“This is some disappointment, believe me, Miss Laura,” he confessed.

“Cheer up,” she laughed.  “You’ll get over it all right.”

They found the others waiting for them at the end of the great wooden shed.  Quest turned to French.

“Look here, French,” he said, “you know I don’t want to hurry you off, but I don’t know what we’re going to do with this fellow about in San Francisco.  We don’t want to lodge two charges, and we should have to put him in jail to-night.  Why don’t you take him on right away?  There’s a Limited goes by the southern route in an hour’s time.”

French assented gloomily.

“That suits me,” he agreed.  “You’ll be glad to get rid of the fellow, too,” he added.

They drove straight to the depot, found two vacant seats in the train, and Quest with a little sigh of relief handed over his charge.  Craig, who, though still dumb, had shown signs of intense nervousness since the landing, sank back in his corner seat, covering the upper part of his head with his hands.  Suddenly Lenora, who had been chatting with French through the window, happened to glance towards Craig.  She gave a little cry and stepped back.

“Look!” she exclaimed.  “The eyes!  Those are the eyes that haunted me all through those terrible days!”

She was suddenly white.  Quest passed his arm through hers and glanced through the carriage window.  In the shaded light, Craig’s eyes seemed indeed to have suddenly grown in power and intensity.  They shone fiercely from underneath the hands which clasped his forehead.

“Well, that’s the last you’ll see of them,” Quest reminded her soothingly.  “Come, you’re not going to break down now, Lenora.  We’ve been through it all and there he is, safe and sound in French’s keeping.  There is nothing more left in the world to frighten you.”

Lenora pulled herself together with an effort.

“It was silly,” she confessed, “yet even now—­”

“Don’t you worry, Miss Lenora,” French cried from out of the window.  “You can take my word for it the job’s finished this time.  Good-bye, all of you!  Good-bye, Miss Laura!”

Laura waved her hand gaily.  They all stood and watched the train depart.  Then they turned away from the depot.

“Now for a little holiday,” Quest declared, passing Lenora’s arm through his.  “We’ll just have a look round the city and then get down to San Diego and take a look at the Exposition there.  No responsibilities, no one to look after, nothing to do but enjoy ourselves.”

“Capital!” the Professor agreed, beaming upon them all.  “There is a collection of fossilised remains in the museum here, the study of which will afford me the greatest pleasure and interest.”

The girls laughed heartily.

“I think you and I,” Quest suggested, turning to them, “will part company with the Professor!”

* * * * *