rs, sir. And the rogues are got away
sure enough, their horses are gone, d'ye see."

"Then we must spur, Zebedee."

"Aye sir. And the rain's stopped, praise God!" quoth the Sergeant and
blew out the lanthorn leaving their captives to groan in the dark.

"Take the lead, Zeb," said the Major as they reached the
high-road--"the finger-post a-top the hill--and gallop."

CHAPTER XLI

CONCERNING HIGHWAYMEN AND THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

My lady Betty leaned back in the corner of her coach, gazed at her
aunt's slumbering features dim-seen in the light of the flickering
lamps, and yawned. The storm had abated, the rain had passed, but the
darkness was around them, a darkness full of rioting wind, and mud was
below them through which the heavy wheels splashed dismally as the
great coach laboured on its way.

My lady Betty, stretching rounded limbs luxuriously, yawned again and
having nothing particular to look at, closed her eyes; but, almost
immediately she opened them rather wider than usual, and sat up
suddenly as, from somewhere amid the gusty dark outside, a loud voice
hailed, a pistol cracked and the coach pulled up with a jerk.

Instantly Lady Belinda awoke, screamed "Highwaymen!" and swooned. Next
moment the coach door swung open and Lady Betty saw a sodden hat with a
hideous, masked face below; she saw also two arms that seized her
roughly, dragged her forward and whirled her out into the tempestuous
darkness. Hereupon my lady struggled once, found it vain, screamed
once, felt the cry blown away and lost in the wind and, resisting no
more, reserved her forces for what might be. Next she was aware of a
dim shape, was bundled through a narrow opening, was seized by hands
that aided her to a cushioned seat, heard the slam of a door, a hoarse
command, and was jolted fast over an uneven road.

Instinctively she reached out her hand, groping for the door, felt that
hand clasped in smooth, strong fingers, and a voice spoke close beside
her:

"That would be unwise, sweet Bet?"

Recognising that voice, she freed her hand and shrank back into her
corner, shivering all at once; yet when she spoke her voice was almost
casual.

"This is quite surprising, Mr. Dalroyd."

"But more delightful!" he retorted, and she was aware that his hand, in
the darkness, was seeking hers again.

"Yet--how very foolish and--and unnecessary!" said she a little
breathlessly.

"Unnecessary--ha, perhaps, dear Betty----"

"H