at the idea,
and, seizing the side of the cab, sprang in.

"Quick! Five shillings if you keep that cab in sight."

The wide road was open, and pretty free from vehicles, and the horse
went fast, but the cab in which Brettison was seated had a good start,
reached the cross street, and entered the continuation of that which he
was pursuing. Stratton's man drove up as a number of vehicles were
crowding to go east and west, and the flow of those from north and south
was stopped by a stalwart policeman; while raging at the sudden check,
Stratton ground his teeth with rage.

"All right, sir," came down through the little trap in the roof; "he'll
let us go acrost directly, and I'll ketch up the cab in no time."

They were not arrested much above a minute, but the interval was
sufficient to give Brettison's cab a good start, and when leave was
given to go, the case on the roof was invisible, and the question arose
in Stratton's mind--which way had it gone? into one of the station
yards, or straight on over the bridge into South London?

He raised himself a little to peer over the horse's head, but he could
see nothing, and turning round, he thrust up the trap.

"Faster--faster!" he cried. "You must overtake it. Faster!"

"All right, sir," shouted the man hoarsely; and crack! crack! went the
long heavy whip on one and then on the other side of the well-bred but
worn-out screw between the shafts.

The result was a frantic plunge forward, and though the driver dragged
at and worked the bit savagely, the horse tore on at a gallop for about
fifty yards, with the cab swaying from side to side; then the tiny flash
of equine fire died out, and the horse's knees gave way. Down it went
with a crash. Stratton was dashed forward heavily against the curved
splash-board, to which he clung, and the next thing he saw was the
driver rising from somewhere beside the horse, that lay quite still now
on its side, while shouts, the faces of people who crowded up, and the
vehicles that passed on either side, all seemed dim, confused, and
distant. Then bells of a curiously sharp, quick tone were ringing
loudly in his ears.

"Hurt, sir?"

"Yes--no; I think not. Quick, stop that cab," said Stratton huskily;
but, as he spoke, he knew it was in a confused way, and that for his
life he could not have explained what cab.

"It's far enough off by this time, sir," said a voice beside, him, "and
if you ain't hurt, I am. Never went in trai