"What is it, Dan?"

"Only this, sir. Remember what you saw last night?"

"Yes," cried Mark eagerly. "Did you see it too?"

"Well, I'm not sure, sir; only think I did."

"Think?"

"Well, you see, sir, what you said seemed to make me expect that I should see something. I could not be sure."

"Well, we had better tell my father and the doctor, and let's do it now."

Mark led the way straight to where the above were busily talking together and just about to start for a further exploration of the gigantic walls whose ruins cropped up in all directions; and after the matter had been discussed it was decided that though there was a doubt as to whether it was not all imagination, it would be wise to try to keep up a stricter watch by night.

"You see," said Dan, as Sir James and the doctor resumed their search, "it's like this, sir. It might be some animile or one of them doggy monkey things come stealing about in the night, or even one of the n.i.g.g.e.rs come to see if he could pinch something good out of the stores."

"That's hardly likely," said Mark.

But a morning or two later Mark went up to his father and startled him with a question:

"Have you taken my rifle away, father?"

"Your rifle? No! Why?"

"It isn't hanging on the pegs with the others."

"Nonsense! Perhaps you did not look in the right place. Let's see."

Sir James led the way to where a number of pegs had been driven into the old wall beneath the canvas roof.

"They are not all there, certainly," he said. "Perhaps the doctor has taken yours by mistake."

"No; he has got his own."

"Mark, my boy, I'm afraid you have had it out somewhere and left it standing up against a rock or tree--forgotten it."

"Oh, father," cried the boy excitedly, "I am sure I haven't! I had it last night, cleaned it and oiled it carefully, and then put it back in its place."

"Are you sure? Last night?"

"Yes, father, certain. Here, I will call Dean."

The latter came trotting up in answer to his cousin's whistle, heard what was wrong, and corroborated Mark's words.

"But are you sure it was last night?"

"Yes, uncle, certain. I did mine at the same time. You must have had it out, Mark. It can't be lost."

"I haven't had it out," cried the boy angrily. "I had breakfast, then went and had a talk with Dan, and then went to get the rifle, and it was gone."

"Well, let the matter drop for a time," said Sir James quietly.

"Is anything wrong?" said the doctor coming up.

"Yes, my rifle's gone;" and after hearing what each had to say the doctor turned to Mark.

"You feel sure about it now, my boy, but we all have such fits as that sometimes; then all at once the fact dawns upon us that we have put away the missing article to be safe, or for some other reason, and then we wonder how we could possibly have forgotten it."

Mark nodded his head, looked at his cousin, and they went off together.

"Yes, the doctor's right," said Dean, as soon as they were out of hearing. "You will remember it all by-and-by."

"That I shan't," was the angry retort. "I feel as sure as can be that it has been stolen. Oh, here's Dan."

They came in sight of that st.u.r.dy little individual, in company with Buck.

"Here, Dan," cried Mark, "you know when I was talking with you a little while ago?"

"Yes, sir, of course."

"Had I got my rifle with me?"

"No, sir. A'n't lost it, have you, sir?"

"Yes, it's gone. You can't help me, can you, Buck?"

"No, sir.--Here, stop a minute."

"Ah! Now it's coming," cried Dean, laughing. "I told you so."

"You told me!" cried his cousin scornfully. "You only said what father and the doctor had told me before. Now, Buck, what were you going to say? When did you see it last?"

"Well, I saw it with you last, sir, when you relieved me on sentry."

"That's two or three nights ago," said Mark impatiently.

"Yes, sir; that must have been last Tuesday, and since then when you was on duty old Dan relieved you."

"Oh, don't go on prosing about that," cried Mark angrily. "I know as well as you can tell me. I want to find my gun."

"Well, sir, that's what I was going to tell you of, only you pretty well jumped down my throat."

"Well, tell me, then, and put me out of my misery. Where is it?"

"Oh, I don't know, sir."

"Then why did you begin talking as if you did?"