The Lost Valley

sat up abruptly and gazed around. Abel Cumshaw was still sleeping peacefully, his head pillowed on the saddle-bags that contained the plunder. Mr. Bradby smiled grimly at

, humorless smile flickered about the corners of his mouth. He stood meditating for a minute or so, then, with an assumption of carelessness that he did not feel, began pacing due east. He had not taken half a dozen strides before h

the hut Abel Cumshaw

greeted Bradby. "B

ng his tone was a little too abrupt, he continu

ed casually. But he did not look up at his ma

rters," said Bradby, with an enthusiasm that even

ed of headquarters once this is o

t," Bradb

the saddle-bags, one in each hand. "Don't you

ed with an assumed indifference. "Yes, we'll 'te

tting the bags down again, "I'd like to remind you that we're right

d. "There's sure to be plenty of game abo

weep of his shoulders with calculating eyes. Once his hand strayed almost unconsciously towards his revolver, then, with a gesture, half of horror, half of dismay, at the signi

uggested, "if I looked about for

ly, as if it were the most na

soil with the point of his sheath-knife. The ground was easily enough worked, and in less than half an hour he had excavated a hole of clo

at his mate could come and go in such absolute silence filled him with dismay. Already the gold fever had seized hold of him and

enough to find once you know where it is, but it i

taking his bearings. Bradby noticed him and interposed hastily, "I've got th

ugh his pockets. "I have

we'll have to keep it in our heads. It's

ok it," Cumsha

d. "But distance is deceptiv

Cumshaw told him.

t. At the entrance Cumshaw paused. "Neare

ifferently. "What about that m

to-morrow. Cumshaw laughed and said he hoped so, but that to-morrow was a day that never came to some pe

bags down to the hole, placed them inside, and t

with an air of relief, "the soon

r there?" Cumshaw said,

y suggested, all his superstitious fears

ifted up the remains in his strong arms

!" Bradby cried. "It'

s of our lives, and we're likely to keep on until th

shaw, who was all for haste now that their work w

the lame one seemed slightly better. Its limp was

out the way we got them in," Cumshaw sa

have come in some way, and I don't reckon it was the way we came in. If

e steadily, though it was very rough. Big boulders lay about the ground amongst the trees, which were thinning off. Soon they emerged on to what wa

said Brad

at. "There must be some way out, Jack, and I'm going to look until I fin

e rest of the world in general. Then there came a cry from the height above him, and, looking up, he saw Abel

t have to leave them. A man can crawl up through a sort of funnel in

ck and try the

tumbled down yesterday when we brought them, but you must remember that we had to c

rday when I suggested shootin

if anyone does wander in here by accident he's not going to come this way. If we let them roam about the valley, they naturally go over to the other side where the grass is, and the first fool that blunde

e with it. I'm sick and tired of talk

p and stood on the ledge that overhung the valley. Across the smoky sea of timber they caught sight of the long line of golden wattle through which they had broken their way the previous evening. It occurred to both in almost the same instant that no man would be very likely to blunder in by chanc

he old chap must have come over from this

urprised at that

ndays. However, let's get along. We'll have to make haste now

'm more familiar with the country, and t

laugh. "All places are the same to me. I'v

uth of them, and presently they were toiling across the barrier of m

k they had just discovered. Cumshaw, as usual, tended to the fire, and Bradby, after idling about for a w

"Go ahead. But don't be any

than he intended and by some mischance had lost his way. He decided to wait a while longer, and then, if Bradby did not appear in the meantime, to go in search of him. But the time passed, the fire died away to red hot coals, and the shadows fell thickly on everything; but still Bradby did not come. At last Cumshaw rose swiftly to his feet in the manner of a man who has decided on the course he must take and means to stick to it unswervingly. With quick yet noiseless steps he stole through th

s after that there was absolute silence, and then somewhere ahead of him he caught a very faint noise as of long grass rustling in the wind. But the air was absolutely devoid of mot

and re-echoed. A bullet whistled dangerously close to Cumshaw. He swore under his breath and tugged furiously at his own revolver. Bending almost double he sprinted towards the she

e moment the first shot was fired Cumshaw realised, in a flash of intuition, that his assailant was none other than Jack Bradby. The knowledge made him extremely angry, for such black treachery was the last thing he had expected to have to contend with. He saw now

ision that comes to a man perhaps once in a lifetime, he saw, even in the all-pervading darkness, the shadowy face that was pressed close to his own. The eyes that looked into his were dim pools of evil light, faintly pho

e revolver with which he had dealt the final blow. There was a steamy smell of blood on t

very first, but now his plan had apparently fructified, he felt a vague horror at the result of his handiwork.

laid it on the ground. But he failed to notice that as he bent down a flat piece of wood had slipped from th

vy scent of the wattle was mingled with another