ocity of the thing
increased, and then they saw the dust fly from the brake, as it came
down on the front tire. Dangle's right leg floundered in the air as he
came off in the road. The tandem wobbled. "Hold it!" cried Phipps over
his shoulder, going on downhill. "I can't get off if you don't hold it."
He put on the brake until the machine stopped almost dead, and then
feeling unstable began to pedal again. Dangle shouted after him. "Put
out your foot, man," said Dangle.

In this way the tandem riders were carried a good hundred yards or more
beyond their quarry. Then Phipps realized his possibilities, slacked up
with the brake, and let the thing go over sideways, dropping on to his
right foot. With his left leg still over the saddle, and still
holding the handles, he looked over his shoulder and began addressing
uncomplimentary remarks to Dangle. "You only think of yourself," said
Phipps, with a florid face.

"They have forgotten us," said Jessie, turning her machine.

"There was a road at the top of the hill--to Lyndhurst," said
Hoopdriver, following her example.

"It's no good. There's the money. We must give it up. But let us go back
to that hotel at Rufus Stone. I don't see why we should be led captive."

So to the consternation of the tandem riders, Jessie and her companion
mounted and rode quietly back up the hill again. As they dismounted at
the hotel entrance, the tandem overtook them, and immediately afterwards
the dogcart came into view in pursuit. Dangle jumped off.

"Miss Milton, I believe," said Dangle, panting and raising a damp cap
from his wet and matted hair.

"I SAY," said Phipps, receding involuntarily. "Don't go doing it again,
Dangle. HELP a chap."

"One minute," said Dangle, and ran after his colleague.

Jessie leant her machine against the wall, and went into the hotel
entrance. Hoopdriver remained in the hotel entrance, limp but defiant.

XXXVIII. AT THE RUFUS STONE

He folded his arms as Dangle and Phipps returned towards him. Phipps
was abashed by his inability to cope with the tandem, which he was now
wheeling, but Dangle was inclined to be quarrelsome. "Miss Milton?" he
said briefly.

Mr. Hoopdriver bowed over his folded arms.

"Miss Milton within?" said Dangle.

"AND not to be disturved," said Mr. Hoopdriver.

"You are a scoundrel, sir," said Mr. Dangle.

"Et your service," said Mr. Hoopdriver. "She awaits 'er stepmother,
sir."

Mr. Dangle hesitated. "She will be