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Naturally； he questioned me more closely。 I was unready in my
answers。 His inquiries excited and alarmed me。 I felt that any
instant I might do something to betray myself。 I cut the manager
short； paid my bill； got my luggage； and ordered the chauffeur to
drive to the Grand Central Station。 But when we had gone three
or four blocks； I said to him： 'Stop！I do not wish to go to the
Grand Central Station。 Drive me to Poughkeepsie！' I wished a
chance to think。 I knew Poughkeepsie was not far from New York
City； but I supposed it was far enough to give me a chance to
determine what to do next by the time we arrived there。
〃But I could not think coherently。 I could only feel and fear。
The drive was longer than I had expected； but when we arrived at
Poughkeepsie and the chauffeur asked me again what disposition to
make of the box； I was unable to answer him。 Thereupon he
insolently demanded an enormous fare。
〃I could not choose but pay it。 For four days we went from place
to place； in and about New York City's suburbsnow in town and
now in the countrycrossing rivers again and again on
ferryboatsstopping at hotels； road houses and all manner of
placesdashing through Brooklyn and out among the villages of
Long Islandand with the fear on me that we were being followed。
〃Elmer and I were continually on the lookout for some way to
dispose of the box； but nothing presented itself。 The driver；
who had become more and more impudent in his attitude and
outrageous in his charges； was now practically a spy upon us。
The necessity for ice made frequent stops imperative； at the same
time the increasing fear of pursuit made it agony for me to stop
anywhere。
〃Today； at a road house thirty or forty miles from here； I made
certain that I was pursued。 The very man from whom I had claimed
the box at the railway goods station in Newark confronted me。 It
appears； from what Elmer says； that he is taking a holiday and is
visiting his brother； who is the proprietor of the road house。
〃And the person who is pursuing me isa Miss Genevieve Pringle！
〃As fate would have it； there lives in Newark a person who really
owns that name which I thought I had invented。 It seems that she
had been expecting a shipment； and had called to inquire for it；
upon learning that a box had been delivered to a person in her
name she had taken up the trail at once。 Having somehow traced
me to Long Island； she had actually made inquiries at this very
road house some hours earlier。 The railway employee； I am
certain； would have denounced me at oncehe would have accused
me of theft； and would have endeavored to have me held until he
could get into communication with Miss Pringle or with the
authoritiesbut I bought from him a promise of silence。 It cost
me another large sum。
〃A few hours ago the chauffeur； divining from a conversation
between Elmer and me that I was running short of ready money；
deserted me here。 You know the rest。〃
Her voice trailed off into a tired whisper as she finished； and
with her elbows on the table Lady Agatha wearily supported her
head in her hands。 Her attitude acknowledged defeat。 She was
despairingly certain that she would never see the last of the box
which she believed to contain Reginald Maltravers。
Cleggett did not hesitate an instant。 〃Lady Agatha；〃 he said；
〃the Jasper B。 is at your service as long as you may require the
ship。 The cabin is your home until we arrive at a solution of
your difficulties。〃
His glance and manner added what his tongue left unutteredthat
the commander of the ship was henceforth her devoted cavalier。
But she understood。
She extended her hand。 Her answer was on her lips。 But at that
instant the jarring roar of an explosion struck the speech from
them。
The blast was evidently near； though muffled。 The earth shook； a
tremor ran through the Jasper B。； the glasses leaped and rang
upon the table。 Cleggett； followed by Lady Agatha； darted up the
companionway。
As Cleggett reached the deck there was a second shock； and he
beheld a flame leap out of the earth itselfa sudden sword of
fire thrust into the night from the midst of the sandy plain
before him。 The light that stabbed and was gone in an instant
was about halfway between the Jasper B。 and Morris's。 A second
after； a missilewhich Cleggett later learned was a piece of
rock the size of a man's headfell with a splintering crash upon
and through the wooden platform beside the Jasper B。； not thirty
feet from where Cleggett stood； another splashed into the canal。
The next day Cleggett saw several of these fragments lying about
the plain。
Calling to his men to bring lanternsfor the night had fallen
dark and cloudyCleggett ran towards the place。 Lady Agatha；
refusing to remain behind； went with them。 Moving lights and a
stir of activity at Morris's； and the gleam of lanterns on board
the Annabel Lee； showed Cleggett that his neighbors likewise were
excited。
But if Cleggett had expected an easy solution of this astonishing
eruption he was disappointed。 Arrived at the scene of the
explosion； he found that its nature was such as to tease and balk
his faculties of analysis。 The blast had blown a hole into the
ground； certainly； but this hole was curiously filled。 Two large
bowlders that leaned towards each other had stood on top of the
ground。 These had been split and shattered into many fragments。
A few pieces； like the one that came so near Cleggett； had been
flung to a distance； but for the most part the shivered crowns
and broken bulks had been served otherwise； the force of the
blast had disintegrated them； but had not scattered them； the
greater part of this newly…rent stone had toppled into the
fissure in the ground； and lay there mixed with earth； almost
filling the hole。 It was impossible to determine just where and
how the blast had been set off； the rocks hid the facts。 But
Cleggett judged that the force must have come from below the
bowlders； mightily smitten from beneath； they had collapsed into
the cavern suddenly opening there； as a building might collapse
into and fill a cellar。 The pieces that had been thrown high into
the air were insignificant in proportion to the great bulk which
had settled into the hole and made its origin a mystery。
As Cleggett； bewildered； stood and gazed upon the mass of rock
and earth； Cap'n Abernethy gave a cry and pointed at something
with his finger。 Cleggett； looking at the spot indicated； saw
upon the edge of this singular fracture in the earth a thing that
sent a quick chill of horror and repulsion to his heart。 It was
a dead hand； roughly severed between the wrist and the elbow。
The back of it was uppermost； the fingers were clenched。
Cleggett set down his lantern beside it and turned it over with
his foot。
The dead fingers clutched a scrap of something yellow。 On one of
them was a large and peculi