RT THE STORY TO KNOW IT?" MISS REDSTONE ASKED
ANXIOUSLY.

"OH, NO, NOT AT ALL," SAID JANET AND MARY. "PLEASE GO ON."

MISS REDSTONE RESUMED.

On leaving the Hall the boys and their companion had turned at once
down the highroad in the direction of Mr. Fullarton's at Framshott,
which was precisely the opposite direction to Portallan and the sea,
Philip's idea being to ride for a few miles as if on the journey back
to school, and to be seen by as many people who knew them by sight as
possible, then to branch off into a sheltering wood, wait there till
dark, and start again, refreshed, in a bee-line for the harbour. In
this way the Captain would, if he were to return and follow them, be
put on a wrong scent, and give up any chase as a waste of effort.

But Barbara's trick in hiding Rupert undid the plan, for the first
person whom the Captain and his men met on leaving the Hall for the
second time swore so positively to having seen the FOUR schoolboys that
the Roundhead's suspicions were at once aroused, and, turning his
horse's head, he led the way at all speed towards Portallan.

"Then there was a man there all the time," he cried bitterly to
himself, "and he has escaped in that puppy's clothes! 'Sdeath, if I
catch him now...!" He ground his teeth together in his rage, and dug
the rowels of his spurs into the horse's side. Without another word
they rode at the gallop through the growing darkness.

The boys were riding together at a good swinging pace, the stranger, in
Rupert's clothes, leading the way by a neck, Philip beside him, and the
other two behind. It was not a dark night, but a mist rolling inland
from the sea--one of those white mists well known along the south
coast, which predicate hot weather--enveloped them impenetrably except
at very short range.

"Halt!" they heard the Captain cry, halfway down the hill.

"Ay, it is likely we shall halt for that," said the stranger, with a
laugh. "I'll show him," and, turning in his saddle, he discharged a
pistol down the road. "That's for our enemies," he remarked grimly,
"and may it hit someone!"

A few moments later came an answering shot, whistling past their heads
ominously.

"Break for the nearest copse," replied the stranger, promptly, "for a
council of war. Quick, now's the time! The top of the hill is cover for
us." So saying, he put his horse to the bank, cleared it, and galloped
over the field to the trees which loomed grey and indefinite before
t