down and wait. But he is
_not_ on the road: that is the curious part of the business."

"Would he come the other way?"

"Hardly. It is so much further by the river than by the road."

"You may depend upon it that is what he has done," said Dr. Ashton. "He
might think he should meet some of you that way, and get an arm to help
him."

"I declare I never thought of that," exclaimed Val, his face brightening.
"There he is, no doubt; perched somewhere between this and the mill, like
patience on a monument, unable to put foot to the ground."

He turned away. Some of the men offered to accompany him: but he declined
their help, and begged them to go on with their dinner, saying he would
take sufficient servants with him, even though they had to carry
Hartledon.

So Mr. Elster went, taking servants and lanterns; for in some parts of
this road the trees overhung, and rendered it dark. But they could not
find Lord Hartledon. They searched, and shouted, and waved their
lanterns: all in vain. Very much perplexed indeed did Val Elster look
when he got back again.

"Where in the world can he have gone to?" angrily questioned the
countess-dowager; and she glared from her seat at the head of the table
on the offender Val, as she asked it. "I must say all this is most
unseemly, and Hartledon ought to be brought to his senses for causing it.
I suppose he has taken himself off to a surgeon's."

It was possible, but unlikely, as none knew better than Val Elster. To
get to the surgeon's he would have to pass his own house, and would be
more likely to go in, and send for Mr. Hillary, than walk on with a
disabled foot. Besides, if he had gone to the surgeon's, he would not
stay there all this time. "I don't know what to do," said Percival
Elster; and there was the same blank, perplexed look on his face that was
observed the first time he came in. "I don't much like the appearance of
things."

"Why, you don't think anything's wrong with him!" exclaimed young
Carteret, starting-up with an alarmed face. "He's safe to turn up, isn't
he?"

"Of course he will turn up," answered Val, in a dreamy tone. "Only this
uncertainty, as to where to look for him, is not pleasant."

Dr. Ashton motioned Val to his side. "Are you fearing an accident?" he
asked in low tones.

"No, sir."

"I am. That current by the mill is so fearfully strong; and if your
brother had not the use of his one arm--and the boat was drawn onwards,
beyond his control-