’My fault, you mean—for I was the one who yielded first to curiosity, and so drew you here,’ Alondra confessed. ’Oh, we should have come in on our own, you may be pretty sure of that,’ Jack declared. ’We were just discussing the point when we heard you call out.’ ’It’s a very beautiful flower,’ Gerald observed, looking attentively at the large, handsome blossoms, ’and the scent is delicious. Who would imagine that anything so lovely to look at could be so treacherous—so deadly?’ He walked cautiously up near to it to get a clear view, and Jack followed him—partly, as it seemed, to satisfy his own curiosity, and partly to see that his chum did not become too venturesome and get unwittingly caught again. Meantime, Alondra was evidently thinking deeply. He began to look and search about, first in this direction, then in that. Presently the others noticed his proceedings, and, leaving the side of the pool, went across and asked him what he was doing. ’Before I tell you,’ was the reply, ’you must promise that you will say nothing to any one else. If what I am thinking of was mere fancy, I don’t wish to be laughed at; and if it turns out that it was not fancy—well, then I still wish that nothing should be said about it just now. Do you understand?’ The two friends readily gave the required promise. ’Well, then, what is troubling me is this: Just as I called out—when I was struggling up to my neck in the water—when, as it seemed to me, I was at my last gasp, and all hope had gone—I saw, or imagined I saw, some one peering at me from among those thick bushes!’ ’My stars! That sounds funny!’ was Jack’s comment. ’D’you mean to say that there was some one in here, some one so cold-blooded as to stand by and look on at you, and never offer to help?’ ’That is my—er—impression; but’—— ’Who was it, then? Anybody you know?’ Alondra hesitated. Then he said slowly, ’I cannot say. I could hardly see more than the eyes, if I saw any one. But, understand me, I cannot declare positively that I saw any one at all. I was in such a state of horror that I may have imagined it. I was ready to imagine anything.’ Jack looked at him attentively. ’I don’t think you are one to lose your wits to that extent, my friend,’ he declared, shaking his head, ’though I admit it would be no discredit to you if you did. I can’t imagine a more frightful predicament, or one better calculated to try the nerves of the bravest man.’ ’Let’s all set to work and have a good hunt round,’ suggested Gerald. ’If any one was here, he must be somewhere in hiding now, unless there is another way out. If there is, let’s find it!’ They searched the place in all directions, but for some time could find nothing to reward their trouble. They could see no trace of any person other than themselves having been there.