on. The stars came out slowly, and the moon rose full and red
from the waves, adding its beams to the flickering light of the
fire on the hill-top.

"Suppose we take a walk all round on the beach," proposed the
Englishman; "there is no telling what we may find; we may run on
something that has drifted ashore from some wrecked ship."

Johnston consented. They had encompassed the entire island, which
was oval in shape, and were about to ascend to the rock to put
fresh fuel on the fire before lying down to sleep for the
night, when Thorndyke noticed a road that had evidently been
worn in the rock by human footsteps.

"Made by feet," he said, bending down and looking closely at the
rock and raking up a handful of white sand, "but whether the
feet of savage or civilized mortal I can't make out."

Johnston was a few yards ahead of him and stooped to pick up
something glittering in the moonlight. It was a tap from
the heel of a shoe and was of solid silver.

"Civilized," he said, holding it out to his companion; "and of
the very highest order of civilization. Whoever heard of people
rich enough to wear silver heel-taps."

"Are you sure it is silver?" asked the Englishman, examining it
closely.

"Pure and unalloyed; see how the stone has cut into it, and