Less from chivalry than curiosity, Marlin helped her when she stumbled and assisted her over the deeper puddles. He decided, in the process, that she was firm-fleshed and well-formed. After the first few yards she refused his help. "Keep your muddy paws off of me!" she snapped. "You too!" as McGruder attempted to thrust his bulk between them. They plodded on through the mud and drizzle. The road climbed upward at an agonizing grade. Marlin no longer cursed. In the presence of companions in misery, he became tauntingly ironical. It was they who were buffeted and tormented--he was the strong man, unaffected by the elements, able to "take it." "We shoulda stayed in the car," growled McGruder. "Only room for two of us," returned Marlin. "Want to go back with me, Sal?" "Not if I know what I'm doing!" the girl snapped, brushing a lock of wet hair out of her eyes. Topping a steep rise, they came unexpectedly upon the shelter. CHAPTER II A light gleamed feebly through a small window. Closer approach revealed that it was set in a wall which formed the front of a dwelling partly extending back into the cliff. They pressed their faces against the dripping pane. Beside a fireplace in which a few dying embers glowed faintly, a robust man with a flowing beard was nodding over a book. A kerosene lamp flickered on the table beside him. They felt along the wall for a door and rapped. After a moment, it opened. The beard was thrust forward and the man behind it stood regarding them from beneath bushy eyebrows. "We're lost," began Marlin. "What's the chance--?" "Eh?" the bearded man craned his neck, peering beyond them. "So you're the ones we've been waiting for. Where's the other?" "There's only the three of us." With a slightly puzzled manner, he allowed them to enter. Marlin crossed to the fireplace. "Mind if I build this up?" Not waiting for a reply, he heaped on chunks of pine log from the half-filled woodbox and soon had a rousing fire. McGruder and the girl knelt gratefully in front of the blaze--the girl shivering. Not bad, Marlin decided, at his first sidelong glimpse of her face--or wouldn't be, when her wet hair was fixed up. Then he growled at himself and abruptly turned away. Their host stood with folded arms, surveying the mud-smeared trio with evident distaste. Experiencing a vague sense of alien presences, Marlin suddenly whirled, his hand clutching at the pocket in which McGruder's automatic reposed. A door, apparently leading to the interior of the mountain, was partly open. Peering from the narrow aperture were three curiously repellent faces and one of singular beauty. Sally and the detective, crouching before the fire, turned at his smothered exclamation. The three faced the barrage of eyes in silence until the bearded man gestured peremptorily. "Shut the door," he ordered. "Come in if you must."