The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-06
RAFFLFS, THE
 AMATEUR CRAcKSMAN
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kOOUttHucu IToH FFcVlOuS Fd9cJ ---~----~-~-------------- through and swung it home behind us in the nick of time Even I could mount before they could reopen the gate which Rallies held against them for half an instant with unnecessary gallantry. But he would see me in front of him, and so it fell to me to lead the way
 Now, I have said that 1t was very misty night (hence the whole thing, and also that these houses were on a hill. But they were not nearly on the top of the hill, and I did what I firmly believe that almost everybody would have done in my place. Rallies, indeed, said he would have done 1t himself, but that was his generosity, and he was the one man who would not What l did was to turn in the opposite direction to the other gate. where we might so easily have been cut off. and to pedal for my life-up hill
 My Godw l shouted when I found It out.
 Gan you turn in your own length?" asked Rallies, following Loyalty.
 Not certain"
 '"Then stick to it. You couldn't help 1t. But it's the devil of a hill''
 And here they come!'
 Let them,' said Rallies. and brandish- ing his electric torch, our only light as yet.
 A hill seems endless in the dark for you cannot see the end, and with the batter of bare feet gaining on us. l thought this one could have no end at all. Of course the boys could charge up 1t quicker than we could pedal, but l even heard the voice of their stout instructor growing louder through the mist.
 'Oh, to think I've let you in for this!" groaned, my head over the handle- fNf asrlxt a...4 one foot and then on the other l glanced at Rafhes and in the white light of hls torch he was doing it all with his ankles. exactly as though he had been riding in a gymkhana.
 its the most sporting chase was ever in." said he.
 "All my fault!'
 My dear Bunny. I wouldn't have missed 1t for the worldn'
 Nor would he forge ahead of me, though he could have done so in a mo- ment, he who from his boyhood had done everything of the kind so much better than anybody else. No, he must ride a wheels length behind me, and now we could not only hear the boys running, but breathing also And then of a sud den I saw Rallies on my right striking with his torch; a face flew out of the darkness to meet the thick glass bulb with the glowing wire inclosed; it was the face of the boy Olphert, with his enviable mustache, but it vanished with the crash of glass. and the naked wire thickened to the eye like a tuning fork struck red-hot
 I saw no more of that. One of them had crept up on my side also as looked, hearing him pant. he was grabbing at my left handle, and I nearly sent Raf- fies into the hedge by the sharp turn I took to the right. His wheels length saved him But my boy could run, was overhauling me again, seemed certain of me this time, when all at once the Sun beam ran easily; every ounce of my weight with either foot once more, and I was over the crest of the hill, the grey road reeling out from under me as felt for my brake. I looked back at Raffies.S He had put up his feet screwed my head round still further, and there were the boys in their patamas their hands upon their knees, like so many wicket keepers and big man shaking his fist. There was a lamp post on the hill top and that was the last saw.
 We sailed down to the river. then on through Thames Ditton as far as Eshe, Station. when we turned sharp to the right, and from the dark stretch by I'm.