Soon after I caught the sound of men's voices, and then the constable struck off the path into the wood.
I now advanced more cautiously, endeavouring to locate the search party by the sound of the pump, and when I had done this I made a little detour so that I might approach from the opposite direction to that from which the constable had appeared.
Still guided by the noise of the pump, I at length came out into a small opening among the trees and halted to survey the scene.

The centre of the opening was occupied by a small pond, not more than a dozen yards across, by the side of which stood a builder's handcart.

The little two-wheeled vehicle had evidently been used to convey the appliances which were deposited on the ground near it, and which consisted of a large tub--now filled with water--a shovel, a rake, a sieve, and a portable pump, the latter being fitted with a long delivery hose.

There were three men besides the constable, one of whom was working the handle of the pump, while another was glancing at a paper that the constable had just delivered to him.

He looked up sharply as I appeared, and viewed me with unconcealed disfavour.
"Hallo, sir!" said he.