THE OFFICIAL SEAL That life could possibly return to a normal course after that amazing night would have seemed to Dot preposterous but for the extremely practical attitude adopted by Fletcher Hill.

But when she saw him again on the day after their safe return to Trelevan there was nothing in his demeanour to remind her of the stress through which they had passed.

He was, as ever, perfectly calm and self-contained, and wholly uncommunicative.

Adela sought in vain to satisfy her curiosity as to the happenings in Barren Valley which her courage had not permitted her to witness for herself.

Fletcher Hill was as a closed book, and on some points Dot was equally reticent.