PART I. THE POSTHUMOUS PUZZLE OF MR. BRYCE
Chapter I.—The Adventure on the Sands
Chapter II.—An Old Friend
Chapter III.—The Strange Behaviour of Mr. Bryce
Chapter IV.—The Thief in the Night
Chapter V.—Circumstantial Evidence
Chapter VI.—I Tell a Lie
Chapter VII.—Introducing Mr. Albert Cumshaw
PART II. THE ADVENTURES OF MR. ABEL CUMSHAW
Chapter I.—Nightfall
Chapter II.—The Pursuit
Chapter III.—The Hidden Valley
Chapter IV.—When Thieves Fall Out
Chapter V.—Expiation
Chapter VI.—The Hegira of Mr. Abel Cumshaw
Chapter VIII.—The Gathering of the Eagles
PART III THE FINDING OF THE LOST VALLEY
Chapter I.—The Cypher
Chapter II.—Over the Hills and Far Away
Chapter III.—The Promised Land
Chapter IV.—We Enter the Valley
Chapter V.—Dies Irae
Chapter VI.—The Solution
Chapter VII.—The Adventure Closes
I came upon the place quite unexpectedly. Centuries of wind and wave hadcarved a little nook out of the foot of the cliff and fashioned it socunningly that I did not see it until I was right on top of it. Afterthe warmth of the open beach and the glare of the white road I hadrecently travelled its shade looked so inviting that I limped in underthe overhang of the cliff and dropped joyfully on to the cool patch ofsand. It was the first moment of contentment I had known for many wearymonths, and, needless to say, I set myself out to make the most of it. Iwas absolutely sick of tramping about. My left boot had burst and, bythe feel of it, there wasn't too much left of my right sole. I had beencrawling along the road since daylight—and for many days before forthat matter—searching for a job that failed to materialise.
Jobs, it appeared, were just about as scarce as cool spots in Hades.They had been very kind to me at the last farmhouse. The good lady hadgiven me an excellent breakfast and an extra glass of milk, had loadedmy bedraggled pockets with food and had finally put me on the road tothe sea. Work, she said, they could not give me. They had put off twomen the previous day. I might find something to do in the next town. Shedid tell me what it was called, but my thoughts were on my own poorprospects and I didn't quite catch what she said.