So Somerset waited, his eyes lingering on the little world of objects around him, till they all became quite familiar.

Spiders'-webs in plenty were there, and one in particular just before him was in full use as a snare, stretching across the arch of the window, with radiating threads as its ribs.

Somerset had plenty of time, and he counted their number--fifteen.

He remained so silent that the owner of this elaborate structure soon forgot the disturbance which had resulted in the breaking of his diagonal ties, and crept out from the corner to mend them.

In watching the process, Somerset noticed that on the stonework behind the web sundry names and initials had been cut by explorers in years gone by.