, 1905-12-20

hot | answered quietly. And soon
after Captain Hilary returned. Sir Bur-
ton with him.
The officer came to the point at once.
He had learned that the prisoner he
sought was still concealed in the house
and said he must therefore take fur
Their measures and must remain in the
Grange.
| did not like the thing at all, and
liked it far less when, at Sir Burton's
instigation, he said he would remain in
the hall, that all must pass in OF out
of the house by that way. so that he
could see them, and that all the other
doors must be locked, with men posted
outside.
1t was in all truth Il very awkward
predicament, and as | was racking my
brains for some eXpedient young Cor
hams words. that | was like Mr.. Love
lace when seen from behind, occurred
to me and suggested n plan to outwit
them. If the soldiers remained in the
hall poor Master Lovelace must either
be starved or driven to surrender, and
either event spelled ruin. My plan was
therefore to play ut escaping from the
house, get to my horse and lead the
soldiers a dance across country in pur-
suit.
There was Il small easement from
which | could easily leap to the terrace
below, make n dash for the stable
yard where the horses were ready and
ride away across the park beyond.
That was easy, but it must be so done
that one or other of the sentries should
catch sight of me and thus bring the
rest of the pack upon my heels.
| knew where the men were posted,
and, having from an upper window at
tracted the attention of the groom who
had my horse In readiness. | went
down. opened the easement and leaped
out. 1t was now getting dusk. and Il
soldier who was close at hand saw and
challenged me instantly and discharged
his musket as | was darling toward
the stable.
In a moment the whole place was in
the utmost confusion, and as | mount
ed, taking care to pretend a violent at
tack Upon the man who held my horse
while | told him to say | WAS n stran-
ger to him, the troopers were already
to horse and came Gathering round the
old house after me.
Things went just as | would have
had them. | was careful that none of
the men should see my face. and I put
my horse at the hedge and leaped into
the park.
| did not hurry matters at the start
The hedge caused Il little trouble to
some of the troopers, and, my wish
being to bring as many of them as
could away from the Grange, it was
my cue to let them think that they
could catch me, but this had conse
quences of a different kind. Those who
rould not take the leap stopped t
empty their muskets after me, ant
then, finding the gate. they came
streaming through.
Old Noll had little relish for the
shooting, and when one of the balls
from an accidentally well aimed shot
came ripping and singing close to his
ears he shook his head and plunged
forward as though impatient TO be out
I'll IduSe.
1t was Il new sensation to play the
part of the fox in the hunt, but | had
no qualms about the result.
went easily across the great park
therefore. dropped into Winthrop lane
at the end, ratified across Twinbury
common and skirted the three cornereC
copse, being careful all he time tC
1901 =. i . IL. - -
the fast d%arkening evening would al
low.
Once | played a trick on them and
let them come almost upon me. | had
breathed old Noll up the steep side of
the haunch, and once across it | dis
mounted and waited for my pursuers.
On catching sight of me the men raised