the coach.

Presently, however, I began to realise that this security was not to be
for ever. When daylight came, or even sooner, should we reach the end
of our first stage before, I should be able no longer to hide myself.
It would be wiser to escape half-an-hour too soon than be discovered
half-an-hour too late.

So when, some four hours out, I judged by the toiling of the horses we
were approaching the summit of a hill, I slipped from my perch, and
after running some little way under the boot, cast loose just as the
driver cracked his whip and the horses started at a spanking trot down
the incline.

It frightened me to find myself standing in the open road and hear the
diminishing sounds of the friendly diligence. In front of me I could
see the grey break of dawn struggling among the heavy clouds. Behind me
swept the rain, buffeting me forward. Somewhere or other I must find
shelter from the night.

No sooner had I resolved upon this than the sound of a horse approaching
at full gallop sent my teeth chattering in real earnest. I had barely
time to dart to the roadside and hide below the hedge when a horseman
swept by. By his look he was not a soldier or an ordinary traveller,
such as the courier I had seen set out from Brest. I cared little who
he was, provided he rode on and let me alone. But till I lost all sound
of him I spent an uneasy time in the ditch.

As soon as the August dawn gave me a view, I found myself on the top of
a great exposed heath, across which the road reached for a mile or so,
and then plunged downwards into a thick wood. Towards this wood I
hastened with all the speed I could. Here at least I could lie hid a
while till my next chance turned up.

That chance was nearer than I thought. About half-way through the wood
the road forked into three, one way on either hand striking deep among
the trees; that in the middle holding straight on, and by the marks of
wheels being evidently the highroad. I struck to the right some way,
and then quitted the road altogether for a glade in the wood which
seemed to lead to denser shelter.

I had scarcely left the track when I was startled by the sound of a
voice and a groan close by. Had I wanted to retreat I could hardly have
done so unseen, but a glance in the direction from which the sound
proceeded held me where I was.

A horse stood quietly nibbling the grass, and on his back, fallen
forward, with arms clasping the beast's neck, and