didn't know hell _was_ let loose, that's the explanation. But
Lamont went for us on exactly the same terms."

"Lamont? Is he with you then?"

"I should say so. Why, he's been bossing up the whole show. If it
hadn't been for him we'd have gone under long before we got here."

"So? Then you've got a right good man, that's all. I was out with him
in '93. He's a tiger in a fight."

"Seems to be," said Wyndham drily. "You'd think he'd had enough of that
sort of thing day before yesterday, and this morning, to last him at any
rate for a day or two, and now instead of having a quiet smoke and a
cool drink, like a rational Christian, he must race off along with your
crowd to contract for some more knocks. Silly ass!"

"There's something in it when you put things that way. But--I say.
Who's the lady?"

"Where?" following his glance. "Oh, that's Miss Vidal, Fullerton's
sister-in-law."

"So! By Jove! what a fine-looking girl. Oh! oh!--Wyndham, you
deep-down dog! So that's where the little venture in charioteering came
in, eh? I see."

"Shut up, Selby, and don't be a silly ass," answered Wyndham shortly.
"I hate that sort of chaff, you know."

"Oh, all right, old man. Keep your shirt in," was the good-humoured
rejoinder.

"I think I'll go and talk to Miss Vidal now," said Wyndham, just a
trifle self-consciously. "By Jove! she has been plucky throughout all
this."

"So? Well, good luck, old man."

Clare had returned to her post of observation outside, but there was
still no sign of the returning pursuit: and now a dire heart-sinking
began to take the place of her former resentment. She looked at her
watch. They had been away an hour nearly. Surely the work of
completing the rout should have been over by that time. They should be
returning, and there was one whom she would scold--scold gently--for
having gone with them. No. She believed she would not scold him at
all. It would be all too sufficing to behold him once more safe and
sound.

"Taking a morning constitutional, Miss Vidal? Well, it has turned out a
lovely day, hasn't it?" And Wyndham, conscious of the banality of the
remark, felt rather foolish.

She turned, but she was hardly listening to him. Why did they not come
back? ran her thoughts. Had they, rendered reckless by success, pursued
the fleeing enemy too far? The force which had attacked them was a
strong one--strong and daring. What if it had recovered from its first