At length they came to a large open space of ground where played the level beams of the rising moon, striking upon the dense green foliage of an immense tree that grew there.

Round this tree Elissa ran, glancing about her wildly, so that for a few seconds Metem lost sight of her, for its mass was between them.

When he saw her again she was speeding towards the figure of a man who stood in the open, about ten paces from the outer boughs of the tree.

To this she pointed as she came, crying out aloud, "Beware! Beware!" Another moment and she had almost reached the man, and still pointing began to gasp some broken words.

Then, suddenly in the bright moonlight, Metem saw a shining point of light flash towards the pair from the darkness of the tree.