A glimmer of something bright in the long grass caught Ralph's eye, and, stooping, he picked up a watch and chain, and a purse, which had evidently been thrown hastily aside. "Whoever killed my father searched him, and wanted something in particular. It was no robber, for then he would have taken these and not thrown them down." Mr. St. Clive could only look on in silence. There was something very strange in the boy thus unfolding the incidents of a strange mystery, reading them from almost invisible signs upon the grass. And Ralph continued-- "Then the man ran away and came back with a cart--you can see the marks of the wheels. See, they come close up here! And here he drove off again. I suppose that father was in the cart--that is what he brought it for. The horse went a bit lame, too, in the off forefoot. That is all the place can tell me, sir." All! Mr. St. Clive was amazed that the boy was able to see so much, and he followed his reasoning, noting how one footmark partly obliterated another, proving that it had been made after it. That a strange meeting had taken place in that lonely wood seemed indeed all too likely, but beyond that all was mystery. Why had Mr. Rexworth entered this place, whither was he going, and who was the man who had come after him? Ralph had his knife out, and was busily cutting away the bark of one of the trees which stood close by. His action proved that he had not been wrong in his conjecture--a flattened piece of lead was embedded there, and Frank put it into his pocket. "Perhaps one day that may tell me some more," he said. But there was nothing more to do there, though Mr. St. Clive said that he would see that the wood was searched through, and that the mere was dragged; and then, trying to speak comforting words to Ralph, he returned with him to Stow Ormond. And as they entered the inn, a tall, handsome gentleman, with one hand in a sling, came out, and seeing Mr. St. Clive, greeted him with: "Hallo, St. Clive, I hear that your little girl had a narrow escape last night!" Mr. St. Clive frowned. "Yes, from your bull, Lord Elgert. You ought to have the brute properly guarded. If it had not been for this young gentleman, Irene might have been killed." Lord Elgert stared at Ralph, and his look was not pleasant. "Oh, is this the young man who noosed him? Well, he has broken the bull's knees; but, however, it is fortunate that he was at hand. By the way, what is this that Simon tells me. Something has happened in Stow Wood?" "I fear so," replied Mr. St. Clive; and he narrated briefly what they had discovered. Was it fancy, or did Ralph notice that handsome face turn a shade paler when mention was made of the bullet cut from the tree? Somehow the boy did not like this wealthy gentleman, though he knew not why he should regard him with enmity. When Mr. St. Clive had concluded, Lord Elgert said--