But as I was folding up the parchment a black shadow suddenly fell across the page.
I started and looked up.
"Above me stood Simon Colliver.
"He was standing in the broad light of the sun and watching me intently, with a curious smile which grew as our eyes met.

How long he had been there I could not guess, but the strangeness of meeting him on this spot, and the occupation in which I was surprised, discomposed me not a little.

Hastily thrusting back the buckle and the parchment into my pocket, I scrambled to my feet and stood facing him.

Even as I did so, all Mr.Sanderson's warnings came flashing into my mind.
"For full a minute we stood confronting each other without a word.
He was still standing in the full blaze of the sunlight, with the same odd smile upon his face, and a peculiar light in his dark eyes that never swerved for a moment.

Finally he gave a low laugh and nodding lightly, said-- "'Odd thing our meeting like this, eh?
Hand of Fate or some such thing might be mixed up in it from the way we run across each other's path.' "I assented.
"'Queer too, you'll allow, that we should both be struck with the fancy for ascending this mountain.