him. The spot was not now as he had left it yesterday afternoon.
He was sure of this, even before a fleet, wan flash of the heat
lightning showed him at his feet the unmistakable signs of a recent
excavation. It was not deep, it was not broad; but it was fresh and
it betrayed a prying hand. Again the heat lightning illumined the
wide, vague sky. He saw the solemn dark forests; he saw the steely
glimmer of the lick; the distant mountains flickered against the
pallid horizon; and once more--densest gloom.



CHAPTER III.

It was Nate who had been here,--Birt felt sure of that; Nate, who
had promised he would not come.

Convinced that his friend was playing a false part, Birt went at
once to the bark-mill in the morning, confident that he would not
find Nate at work in the tanyard according to their agreement.

It was later than usual, and Jubal Perkins swore at Birt for his
tardiness. He hardly heard; and as the old bark-mill ground and
ground the bark, and the mule jogged around and around, and the hot
sun shone, and the voices of the men handling the hides at the
tanpit were loud on the air, all his thoughts were of the cool,
dark, sequestered ravine, holding in its cloven heart the secret he
had discovered.

Rufus happened to come to the tanyard today. Birt seized the
opportunity.