For a long time his perseverance was unrewarded.

At length, however, his eye detected the welcome flutter of a bright tag among the leaves, and he recognised the scene of last night's damp sojourn.
He clambered up onto the bank, regardless of his garments, and commenced an anxious scrutiny.

The bank itself showed no signs of a "mystery." Even the traces of Jeffreys' visit to it the night before were obliterated by the soaking rain.

The field on the other side was equally unsuggestive.

Jonah trampled around in circles on the young corn, but never a pistol, or a rusty knife, or a bottle of poison, did he discover.
Yet he had heard the villain say distinctly,-- "This was the very place!" He scrambled back rather crestfallen on to the bank.