“No, sir, ’cause o’ the smoke.”
“It seemed to me to disappear among these rocks,” said Roylance.
“No; I saw it come out from behind there, and then it leaped off into the darkness just below the gun. Here, spread out, my lads; it didn’t go that way. Keep a smart look-out, and go steady down to the edge. It couldn’t have jumped off, and must be here.”
A thorough search took place, and this was easy enough, for the space within the gap or chasm was comparatively small. But there was no result, and at last a few burning brands were thrown down from the edge just below the gun to light up the rocks there, in the hope that some animal might be lying killed by its fall.
There was nothing visible, and at last, after making their arrangements for the night, Roylance and Sydney sat together, talking in low tones about the mysterious appearance seen now twice.
“Here, I’ll keep watch,” said Roy, after they had taken another look at the injured man.
“No, I’ll take the first half,” said Syd, quietly.
“Well, you’re in command,” said Roylance; “but I don’t feel comfortable about going to sleep with a wild beast dancing minuets all over one in the night.”
“I shall be watching,” said Syd.
“Oh, very well: I’ll lie down. Poor Terry’s got the best of it; he has been fast asleep for an hour.”