He was following in the immediate wake of Leicester Dodson.
The arch plotter, who had pulled all the wires which had moved the passions of both men, softly and swiftly followed up behind, to make the murderer's task easy and effective!
Panting and breathless, the captain at last descried the thickset figure of Jem crouching on the path. With a stealthy caution, the captain crept up to him, and whispered his name.
With a guilty start, and a smothered oath, the ruffian turned.
"Hush!" said the captain. "I've followed you——"
Before he could proceed, the idea of treachery and capture had taken hold of Jem's mind, and, with a livid face, he sprang upon his late master.
In an instant they were locked in each other's arms, and struggling for dear life, afraid to speak for fear of alarming their joint victim, who stood, or lay, on the grass farther up the cliff, and out of sight.
With a fearful tensity, they rocked to and fro, struggling each to get the upper hand of the other.
Nearer and nearer they approached the edge of the cliff.
The captain's brain grew dizzy—he felt himself falling, but, by an effort gigantic and overwhelming, called up all his strength to play a feint.