about.

This was strange and excited his curiosity. The other's figure would
probably be invisible against the rock, but he must have moved rapidly
to get in front of it. Then Thirlwell saw that where he stood the bush
was no longer behind him. He had the inshore eddies for a background and
the water reflected a faint light. There was no obvious reason why the
other should be alarmed and try to steal away, but it looked as if he
had done so.

Thirlwell sat down among the driftwood and waited, but saw no more of
the man; and then going back quietly, turned into a trail that led to
the mine. The trail was rough and narrow; in places, short brush had
sprung up, and there were patches of outcropping rock. It would be
difficult for anybody to follow it without making some noise, but
although he stopped and listened no sound came out of the gloom.

He went on, pondering the matter with some curiosity. Since the miners
were in camp, he imagined the man he had seen was Driscoll, who lived
alone in a log shack near the bank. But, if this were so, what was
Driscoll's object for wading among the reefs, and why had he stolen away
when he thought he was watched? Thirlwell could not solve the puzzle,
but he could find out if the fellow were Driscoll or not, because the
trail passed his shack.

He walked faster, making as little noise as possible, and by and by
reached a belt of thinner forest. He passed a fallen pine, from which he
knew the shack was visible in daylight, and resolved to see if Driscoll
was at home. If not, Thirlwell thought it would be safe to conclude that
he had seen him among the reefs. A few moments later a light flashed