"Oh! He's dead! . . . And you discovered nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Then what do you think? Were Williams and Charles sent to the Queen Mary by Lord Bakefield and his daughter and were they to find me and help me in my search? Or did they go on their own account?"
They soon joined the three pedestrians of the escort, to whom Old Sandstone, with a cluster of shells in his hand, was giving a geological lesson. The three pedestrians were asleep.
"I'm going ahead," said Antonio to Simon. "Our horses need a rest. In an hour's time, set out along the track of the white pebbles which I shall drop as I go. You can ride at a trot. My three comrades are good runners."
He had already gone some paces, when he returned and, drawing Simon aside, looked him straight in the eyes and said:
"Be on your guard with Dolores, M. Dubosc. She is one of these women of whom it is wise to beware. I have seen many a man lose his head over her."
Simon smiled and could not refrain from saying:
"Perhaps Lynx-Eye is one of them?"
The Indian repeated: