Jack and His Seven Foes — page 163: what you’re looking at

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154 Bidding the others keep still, they went carefully round the edge of the basin, and came back with disappointed looks. “The ground is rough,” “said Ralph, Sebut teres ought to be something to help us.” ‘And there is nothing ?”’ said Jack. “ Nothing.” “They are mortal,” said Jacob Sturmby, ‘and can’t have sunk into the earth.” coNo; feplicd Ralph, “but they are gone—that? s clear—gone as clean as the pool of water that was once here.” ‘“‘ How could a pool be formed,” asked Harold Deane, ‘‘when there is _ that course to carry the water off ?”’ “ Across the mouth of that course,” said Ralph, ‘‘a barrier was once formed, and behind it the pool was made. When the water got too heavy it broke through.” “But even then this basin could not have been formed.”’ “Qh, yes, it could, for you see the barrier was broken up inaday. IJtmay have stood a hundred years, and the water rushing from above eddied here, and overflowed, and so did its work slowly—but that’s a water-basin, ain’t ats, Bene.” “It ain’t anything else,’ rephed Ben. They crossed the cup-like bottom, and went higher up. No trail was found. They harked back, and beat about to the right and left, and found no clue. Lhe two trappers looked at each other in despair. “Ts there no trail,” said Ralph, “or am I getting past my work ?”’ «“There’s 110 sign to guide us,’ Ben, sententiously. It was bitterly disappointing, and as ascending the mountain might only be a waste of energy and time, they decided to return. 'o they retraced their steps to the original star ting-point, and sought for something else to ouide them. But the day was fruitlessly spent. Nothing was found. ‘“‘Come,’’ said Harold Deane, as dark- > said JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES. CPUPIARPDED2 O77 CIE 1 COA LENO ness drew on, ‘let us go home. can do no more to- night.” | ‘<T suppose not,” replied J ack; “the — foxes have been too cunning for us this time.” . The report they gave on their return was as disappointing to the diggers as the day’s work had been to themselves, and in addition a vague uneasiness pre- vailed. Three murders swiftly and _ secretly done, without even a ghmpse of the murderers, was sufficient tor disquietude, and every door was well-barricaded that night. Ben and Ralph were both dissatisfied, and neither cared to rest with the shadow of failure upon them. “Tf we had found no clue, it wouldn’t have been so bad,” said Ralph, ‘‘ but to pick it up, follow it, and lose it in such open ground is enough to make a man swear.” “Swearing is no use,” “let's talk it over.” ‘Go ahead, old man.” “‘ Now it’s clear that the tivo went up to the basin, ain’t 16?” “As clear as sunshine.” ‘And up higher they did not go?” “Not a foot.” “ Nor to right or left? ”’ “They didn’t; but they might have come back again—in fact, they must.” “Then we must go and look for a back trail. Suppose we do it afore the others © are up?” “Tm willing. We'll start early.” ‘¢ Let us start now,’ said Ben. ‘The stars will take us up, and we shan’t have much time to spare.” “T’m ready,” said Ralph, “ for I can ‘t rest till P’ve got a clue to this mystery.”’ Rising, he opened the door of the hut where they slept, and looked out. The heavens were full of stars; no breath of wind or sound of any sort broke the stillness. “A good night for travelling, Ralph ; and stealthily as if they were midnight murderers themselves, they stole out, and, unheeded by the little community, went their way. said Ben ; ”” said — a PY EDV EUPY EDA OVD CIELO Oa COMUCLOOKXS. COM).