“We must follow her?” whispered Charlie eagerly.
“But, my dear fellow, we can’t! We’re locked in!”
Rolfe, realising the truth that they were prevented from overtaking his well-beloved, for whom they had been so long in active search, and that she must again dip from them into oblivion, gave vent to a forcible expression of despair.
“Let’s remain here,” urged Max. “We may learn something else.”
“The old man will go to bed,” was Charlie’s response. “And we will follow and explore above.”
“How?” asked Rolfe.
“That remains to be seen. We must, in this case, act discreetly, and trust to luck.”
“But Maud? I must see her.”
“That’s impossible at present. You have seen her—that’s enough for to-night. To-morrow we may discover something further—or even to-night.”
Both men, scarce daring to breathe, were watching old Sam.