the sun was high in heaven Ashe the lawyer,
turning to the others, spoke abruptly and to the point.

"Shall we go into the wood now?" asked Paynter, and almost
seemed to hesitate.

"I will go in," said Treherne simply. Then, drawing up his dark head
in answer to their glances, he added:

"No, do not trouble yourselves. It is never the believer
who is afraid."

For the second time they saw a man mount the white curling path
and disappear into the gray tangled wood, but this time they did
not have to wait long to see him again.

A few minutes later he reappeared in the woodland gateway,
and came slowly toward them across the grass. He stopped
before the doctor, who stood nearest, and said something.
It was repeated to the others, and went round the ring with
low cries of incredulity. The others plunged into the wood