〃Gosh！〃　he　said　aloud；　mopping　the　sweat　and　fog　from　his　face。
  And　〃Gosh！〃　he　said　once　again；　while　rolling　a　cigarette　and
  as　he　pondered　the　problem　of　getting　back。
  But　he　made　no　attempt　to　go　back。　He　was　resolved　not　to　face
  that　road　in　the　dark；　and　with　head　bowed　on　knees；　he　dozed；
  waiting　for　daylight。
  How　long　afterward　he　did　not　know；　he　was　awakened　by　the
  yapping　bark　of　a　young　coyote。　As　he　looked　about　and　located
  it　on　the　brow　of　the　hill　behind　him；　he　noted　the　change　that
  had　come　over　the　face　of　the　night。　The　fog　was　gone；　the
  stars　and　moon　were　out；　even　the　wind　had　died　down。　It　had
  transformed　into　a　balmy　California　summer　night。　He　tried　to
  doze　again；　but　the　yap　of　the　coyote　disturbed　him。　Half
  asleep；　he　heard　a　wild　and　eery　chant。　Looking　about　him；　he
  noticed　that　the　coyote　had　ceased　its　noise　and　was　running
  away　along　the　crest　of　the　hill；　and　behind　it；　in　full
  pursuit；　no　longer　chanting；　ran　the　naked　creature　he　had
  encountered　in　the　garden。　It　was　a　young　coyote；　and　it　was
  being　overtaken　when　the　chase　passed　from　view。　The　man
  trembled　as　with　a　chill　as　he　started　to　his　feet；　clambered
  over　the　fence；　and　mounted　his　wheel。　But　it　was　his　chance
  and　he　knew　it。　The　terror　was　no　longer　between　him　and　Mill
  Valley。
  He　sped　at　a　breakneck　rate　down　the　hill；　but　in　the　turn　at
  the　bottom；　in　the　deep　shadows；　he　encountered　a　chuck…hole
  and　pitched　headlong　over　the　handle　bar。
  〃It's　sure　not　my　night；〃　he　muttered；　as　he　examined　the
  broken　fork　of　the　machine
  Shouldering　the　useless　wheel；　he　trudged　on。　In　time　he　came
  to　the　stone　wall；　and；　half　disbelieving　his　experience；　he
  sought　in　the　road　for　tracks；　and　found　themmoccasin　tracks；
  large　ones；　deep…bitten　into　the　dust　at　the　toes。　It　was　while
  bending　over　them；　examining；　that　again　he　heard　the　eery
  chant。　He　had　seen　the　thing　pursue　the　coyote；　and　he　knew　he
  had　no　chance　on　a　straight　run。　He　did　not　attempt　it；
  contenting　himself　with　hiding　in　the　shadows　on　the　off　side
  of　the　road。
  And　again　he　saw　the　thing　that　was　like　a　naked　man；　running
  swiftly　and　lightly　and　singing　as　it　ran。　Opposite　him　it
  paused；　and　his　heart　stood　still。　But　instead　of　coming　toward
  his　hiding…place；　it　leaped　into　the　air；　caught　the　branch　of
  a　roadside　tree；　and　swung　swiftly　upward；　from　limb　to　limb；
  like　an　ape。　It　swung　across　the　wall；　and　a　dozen　feet　above
  the　top；　into　the　branches　of　another　tree；　and　dropped　out　of
  sight　to　the　ground。　The　man　waited　a　few　wondering　minutes；
  then　started　on。
  II
  Dave　Slotter　leaned　belligerently　against　the　desk　that　barred
  the　way　to　the　private　office　of　James　Ward；　senior　partner　of
  the　firm　of　Ward；　Knowles　&　Co。　Dave　was　angry。　Every　one　in
  the　outer　office　had　looked　him　over　suspiciously；　and　the　man
  who　faced　him　was　excessively　suspicious。
  〃You　just　tell　Mr。　Ward　it's　important；〃　he　urged。
  〃I　tell　you　he　is　dictating　and　cannot　be　disturbed；〃　was　the
  answer。　〃Come　to…morrow。〃
  〃To…morrow　will　be　too　late。　You　just　trot　along　and　tell　Mr。
  Ward　it's　a　matter　of　life　and　death。〃
  The　secretary　hesitated　and　Dave　seized　the　advantage。
  〃You　just　tell　him　I　was　across　the　bay　in　Mill　Valley　last
  night；　and　that　I　want　to　put　him　wise　to　something。〃
  〃What　name？〃　was　the　query。
  〃Never　mind　the　name。　He　don't　know　me。〃
  When　Dave　was　shown　into　the　private　office；　he　was　still　in
  the　belligerent　frame　of　mind；　but　when　he　saw　a　large　fair　man
  whirl　in　a　revolving　chair　from　dictating　to　a　stenographer　to
  face　him；　Dave's　demeanor　abruptly　changed。　He　did　not　know　why
  it　changed；　and　he　was　secretly　angry　with　himself。
  〃You　are　Mr。　Ward？〃　Dave　asked　with　a　fatuousness　that　still
  further　irritated　him。　He　had　never　intended　it　at　all。
  〃Yes；〃　came　the　answer。
  〃And　who　are　you？〃
  〃Harry　Bancroft；〃　Dave　lied。　〃You　don't　know　me；　and　my　name
  don't　matter。〃
  〃You　sent　in　word　that　you　were　in　Mill　Valley　last　night？〃
  〃You　live　there；　don't　you？〃　Dave　countered；　looking
  suspiciously　at　the　stenographer。
  〃Yes。　What　do　you　mean　to　see　me　about？　I　am　very　busy。〃
  〃I'd　like　to　see　you　alone；　sir。〃
  Mr。　Ward　gave　him　a　quick；　penetrating　look；　hesitated；　then
  made　up　his　mind。
  〃That　will　do　for　a　few　minutes；　Miss　Potter。〃
  The　girl　arose；　gathered　her　notes　together；　and　passed　out。
  Dave　looked　at　Mr。　James　Ward　wonderingly；　until　that　gentleman
  broke　his　train　of　inchoate　thought。
  〃Well？〃
  〃I　was　over　in　Mill　Valley　last　night；〃　Dave　began　confusedly。
  〃I've　heard　that　before。　What　do　you　want？〃
  And　Dave　proceeded　in　the　face　of　a　growing　conviction　that　was
  unbelievable。　〃I　was　at　your　house；　or　in　the　grounds；　I　mean。〃
  〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃
  〃I　came　to　break　in；〃　Dave　answered　in　all　frankness。
  〃I　heard　you　lived　all　alone　with　a　Chinaman　for　cook；　and　it
  looked　good　to　me。　Only　I　didn't　break　in。　Something　happened
  that　prevented。　That's　why　I'm　here。　I　come　to　warn　you。　I
  found　a　wild　man　loose　in　your　groundsa　regular　devil。　He
  could　pull　a　guy　like　me　to　pieces。　He　gave　me　the　run　of　my
  life。　He　don't　wear　any　clothes　to　speak　of；　he　climbs　trees
  like　a　monkey；　and　he　runs　like　a　deer。　I　saw　him　chasing　a
  coyote；　and　the　last　I　saw　of　it；　by　God；　he　was　gaining　on
  it。〃
  Dave　paused　and　looked　for　the　effect　that　would　follow　his
  words。　But　no　effect　came。　James　Ward　was　quietly　curious；　and
  that　was　all。
  〃Very　remarkable；　very　remarkable；〃　he　murmured。　〃A　wild　man；
  you　say。　Why　have　you　come　to　tell　me？〃
  〃To　warn　you　of　your　danger。　I'm　something　of　a　hard
  proposition　myself；　but　I　don't　believe　in　killing　people　。　。　。
  that　is；　unnecessarily。　I　realized　that　you　was　in　danger。　I
  thought　I'd　warn　you。　Honest；　that's　the　game。　Of　course；　if
  you　wanted　to　give　me　anything　for　my　trouble；　I'd　take　it。
  That　was　in　my　mind；　too。　But　I　don't　care　whether　you　give　me
  anything　or　not。　I've　warned　you　any　way；　and　done　my　duty。〃
  Mr。　Ward　meditated　and　drummed　on　the　surface　of　his　desk。　Dave
  noticed　they　were　large；　powerful　hands；　withal　well…cared　for
  despite　their　dark　sunburn。　Also；　he　noted　what　had　already
  caught　his　eye　beforea　tiny　strip　of　flesh…colored
  courtplaster　on　the　forehead　over　one　eve。　And　still　the
  thought　that　forced　itself　into　his　mind　was　unbelievable。
  Mr。　Ward　took　a　wallet　from　his　inside　coat　pocket；　drew　out　a
  greenback；　and　passed　it　to　Dave；　who　noted　as　he　pocketed　it
  that　it　was　for　twenty　dollars。
  〃Thank　you；〃　said　Mr。　Ward；　indicating　that　the　interview　was
  at　an　end。
  〃I　shall　have　the　matter　investigated。　A　wild　man　running　loose
  IS　dangerous。〃
  But　so　quiet　a　man　was　Mr。　Ward；　that　Dave's　courage　returned。
  Besides；　a　new　theory　had　suggested　itself。　The　wild　man　was
  evidently　Mr。　Ward's　brother；　a　lunatic　privately　confined。
  Dave　had　heard　of　such　things。　Perhaps　Mr。　Ward　wanted　it　kept
  quiet。　That　was　why　he　had　given　him　the　twenty　dollars。
  〃Say；〃　Dave　began；　〃now　I　come　to　think　of　it　that　wild　man
  looked　a　lot　like　you〃
  That　was　as　far　as　Dave　got；　for　at　that　moment　he　witnessed　a
  transformation　and　found　himself　gazing　into　the　same
  unspeakably　ferocious　blue　eyes　of　the　night　before；　at　the
  same　clutching　talon…like　hands；　and　at　the　same　formidable
  bulk　in　the　act　of　springing　upon　him。　But　this　time　Dave　had
  no　night…stick　to　throw；　and　he　was　caught　by　the　biceps　of
  both　arms　in　a　grip　so　terrific　that　it　made　him　groan　with
  pain。　He　saw　the　large　white　teeth　exposed；　for　all　the　world
  as　a　dog's　about　to　bite。　Mr。　Ward's　beard　brushed　his　face　as
  the　teeth　went　in　for　the　grip　on　his　throat。　But　the　bite　was
  not　given。　Instead；　Dave　felt　the　other's　body　stiffen　as　with
  an　iron　restraint；　and　then　he　was　flung　aside；　without　effort
  but　with　such　force　that　only　the　wall　stopped　his　momentum　and
  dropped　him　gasping　to　the　floor。
  〃What　do　you　mean　by　coming　here　and　trying　to　blackmail　me？〃
  Mr。　Ward　was　snarling　at　him。　〃Here；　give　me　back　that　money。〃
  Dave　passed　the　bill　back　without　a　word。
  〃I　thought　you　came　here　with　good　intentions。　I　know　you　now。
  Let　me　see　and　hear　no　more　of　you；　or　I'll　put　you　in　prison
  where　you　belong。　Do　you　understand？〃
  〃Yes；　sir；〃　Dave　gasped。
  〃Then　go。〃
  And　Dave　went；　without　further　word；　both　his　biceps　aching
  intolerably　from　the　bruise　of　that　tremendous　grip。　As　his
  hand　rested　on　the　door　knob；　he　was　stopped。
  〃You　were　lucky；〃　Mr。　Ward　was　saying；　and　Dave　noted　that　his
  face　and　eyes　were　cruel　and　gloating　and　proud。
  〃You　were　lucky。　Had　I　wanted；　I　could　have　torn　your　muscles
  out　of　your　arms　and　thrown　them　in　the　waste　basket　there。〃
  〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Dave；　and　absolute　conviction　vibrated　in　his　voice。
  He　opened　t