The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-24

light burning steadily In front. There
is nothing so deceptive as the distance OIL
light Upon pitch-dark night, and some
times the Giimmer seemed to be tar away
,,,,oi. the horizon and sometimes 1t might
fc1e been within few yards of US. But
q: last we could see whence it came, and
tEel we knew that we were indeed very
! close A gutterinE candle was stuck IN
| crevice Of the rocks which thanked 1t
OF. each side so as to keep the wind from
il. and also to prevent it from being VS.
ipje save in the direction Of Baskerville
Hall. A boulder of granite concealed our
approach, and crouching behind 1t we
sazed over it at the signal light Il was
strange to see this single candle burn
ing there in the middle of the moor, with
no sign Of life near it-just The one
straight yellow flame and the glcam OF
the rock on each side of it.
What shall we do now?" whispered Sir
Henry.
"wait here. He must be near his light.
Let us see if we can get a glimpse OF
him"
The words were hardly out OF my mouth
| when we both saw him. Over the rocks,
| in the crevice of which the candle burn
| ed there was thrust out an evil yellow
face, a terrible animal face. all scanned
| and scored with vile passions Foul with
| r.ire, with a bristling beard. and hung
with matted hair, 1t might well have be-
| longed to one of those old saVages VINO
! dwelt in the burrows on the hil!sloes.
| The light beneath him was reflected IN
/ his small. cunning eyes which peered
| fcrcelv to right and LETT through the
darkness, like a crafty and savage anil
NAL who has heard the steps OF the hunt
eTs.
Something had evidently aroused his sus-
picions. 1t may have been that Barry
more had some private signal which we
had neglected to give, or the fellow may
have had some other reason for thinking
that all was not we'll. but could read
his fears upon his wicked face. Any In
stant he might dash out the light and
vanish in the darkness. I sprang forward,
therefore, and Sir Henry did the same.
At the same moment the convict scream
ed out curse at us and hurled rock
which plintered up against the boulder
which had sheltered US I caught one
glimpse of his short, squat, stronsly-built
figure as he sprang to his feet and turn
sd to run. AT the same moment by a
lucky chance the moon broke through
the clouds. We rushed over the brow OF
the hill and there was our man running
with great sreed down the other side.
Swinging over the stones In his way with
the activity of a mountain goat. lucky
long shot OF ny revolver might have
crippled him, but 1 had brought it only
to defend myself if attacked, and not
t., shoot an unarmed man who was run
rirg away.
We were both swift runners and in fair
~ good training. but we soon found that
we had No chance of overtaking. him. We
saw him for long time in the moon
light until he was only small speck
moving swiftly among the boulders. upon
the side Of a distant hill. We ran and
rar until we We're completely blown.
hut the space between Us grew ever wider.
Finally we stopped and sat painting on
two rocks while we watched him dis
appearing in the distance.
Ard it was at this moment that there
Occurred a most strange and unexpected
| thing. We had risen from our rocks and
| were turning to go home, having. aban-
Coned the hopeless chase The moon was
| low upon the right, and the Jagged, pin
nacie Of a granite tor stood up aEainst
! the lower curve Of its silver disc. There.
| outlined IS black as an ebony statue on
that shining background, sawSthe fig
| IRE of nan upon the tor. Do not think
4 ti2at it was delusioi1, Holiness T assure
you that have never IN my life seen
| arrthi7g more clearly. AS far as I could
! Judge the figure was that of tall. thin
man He stood with his legs little sep
| arated. his arms folded his head bowed.
/ as If he were brooding over that enorm-
! Gus wilderness of peat and granite which
| lay before him. Fe might have been
the very spirit Of that terrible place. 1t
was not the convict. This man was
fa- from the place where the latter had
| disappeare1 Besides, he was a much
| -aller man. With a cry of surprise point
| ed him OFT to the baronet. but in the
| instant during which g had turned to
grasp his arm the man was gone. There
was the sharp pinnacle of granite still