"Pray, Sir, remember," he expostulated, "that at the time of this stranger's appearance evening was setting in. The growing darkness prevented anything like a reliable estimate that I could have made of his features. In the twilight he seemed dark to me, although not so dark as the average Indian. And yet, allowing for the twilight, he certainly was not a white man." "But what happened?" urged Leighton. "He appeared surprised at seeing me. And then he smiled, approached to where I was standing, and waved a sort of salutation to me. I think he may have muttered some words, either of invitation or friendly greeting. But if he did, it was not in English, nor in Spanish." "He, at least, was not agitated, it seems! But as you were afflicted with more than the usual amount of timidity, I suppose you avoided him." "I assure you, Sir, that as soon as I saw this person, I felt no further fear. There was nothing threatening in his manner. And it flashed through my mind that he could give me some information about Mr. Meudon. I observed that he beckoned me to him--and as he did so I followed." "Well?" "That was the singular part of it. There was every reason why I should not go with him--at least, not without first notifying Doctor Miranda. But this strange being smiled so pleasantly and seemed so friendly that my feeling of nervousness passed away, and I was eager to go with him. This I did. Apparently he retraced his steps, leading me along the shore of a little inlet to the lake until we reached a high wall of rock that I had not particularly noticed before. Here he stopped and looked at me, still smiling, as if to make sure that I was following him." "Do you think you could identify this wall of rock if you were to see it again?" asked Raoul Arthur, speaking for the first time. "I am sure I could," said Andrew, "because we stood in front of it for some time, this strange person in the toga passing his hand over its surface, while I wondered what he was going to do next. I noticed that it was a very high and blank wall indeed." "Where was it?" "Just next to the cutting that Doctor Miranda had told me was made by the Spaniards to drain the lake." "I did not see this wall," expostulated Miranda. "You are in one dream." "Never mind," snapped Leighton; "go on with your story." "I am afraid you will believe me less than ever," said Andrew deprecatingly. "But I am only telling what I am certain I saw." "Go on." "As he passed his hand over the surface of the wall he gradually turned to one side until we stood before a narrow cleft in the rocks." "It is not there," interrupted Miranda contemptuously. "I examine all this rock. It has no--what you call?--cleft." "I am very sorry, Sir, but I know that there is such a cleft. I think that is what you would call it. You might easily have overlooked it, Sir. It was only a narrow opening in the rock, facing away from the lake and reaching up not more than about three feet from the ground."