He now stole to a position from which he could command a view of
the hollow tree, whilst remaining under thick shelter and leaving himself
an excellent opening for retreat. His blood was full of the excitement of
this new adventure, a true adventure dealing with theft and murder. He
was afraid, terribly afraid, but it seemed to him that all his emotions
were held in abeyance: he was conscious of their existence, but they no
longer ruled him. One thing was paramount, his determination to know
everything of the crime that had been perpetrated in the main drive of
the Silver Stream. Fragments of thoughts seemed to flicker up like flames
within him and die out again instantly, and he repeated constantly under
his breath without knowing why:
'Her father! Her father! Her father!'
There was something to be done--much to be done, and one important thing,
one thing that meant life or death; but these must come after. Now he was
wild to know all that the thieves might tell.
Rogers was the first to come crawling back to the tree. He scattered the
loose rubbish in the hollow trunk, and uttered a fierce oath.
'It's gone, gone, gone!' he almost shouted as Shine joined him.
'You lie, you lie! You want to rob me!' the long searcher had flown at
his throat, and for a few seconds they struggled together, but Rogers
threw the older man off fiercely and dragged him by the throat to the
tree.
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