"Yes," Lisle responded; "he's making a good deal more noise than a bushman would." The sound steadily approached them. Nasmyth found something mysterious and rather eerie in it, and he was on the whole relieved when a dark figure materialized among the trees near by. He could barely see it, but Lisle called out sharply: "What has brought you on our trail, Batley?" The man came toward them with a breathless laugh and sat down. "It isn't your trail but Gladwyne's I'm interested in, and I can't say that I've succeeded in following that. I merely pushed on, until I struck this canon and as I couldn't get across, I followed it up." "You're not easily scared," Lisle commented. "You might have got lost. Guess you had some motive that made you take the risk." "I felt pretty safe. You see, I knew I could strike the river, if necessary. At the same time you were right about the motive--in fact, there's no use in trying to hide it. I may as well confess that I'd sooner keep Gladwyne in sight." "Out of regard for his welfare?" Nasmyth asked. Batley laughed. "Not altogether. The fact is, he's carrying a good deal of my money." "One should have imagined that you'd have had him well insured." "That's quite correct. If he came to grief in England, I shouldn't anticipate any trouble, but it would be different out here and, everything considered, I'd rather avoid complications with the insurance companies. Now that I've been candid, do you feel inclined to reciprocate?" "Not in the least," Lisle replied shortly. "I'm not sure I even sympathize. But since you've turned up you'll have to stick to us; I don't want to waste time in leading another search party. As soon as there's a little more light, we'll try to get across the canon." "Thanks for the permission," smiled Batley, lighting a cigar. CHAPTER XXX THE END OF THE PURSUIT By degrees the light got clearer, the scattered black cedars grew into definite form, and a strip of foaming water showed in the depths of the chasm. Lisle walked some distance along the edge, searching for an easier place to cross, but the rocks were smooth and almost perpendicular except where they overhung the torrent. He went back to where the others were sitting and found that they had been joined by Crestwick, who briefly explained that having set out on their trail he had been stopped by the canon and had followed it up until it led him to them. "It looks worse farther along; we'll have to try it here," Lisle announced. "Can you get down, Nasmyth?"