This done, he closed the door gently and once more stepped out into the moonlit clearing.

In replacing his knife in his pocket he took out the letters which he had not touched since they were handed to him in the darkness.

His first glance at the handwriting caused him to stop.

Then still staring at it, he began to move slowly and automatically backwards to the porch.

When he reached it he sat down, unfolded the letter, and without attempting to read it, turned its pages over and over with the unfamiliarity of an illiterate man in search of the signature.