" He waited for the response that never came.
"Honesty isn't always the best policy. Think it over." Another long
silence. Then: "I suppose you know the government does not pay any
reward." Still that heavy, steady tread. "If you think I'm going
to come down you're jolly well off your nut." He wriggled nearer
the edge and peered over. The black form shuttled restlessly back
and forth past the foot of the ladder, for all the world like a lion
in its cage. Presently it moved off toward the bend at the corner
of the cliff, where it stopped, still in view of the man above,--a
vague, shapeless object in the faint light of the moon.
Many minutes passed. Ten, fifteen,--they seemed hours to the trapped
fugitive,--and then he heard a voice, suppressed but distinct.
"Who's there?"
There was a moment's silence, and then another voice replied, but
he could not make out the words.
The man stepped out of sight around the bend. A few seconds later,
Thane heard a jumble of voices. Drawing away from the ledge, he
slunk deeper into the cave. He heard some one running along the
trail, and a muffled voice giving directions. He drew a deep, long
breath.
"The death watch, eh?" he muttered. "They're going to sit there
till I have to come out. Like vultures. They haven't the nerve to
come up here after me. The rotten cowards!"
Then he heard something that caused him to start up in a sort of
panic.
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