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unch on the jaw for his trouble。 He doesn't want us here and that mob would have solved his problem for him。 Yet he horns in and breaks the party up； risking his own life in the bargain。 It just doesn't add up。'
'Maybe he's just got a kind heart underneath a rough exterior。'
'Not him； Liz。 He wouldn't do anything without a reason； and I'd give the helluva lot to know what's behind all this。'
They went back inside。
'It's barely midnight！' Professor Lowson looked at his watch。 'Another seven hours till daylight and we haven't even got an excuse for a front door。'
'We'll have to take it in turns to keep watch。 Those villagers won't e back but the Slime Beast might。 It's between you and me； Professor。 You take the first three hours； I'll take the last four； and don't doze off； you might not wake up！'
Gavin and Liz retired separately。 With Professor Low…son on the prowl they would not be able to sleep together。
Dawn broke cold and dull。 A sea…mist shrouded the salt…marshes。 Visibility was reduced to twenty yards。
The archaeologists slept late。 There was no point hi making an early start。 They could have passed within yards of the Slime Beast's daytime refuge and not even be aware of it They could have bee lost； wandered seawards and fallen victims to a ruthless ining tide。 Most of all though they needed sleep and only with the ing of daylight were they assured of safety。
It was noon before they set out。 A breeze had sprung up and the fog had disappeared in a very short tune； so that weak sunlight flooded the saltings。
'Walk in a straight line；' Professor Lowson ordered； 'no 48
more than twenty yards apart； and keep your eyes peeled。 It's a big area。 Look in every creek。 Move slowly。'
They set off。 The going was heavy but the coolness was a relief。 The hours went by； and they kept searching； but there was nothing； nothing but an expanse of grass and mud。
They arrived back at the blockhouse at 5。30 pm。 They could have stayed out another hour but the door had to be repaired before nightfall。
They were silent as Liz served the evening meal。
The Professor was dejected； he had not envisaged failure。
Gavin was angry； an organised party armed with the necessary weapons should have been searching for the Slime Beast。
Liz was frightened； another night of fear lay in front of them…the villagers； the monster； darkness brought it all back to her。
After they had washed up she and Gavin sat talking。 Lowson resumed his lengthy sessions with his books and papers。 They did not put the radio on； much as they would have weled it； for it could well serve as a cover for other sounds。 It was a matter of life and death。
'How much longer are we staying on here？' Liz threw the paper she had been reading into the corner。 'It's getting me down。 We haven't seen a sign of the Slime Beast today and we've walked miles。 It just seems to have vanished； and Uncle appears to have forgotten all about the treasure； which is what we came here for in the first place。 We can't sleep properly at night for fear that that monster will show up or else a bunch of superstitious villagers will try and throw us in the quicksands。 I can't stand much more Gavin。'
Gavin pulled her on to his knee and kissed the nape of her neck。
'Don't worry； love；' he murmured。 'Well give it one more day。 Then； if there's no sign of the beast； you and I'll go back to London。 If the Professor chooses to stay on here by himself then that's his business。'
She leaned back on him。 'Thanks。 I shall be glad to get away from here。 So long as we're together。'
For the next half hour not a word was spoken between them。 There was no need。 Their hands explored each other's bodies without any hint of embarrassment。 Gavin let her do what he wanted her to do； his breath ing faster and faster until finally his whole frame shook with the release of his tension。
Afterwards they just lay there partially clothed forgetting for a time the horror which surrounded them。
'There's somebody ing！' Gavin struggled to his knees； pulling his trousers up as he did so。
Liz paled。 They both listened。 Footsteps； hurried； panic…stricken； ing from the seaward side of the marsh。 Squelching and splashing； stumbling； laboured breathing then a violent pounding on the newly repaired door。
'Who 。。。 who can it be？' Liz breathed。 'God； never a night passes in this place without somebody brings trouble。
'Well it certainly isn't the Slime Beast；' Gavin replied。 'Nor the villagers for that matter。 Whoever it is； is badly scared of something。 I'd better go see。'
'Don't。 Please don't！' Liz caught hold of his arm。 'Every time somebody calls here it means trouble and terror。 Don't open the door Gavin； Perhaps they'll just go away。'
Footsteps in the corridor heralded the approach of Professor Lowson。 They saw him pass and then heard him tugging at the door。 They moved to where they could watch fascinated； irresistibly drawn by the prospect of some fresh horror。
'Let me in！ For God's sake； help me。' Clenched fists hammered on the woodwork even as the Professor tugged it back； then a man squeezed himself through the narrow opening。 'Shut it。 Bolt it。 Quick man or it'll get us all！'
'Glover！' Gavin exclaimed aloud。 'Mallard Glover。'
The wildfowler was trembling。 In his hand he carried his long…barrelled twelve bore。 His hair was awry and there was no sign of his woollen hat。 His breath came in great gulps and his eyes rolled。
Professor Lowson forced the door shut and fastened it 'Whatever's the matter with you man？'
Glover appeared to be incapable of coherent speech for the moment。 He leaned his back against the concrete wall and closed his eyes。
'My God；' he breathed。 'Oh my God！'
They led him into the living quarters and seated him on an upturned crate。 Gavin found the medicine chest and poured out a liberal shot of cognac。
'Drink this；' he snapped。 'And then perhaps you'll be able to tell us what this is all about。'
The fowler downed the amber liquid in one gulp。 He spluttered and coughed； then after a time he made an effort to pull himself together。 All three of them looked at him。 They said nothing。 He would speak when he was ready。
'Bloody awful！' He blanched as he recalled his memories of the past half…hour。 'Never belongs to this world。 That's what killed Hayward。 No doubt about it。 The villagers were right after all。 A demon does guard the treasure。'
He paused for breath。 Gavin and Liz looked at each other。 Professor Lowson smiled triumphantly。
'The bastard nearly got me。 Guns are no good against it。'
'Tell us from the beginning。' Gavin attempted to calm him in an attempt to extract the true facts。
'All right。' Glover accepted the cigarette which was offered； lit it and inhaled deeply before replying。 'I went across to the edge of the River Welland。 There are a few geese mov