That day , while it was yet light , and he was diggingdigin a moist white-bordered wash for water , he was broughtbringsharply up by hearinghearthe crackcrackof hard hoofs on stone .
Cameron dugdigdeep into the sand , but without avail .
He therefore dugdighis cellar , and laidlaythe deep foundations of his mansion , on the square of earth whence Matthew Maule , forty years before , had first sweptsweepaway the fallen leaves .