"I saw him," the lad persisted. "I was riding here along the trail and I'd come to the ravine. It's quite likely the birches had hidden me, for when I came out of them he was sitting on the edge of the sloo on the south side, near enough for me to recognize him, eating something. The next moment he rolled over into the grass and vanished."
"He was too quick. It looked as if he didn't want me to see him, and I rode on. I had to call at Forrester's and I found Corporal Slaney there. One or two things he said made it clear that he hadn't the faintest notion that Winthrop was within a mile or two of him."
He was apparently about to add something further when Thorne looked at him warningly. They were standing near the entrance, the approach to which led through the veranda, and the next moment Nevis walked into the room.
"Have you been picking up interesting news?" he asked. "I believe I caught Winthrop's name."
It was spoken sharply, in the expectation, Thorne fancied, that his companion, taken off his guard, would blurt out some fresh information; but the lad turned toward Nevis with an air of cold resentment.
"I was talking to Mr. Thorne," he replied.
Nevis laughed, though Thorne noticed that he did not do it easily.
"Well," he said, "I'm sorry if I interrupted you."
Then he turned toward the others as if he had just noticed them.
"I didn't know that Symonds had placed the room at your disposal; I've no doubt that will excuse me."
Nobody invited him to remain, but he withdrew gracefully, and when he had gone Thorne led the lad out on to the veranda. It was unoccupied, but as it stood some little height above the ground he walked to the edge of it and looked over before he spoke.
"Now, Dave, I want you to tell me one or two things as clearly as you can."
The lad answered his questions, and in a minute or two Thorne nodded as if satisfied. Then he pointed to the room.
"Go in and talk to Mrs. Farquhar. Keep clear of Nevis, and ride home as soon as you can after supper. If you feel compelled to mention the thing, there's no reason why you shouldn't to-morrow. It won't do much harm then."
He went down the steps and along the street, and when he came back some time later he found Alison waiting for him on the veranda.