For the instant he saw no one.

The white glare of alkali was still unbroken.

Then his swiftly rolling eyes lighted upon a head and shoulder that protruded above the low crest of the break directly in front of him.

A man was there, lying at full length upon the ground, covering him with a revolver.

For a few seconds McTeague looked at the man stupidly, bewildered, confused, as yet without definite thought.