“Where’s he going?” the sentry muttered, still staring.

Elaine in her eagerness was not looking as carefully where she was going as she was thinking about getting away in safety.  Suddenly an overhanging branch of a tree caught her hat and before she knew it pulled it off her head.  There was no concealing her golden hair now.

“Stop!” shouted the sentry.

Elaine did not pause, but dived into the bushes on the side of the path, just as the man fired and ran forward, still shouting for her to halt.  She ran as fast as she could, pulling off the goggles and mask and looking back now and then in terror at her pursuer who was rapidly gaining on her.

Before she could catch herself she missed her footing and slipped over the edge of a gorge.  Down she went, with a rush.  It was unfortunate, dangerous, but, after all, it was the only thing that saved her, at least for the time.  Half falling, half sliding, scratching herself and tearing her clothes, she descended.

The sentry checked himself just in time at the top of the gorge and leaned as far over the edge as he dared.  He raised his gun again and fired.  But Elaine’s course was so hidden by the trees and so zigzag that he missed again.  A moment he hesitated, then started and climbed down after her as fast as he could.

At the bottom of the hill she picked herself up and dashed again into the woods, the sentry still after her and gaining again.

At the same time, we who were still in the chase had circled about the country until we were very near where we started.  Following the dogs over a rail fence, I drew up suddenly, hearing a scream.

There was Elaine, on foot, running as if her life depended on it.  I needed no second glance.  Behind her was a man with a rifle, almost overtaking her.

As luck would have it, the momentum of my horse carried me right at them.  Careful to avoid Elaine, I rode square at the man, striking at him viciously with my riding crop before he knew what had struck him.

The fellow dropped, stunned.  I leaped from my horse and ran to her, just as the rest of the hunt came up.

Eagerly questioning us, they gathered about.

Having waited until he was sure that Elaine had got away safely, the old tramp slowly and carefully followed down the stairs of the ruined hotel.

As he went down, he heard a shot from the woods.  Could it be one of the sentries?  He looked about keenly, hesitating just what to do.

In an instant, down below, he heard the scurry of footsteps from the improvised laboratory and shouts.  He turned and stealthily ran up-stairs, just as the door opened.

The tramp had not been the only one who had been alarmed by the shot of the sentry.

Del Mar was talking again to the men when it rang out.  “What’s that?” he exclaimed.  “Another intruder?”

The men stared at him blankly, while Del Mar dashed for the door, followed by them all.  In the hall he issued his orders quickly.