ir, they've laid it out to come to Greenhow this very day as
is, to break the machine and get the guns and money."

The captain started, as well he might; but still demanded, "How do you
know?"

John held his head down, most unwilling to answer.

"Look here, my lad, you've done well coming to warn me; but I must be
certain of your news before acting on it. We were to ride off to
Delafield to-day, and I must know if this is only a rumour."

"Aunt heard them," said John, between his teeth. "She heard them
planning it for to-morrow--that's to-day--and she laid it on me to let
you know to save the ladies from being fraught."

"Your aunt heard it?"

"Through the window in the back garden. They planned to get all the
chaps at Downhill and all, and go at the machine."

"The villains! Who did? No, I'll not ask that, my lad," said the
captain, knowing only too well who it must have been; "you have acted
nobly, and I am for ever obliged to you. Come in, and have some
breakfast, while I dress and report this, and see what is to be done.
You are sure there is time?"

"They was to go about at dinner-time to get the folks," John squeezed
out of his mouth, much against his will.

"Then there's time. Thank you with all my heart, John! I'll see you
again. Here,"--to a barmaid who had appeared on the scene--"give this
young man a hearty good breakfast and a cup of ale--will you?--and I'll
be down again presently. Stay till I come, Hewlett, and I'll see you
again, and how you are to get home! Why, it is twenty miles! Were you
walking all night?"

"Only I went to sleep a bit of the time when I was trying to make out
the milestone; I don't rightly know how long it was," said John, so much
ashamed of his nap that the captain laughed, and said--

"Never mind, Johnnie, you are here in the very nick of time; eat your
breakfast, and I'll see you again."

The good-natured barmaid let John have a wash at the pump with a bit of
yellow soap and the round towel, and he was able to eat his breakfast
with a will--a corner of cold pie and a glass of strong ale, such a
breakfast as he had never seen, though it was only the leavings of
yesterday's luncheon. Everybody was too busy just then to pay him any
attention, and he had time to hear all the noises and bells seem to run
into one dull sound, and to be nodding in his chair before he was called
by a waiter, with--"Ha, youngster, there, look alive! the gentlemen
wants you."