THE SUPERB MOMENT
tinuously circling, now on the rock, now in the water.
"How did he get out here?" Carron demanded, turning upon his companion.
"I don't know! How should I know? He goes all over the country. He's everywhere. What difference does it make how he got here?" Ferrier retorted breathlessly. "He is here. Don't you see? He's been over there—he's seen it! He's seen me! I'm afraid—" He shrank into Carron's shadow. "Don't let him get by! Don't let him go!" he whispered.
"Why not? He doesn't understand anything?"
"Not what he hears—but when he sees a thing; and he saw me!"
"And he sees me. Steady," Carron murmured. "He isn't trying to pass us. He's coming toward us."
The boy had diverged a little from the path, and was approaching them through the trees with great deliberation. His movements were smooth—no pause, no quickening; slow, yet apparently without reluctance. His gaze never wavered from Carron's face. What did he want? Was he bringing a message? He had not the aspect of a messenger whose purpose would be haste, and here there seemed to be a purpose in very slowness. It claimed the attention. A man might fancy himself stalked by a beast. That
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