se to the fugitive. Cole descended the stairs
like a cat, and soon found the heavy bolts and drew them; then slipped
out into the night, and away, with fleet foot and wondering heart, to
Hillsborough.

Coventry put out his light and slipped into bed.

About four o'clock in the morning the whole house was alarmed with loud
cries, followed by two pistol-shots: and all those who ran out of their
bedrooms at all promptly, found Coventry in his nightgown and trowsers,
with a smoking pistol in his hand, which he said he had discharged at a
robber. The account he gave was, that he had been suddenly awakened by
hearing his door shut, and found his window open; had slipped on his
trowsers, got to his pistols, and run out just in time to see a man
opening the great front door: had fired twice at him, and thought he
must have hit him the second time.

On examining the window the rope was found dangling.

Instantly there was a rush to the strong-room.

The bird was flown.

"Ah!" said Coventry. "I felt there ought to be some one with him, but I
didn't like to interfere."

George the groom and another were mounted on swift horses, and took the
road to Hillsborough.

But Cole, with his start of a hundred minutes, was safe in a back slum
before they got half way.

What puzzled the servants most was how Cole could have unscrewed the
bar, and where he could have obtained the cord. And while they were
twisting this matter every way in hot discussion, Coventry quaked, for
he feared his little gunscrews would be discovered. But no, they were
not in the room.

It was a great mystery; but Raby said they ought to have searched the
man's body as well as his pockets.

He locked the cord up, however, and remarked it was a new one, and had
probably been bought in Hillsborough. He would try and learn where.

At breakfast-time a bullet was found in the door. Coventry apologized.

"Your mistake was missing the man, not hitting the door," said Raby.
"One comfort, I tickled the fellow with small shot. It shall be slugs
next time. All we can do now is to lay the matter before the police. I
must go into Hillsborough, I suppose."

He went into Hillsborough accordingly, and told the chief constable the
whole story, and deposited the piece of cord with him. He found that
zealous officer already acquainted with the outline of the business,
and on his mettle to discover the authors and agents of the outrage, if
possible. And it occurred to h