Murray looked round quickly, and at a glance saw that the guns had been brought in and hung on their slings, the two baskets containing the specimens shot, and the others were hung upon the pegs arranged for the purpose, and the lamp was burning dimly on the rough table.
He caught up the light, and shading it with his hand, stepped lightly over the mats, and looked into the inner room, drew a long deep breath, and stepped back to stand thinking a few moments before he set down the lamp.
He stepped to the doorway.
“Come up,” he said.
Braine obeyed.
“Sleeping soundly?”
“Take the light. Look,” said Murray, in a low voice.
Mr Braine glanced at him, surprised by his strange manner, and then he caught up the light, and went and looked in the room in his turn.
“Gone!” he said, in a low excited voice. “What is the meaning of this?”
Murray shook his head.