All  the  same,  there  was  nothing  to  be  said,  and  she
went  to  her  tent.
At  daybreak  Vernon  left  the  camp,  and  when  he
reached  the  pool  walked  round  its  edge  and  then  sat
down  and  lighted  his  pipe.  A  few  yards  in  front,  a
number  of  faint  marks  were  printed  on  a  belt  of  sand.
By  and  by  he  heard  steps,  and  frowned  when  Winter
came  out  from  an  opening  in  the  row  of  trunks.  They
were  friends,  and  Bob  was  a  very  good  sort,  but  Vernon
would  sooner  he  had  stopped  away.
"  Hallo!  "  he  said.     "  Why  have  you  come  along?  "

"  I  lost  my  hunting-knife,"  Winter  replied.  "  It  was
hooked  to  my  belt  and  I  thought  the  clip  let  go  when  we
helped  Miss  Hyslop  over  the  big  log.  A  bully  knife;
I  wanted  to  find  the  thing."  He  paused  and  smiled
when  he  resumed :  "  I  reckon  you  pulled  out  of  camp
to  meditate  ?  "

Vernon  hesitated.  Had  Winter  stopped  a  few
yards  off,  he  would  have  begun  some  banter  and  drawn
him  away  from  the  pool.  Bob  was  a  woodsman  and
his  eyes  were  keen.  The  sun  was,  however,  rising


26       LISTER'S  GREAT  ADVENTURE

behind  the  pines  and  a  beam  of  light  touched  the  sand.
There  was  no  use  in  trying  to  hide  the  marks.  In
fact,  Vernon  imagined  Bob  had  seen  them.
