hrough the air.
Strawberry started in the shafts and trembled violently.

"Stamboul! Stamboul!" The squire's ringing voice was heard far up the
park. The bloodhound's distant baying suddenly ceased. John thought he
heard a fainter cry, inarticulate, and full of distress, through the
sighing wind. Then there was silence again. Mrs. Goddard leaned back
against the wicket gate, and Nellie, startled by the noises, pressed
close to her mother's side.

"Why--he has gone up the park!" exclaimed John in great surprise. "He was
calling to his dog--"

"Oh, Mr. Short!" cried Mrs. Goddard in agonised tones, as soon as she
could speak, "I am sure something dreadful has happened--do go. Mr.
Short--do go and see--"

Something of the extreme alarm that sounded in her voice seized upon
John.

"Stay with Mrs. Goddard, Reynolds," he said quickly and darted across the
road towards the park gate. John was strong and active. He laid his
hands upon the highest rails and vaulted lightly over, then ran at the
top of his speed up the dark avenue.

Mr. Juxon, in his absence of mind, had gone through the gate alone,
swinging his blackthorn stick in his hand, Stamboul stalking at his heel
in the gloom. He was a fearless man and the presence of John during the
afternoon had completely dissolved that nervous presentiment of evil he
had felt before his guest's coming. But in the short walk of scarcely
half a mile, from the vicarage to the cottage, his thoughts had become
entirely absorbed in considering Mrs. Goddard's strange position, and for
the moment John was quite forgotten. He entered the park and the long
iron latch of the wooden gate fell into its socket behind him with a
sharp click. Mr. Juxon walked quickly on and Stamboul trod noiselessly
behind him. At about a hundred yards from the gate the avenue turned
sharply to the right, winding about a little elevation in the ground,
where the trees stood thicker than elsewhere. As he came towards this
hillock the strong east wind blew sharply behind him. Had the wind been
in the opposite direction, Stamboul's sharp nostrils would have scented
danger. As it was he gave no sign but stalked solemnly at the squire's
heels. The faint light of the half moon was obscured at that moment, as
has been seen, by a sweeping cloud. The squire turned to the right and
tramped along the hard road.

At the darkest spot in the way a man sprang out suddenly before him and
struck a quick blow at his head with