The sun., 1897-09-19
CHAPTER XyXvIII.

-, And doubtless 1t was this outbreak. or rather
the suspcion of me which 1t sowed in Smiths
mind, that occastoned the sequel OF our adven-
ture. for when he had cursed me for a fool and
had put on his cloak, being now ready to go
II he dared neither leave me where / was lest
should communicate with Sir John. nor take
than once he went to the door. and " eyine 1e ms
askance and sourly. came back. but in the end.
his nails, he mAde up his mind. and curtly bade
rn bo SPa SsSP SHins < that .,.5 to saddle for YOU
have a care OF l shall bore that hole in you yet.
Take that bag and go before me by c.,
wish you were at the bottom of the nearest
His, words had the effect he intended. of
bringing me me to my senses; but they, went
obeyed him abjectly. took up my bag 't and FOL.
distrust Of his purpose. I saw that had not
only ceased 70 be Of use to him. but was now in
the night, which enyeloped us the momont we
Sro crossed the thPeshGd an and seemed the more
comfort we had left behind us"remindine me me
OF the long, dark miles must ride by his side.
each mile terror to one end an opportunity to
instant panic there and then. However, for
the time I controlled myself, and stumbling
stables, went in.
little cheered by the warmth Of his lanthorn. I
went to help him. smith turned aside. as 1
thought. into the next, stall But Brown was
1ng Getting dn,sd no answer Devil take the
n's oS aoiRs eRsn ss he
on iron, and the horse in the distant stall moved
sharply With WITH, hurried clatter Of hoofs on the
Is s' he matter With you. Sa mani i!ep'A'''' nat
you had better come" the landlord an.
Tsss fEssed sayaFSf' ,S' nor ms shall fetch yo%
you;.. want to see your backs, and be quit Of
took my horse by the bride and led 1t out
Of the stable, while Brown went to bit the other
And so. being alone outside. and the moon ris-
and showing me the open gates at the he end Of
while had the opportunity came on me with
the landlord with tho villains plans had not
doubt that at very moment he was tanning
him. and the cold .biooded treachery OF this act,
filling me with as much terror on my own ac.
red Of the i climbed sofy 70 my hS
saddle and began to walk my horse toward the
Doubtless Smith was too busy cloaking his
own movements to be Observant Of mine. l
reached tho gates u1noticed, and turning in:
fancied that he would be sure to pursue mel
Kicked M my INA, mare FL first into quick walk. then
boast. though far from speedy, was fresh from
It's corn: II took hold Of tho bit, SHE'D at u
chance light In cotters window. and went
a minute We had left Ashford behind US. and
were Gathering through the moonlight. with
the useG the %afa G
al tho pressure OF my legs. and, albeit trem,.
proved 70 be only the shadow OF tree thrown
across tho road, and now at the steopnoss of
ah aha S
in my heels and. with fear behind me- rode In
the the 6sht E; mad never before dared to ride in
had known nothing like It since tho sum-
mer day twelve 1Ise years before when had fed
die out Of pure weakness; II tho horse prlcked
tenIns for or sounds % 81 pursuit. suit 0n"sr" hut sueh s
speed could not be long maintained. and when
We had gone, as ] judged. two miles. the mare
Still for another mile urged her on until. feel.
Ing her M labor under hd I'M me, and foreseelng that
first lane to which came, and there wait In
the shadow of a tree until Smith. II he followed,
I did this. sprang down, and standing by my
painting horse In marshy hollow some 300
paces from the road listened intentiy. for
be hours to mo After the life had boen i lead d.
Ing, In London, this Loneliness n the night in
enemy on my track. appalled, my very soul.
was hot, and yet shivered and started at tho
me; when sad wall, as Of u r'''ttrEo OF lost
souls. passed overhead. ! cowed lyIst 10 my
knees. Yet inasmuch as these sounds, d9leful
and dreary az they were, were all ! heard, and
the night air brought no tI"nllings OF distant
hoofs to my ears. had reason to be thankful,
and more than thankful; and my mare having
BY this time got her wind again, led her back
70 the =-d. climbed into the saddle, and plodded
on steadily, deriving a wonderful relief and
confidence from the thought that Smith had
followed me LOndonwHr,..
Moreover. ! had conceived a sort of horror
OF the loneliness OF the waste countryside. and
to keep the highway was willing to run some
risk. took 1t that the road was travelling
must bring me TO Romney, and for good hour
and half ] logged with loose rein through
the gloom, tho way becoming even fiatter and
wetter, the wind more chill and salt, and the
night darker; the moon being constantly over
cast by clouds.
farms, and those of the smallest and very
sparsely scattered. Once or twice heard the
bark OF distant sheep dog, and once far TO the
left saw a tiny light and had the idea Of max.
Ing for II. But the reflection that dozen great
bitches. each wide enough and deep enough 70
smother my horse, might lie between me and
the house, availed TO Keep Lie in the road; the
more as now felt sure from the saltness of the
night air that Romney and the sea were at no
great distance In front OF ME. Presently In