Now she saw him, now she lost him; now she caught a glimpse of him again, through a screen of willow branches.

He moved with the utmost caution, as a man moves who is pursued or in danger; and for a moment she deemed him a peasant whom the bathers had disturbed and who was bent on escaping.

But when he came opposite to the alder-bed she saw that that was his point, for he crouched down, sheltered by a willow, and gazed eagerly among the trees, always with his back to her; and then he waved his hand to some one in the wood.
Madame St.Lo drew in her breath.

As if he had heard the sound--which was impossible--the man dropped down where he stood, crawled a yard or two on his face, and disappeared.
Madame stared a moment, expecting to see him or hear him.

Then, as nothing happened, she screamed.