struck you that the way to catch that man was to find out where he got his food and so trace it to him he certainly seemed to be getting near the truth no doubt said i but how do you know that he is anywhere upon the i know it because i have seen with my own eyes the messenger who takes him his food my heart sank for it was a serious thing to be in the power of this old but his next remark took a weight from my mind the hound op the you ll be surprised to hear that his food is taken to him by a child i see him every day through my upon the roof he passes along the same path at the same hour and to whom should he be going except to the here was luck indeed and yet i suppressed all appearance of interest a child had said that our unknown was supplied by a boy was on his track and not upon the s had stumbled if i could get his edge it might save me a long and weary hunt incredulity and indifference were evidently strongest cards i should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of one of the taking out his father s dinner the least appearance of opposition struck fire out of the old his eyes looked at me and his grey whiskers like those o� an angry cat j indeed sir said he pointing out over wide stretching do you see that black tor over yonder well do you see the low hill beyond with the upon it it is the part of the whole is that a place where a shepherd would be likely to take his station your suggestion sir is a most absurd one i meekly answered that i had spoken without knowing all the acts my submission pleased and led him to further confidences the man on the tou you may be sure sir that i have very good grounds before i come to an opinion i have seen the boy again and again with his bundle every day and sometimes twice a day i have been able � but wait a moment dr do my eyes deceive me or is there at the present moment something moving upon that hill side it was several miles off but i could distinctly see a small dark dot against the dull green and grey come sir come cried rushing upstairs you will see with your own eyes and judge for yourself the a formidable instrument mounted upon a stood upon the flat leads of the house clapped his eye to it and gave a cry of satisfaction quick dr quick before he passes over the hill there he was sure enough a small with a little bundle upon his shoulder toiling slowly up the hill when he reached the crest i saw the ragged uncouth figure for an instant against the cold blue sky he looked round him with a and stealthy air as one who pursuit then he vanished over the hill well am i right certainly there is a boy who seems to have some secret errand and what the errand is even a county the hound op the b as k e r v i l i could guess but not one word shall they have from and i bind also dr l you to secrecy son not a word you understand just as you wish they have treated me � m en the facts come out in w i venture to think that a thrill of indignation will nm through the country nothing would induce me to help the police in any way for all they cared it might have been me instead of my which these burned at the stake surely you are not you will help me to empty the in honour of this great occasion ut i resisted all his and succeeded in him from his announced intention ol walking home with me i kept the road as long as his eye was on me and then i struck off across the and made for the stony hill over which the boy had disappeared everything was working in my favour and i swore that it should not be through lack of energy or perseverance that i should miss the chance which fortune had in my way ij the sun was already sinking when i reached summit of the hill and the long slopes beneath me were all golden green on one side and grey shadow on the other a haze lay low upon the farthest sky line out of which the fantastic shapes of and tor over the wide expanse there was no sound and no movement one great the man on the tor i grey bird a or aloft in the blue heaven he and i seemed to be the only living things between the huge arch of the sky and the desert beneath it the barren scene the sense of loneliness and the mystery and of my task all struck a chill into my heart the boy was nowhere to be seen but down beneath me in a of the hills there was a circle of the old stone huts and in the middle of them there was one which retained sufficient roof to act as a screen against the weather my heart leaped within me as i saw il this must be the where the stranger at last my foot was on the threshold of his hiding place � his secret was within my grasp as i approached the hut walking as as do when with poised net he drew near the settled butterfly i satisfied myself that tht place had indeed been used as a habitation a vague pathway among the led to the opening which served as a door ab was silent within the 