Why should there be such a mystery about it?
and why such care taken to maintain silence?
He had just begun to ask himself these questions, and a horrible suspicion was forming itself in his mind, when he heard the hoot of an owl from the direction of the beach.

Wondering at an owl being in so unlikely a place, he stooped to gather a fresh load of iron.

But suddenly a man sprang out of the gloom, flashing a dark lantern full upon him.

Blinded by the light, he staggered back.

Then a revolver in the man's hand went off like the roar of a cannon.