wondered。And，aboveall，howhadhecometohaveadaggerreadyinhishand？Adagger，orevenasharpknife，seemedoutofkeepingwiththeageinwhichwelived；andagentlemanlandingfromhisyachtontheshoreofhisownestate，evenalthoughitwasatnightandwithsomemysteriouscircumstances，doesnotusually，asamatteroffact，walkthuspreparedfordeadlyonslaught。ThemoreIreflected，thefurtherIfeltatsea。Irecapitulatedtheelementsofmystery，countingthemonmyfingers:thepavilionsecretlypreparedforguests；theguestslandedattheriskoftheirlivesandtotheimminentperiloftheyacht；theguests，oratleastoneofthem，inundisguisedandseeminglycauselessterror；Northmourwithanakedweapon；Northmourstabbinghismostintimateacquaintanceataword；last，andnotleaststrange，Northmourfleeingfromthemanwhomhehadsoughttomurder，andbarricadinghimself，likeahuntedcreature，behindthedoorofthepavilion。Herewereatleastsixseparatecausesforextremesurprise；eachpartandparcelwiththeothers，andformingalltogetheroneconsistentstory。Ifeltalmostashamedtobelievemyownsenses。
AsIthusstood，transfixedwithwonder，IbegantogrowpainfullyconsciousoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedinthescuffle；skulkedroundamongthesandhills；and，byadeviouspath，regainedtheshelterofthewood。Ontheway，theoldnursepassedagainwithinseveralyardsofme，stillcarryingherlantern，onthereturnjourneytothemansionhouseofGraden。Thismadeaseventhsuspiciousfeatureinthecase。Northmourandhisguests，itappeared，weretocookanddothecleaningforthemselves，whiletheoldwomancontinuedtoinhabitthebigemptybarrackamongthepolicies。Theremustsurelybegreatcauseforsecrecy，whensomanyinconvenienceswereconfrontedtopreserveit。
Sothinking，Imademywaytotheden。Forgreatersecurity，I
trodouttheembersofthefire，andlightedmylanterntoexaminethewounduponmyshoulder。Itwasatriflinghurt，althoughitbledsomewhatfreely，andIdresseditaswellasIcouldforitspositionmadeitdifficulttoreachwithsomeragandcoldwaterfromthespring。WhileIwasthusbusied，ImentallydeclaredwaragainstNorthmourandhismystery。Iamnotanangrymanbynature，andIbelievetherewasmorecuriositythanresentmentinmyheart。ButwarIcertainlydeclared；and，bywayofpreparation，Igotoutmyrevolver，and，havingdrawnthecharges，cleanedandreloadeditwithscrupulouscare。NextIbecamepreoccupiedaboutmyhorse。Itmightbreakloose，orfalltoneighing，andsobetraymycampintheSea-Wood。Ideterminedtoridmyselfofitsneighborhood；andlongbeforedawnIwasleadingitoverthelinksinthedirectionofthefishervillage。
FortwodaysIskulkedroundthepavilion，profitingbytheunevensurfaceofthelinks。Ibecameanadeptinthenecessarytactics。