Ah! here is the cottage, nearer than he had expected. He must have run faster than he supposed. In the uncertain light Christian sees what he takes to be the old quarry. There is no time to go round by the road and in at the front. He must leap down the back of the shallow quarry, light on the thatch, and lie there for a minute until the men have passed.
He runs, he leaps, but—he has jumped down the open shaft of the old disused lead mine.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Meantime Kisseck and Danny Fayle, with Corteen and Killip, found the low path and followed it. They heard the strangers pass on the high path, but they were themselves running softly on the thin grass, and a cliff was between the police and them. When they got to the angle of the roads and turned down the footpath in front of the house they passed Mona. As they entered, "Who was that woman?" said Kisseck.
"Mona," answered Danny.
"Damn her, I'll lay my soul that craythur is at the bottom of it all."
Danny's dilated eyes flashed fire. But he was otherwise outwardly quiet and calm.
"Where's that other fellow—Christian?" said Kisseck. "He has led me into all this cursed mess."
"That's a lie," said Danny, with the color gone from his cheeks.
Kisseck walked across to him with uplifted arm. Never flinching, the lad waited for the blow. Kisseck dropped his hand. Curling his lip in biting mockery, he said, "What for is that she-devil sthrowling around here?"