In the same breath it was gone.

With half a dozen men ready to do his work, Aldous knew that Quade would not redden his own hands or place himself in any conspicuous risk.

During the next hour he visited the places where Quade was most frequently seen.

He had made up his mind to walk over to the engineers' camp, when a small figure darted after him out of the gloom of the trees.
It was Stevens' boy.
"Dad wants to see you down at the camp," he whispered excitedly.

"He says right away--an' for no one to see you.