I knew it at once.

It had guided me home often and often before now, and it was doing so again.

But in what strange company! "`That's Culverton, on the hill there,' said I.
"The men, who were nearly dead beat with their tramp through the deep snow, said nothing, but plodded on doggedly.

It was nearly an hour more before we reached the outskirts of the estate, and by this time so exhausted were they that when I cried a halt they fairly sat down in the snow.
"I was strongly tempted to leave them there; but a desire to bring them to condign punishment prevented me.

They were armed, and I was not.
Besides, the reference in the letter to my father's steward made me anxious to sift the matter to the bottom.
"`Come, come,' said I, `at that rate you'll never see the strong box.
Get up, men!' "They struggled to their feet.