d at
like a woodcock on your confounded Berkshire wilds by a
turnip-headed yeoman. It isn't to be done at the figure."

"What in the world do you mean?"

"I mean just what I say."

"That one of those unspeakable yeomanry has been shooting at
you?"

"Just so."

"No, you don't really mean it? Wh-e-e-w! Then that shot we heard
was fired at you. 'Pon my honor, I'm very sorry."

"Much good your sorrow would have done me if your precious
countryman had held straight."

"Well, what can I say more, East? If there's anything I can do to
show you that I really am very sorry and ashamed at having
brought you into such a scrape, only tell me what it is."

"I don't suppose your word would go for much at the Horse Guards,
or I'd ask you to give me a character for coolness under fire."

"Come, I see you're joking now, old fellow. Do tell us how it
happened."

"Well, when you turned off across the common, I pulled up for
half a minute, and then held on at a steady slow trot. If I had
pushed on ahead, my friend behind would have been just as likely
to turn after you as after me. Presently I heard Number One
coming tearing along behind; and as soon as he got from between
the banks, he saw me and came straight after me down the road.
You were well away to the left, so now I just clapped on a bit,
to lead him further away from the right scent, and on he came,
whooping and hallooing to me to pull up. I didn't see why I
hadn't just as good a right to ride along the road at my own pace
as he; so the more he shouted, the more I didn't stop. But the
beggar had the legs of me. He was mounted on something deuced
like a thoroughbred, and gained on me hand over hand. At last
when I judged he must be about twenty yards behind, I thought I
might as well have a look at him, so I just turned for a moment,
when, by Jove, there was my lord, lugging a pistol out of his
right holster. He shouted again to me to stop. I turned, ducked
my head, and the next moment he pulled trigger, and missed me."

"And what happened then," said Tom, eagerly drawing a long
breath.

"Why, I flatter myself I showed considerable generalship. If I
had given him time to get at his other pistol, or his toasting
fork, it was all up. I dived into my pocket, where by good luck
there was some loose powder, and copper caps, and a snuff-box;
upset the snuff, grabbed a handful of the mixture, and pulled
hard at my horse. Next moment he was by my side, lifting his
pist