er on I summoned courage to carry out a scheme over
which, during the run, I had been deeply pondering.

We were in a lonely part of the road, hidden by the long row of poplars
lining the broad winding river. On the one side were the trees, and on
the other high sloping vine-lands. The road curved both before and
behind us, therefore we were well concealed.

Pulling up suddenly, I said--

"There's something wrong. One cylinder is not working--sparking-plug
broken, I suppose."

To allow me to descend he got down. Then having unlocked the "bonnet"
and pretended to fiddle with the plug, I again relocked it. Afterwards I
felt the axles all round, saw to the tyres, and, having watched my
opportunity, while he was at that moment standing with his back to me,
his face turned towards the river, I suddenly sprang into the wheel and
drew off.

In an instant, with a loud shout, "No, you don't!" he sprang forward
upon the step and raised himself into the seat he had occupied. Quick as
thought, I whipped my revolver out with my left hand, and, guiding the
car with my right, cried--

"I know you, Mr. Upton. Get down, or I'll shoot you!"

His face blanched, for he had no idea I was armed.

"Get down--quick!" I ordered. "I shan't ask you again."

The car was gathering speed, and I saw that if he attempted to drop off
he would probably be hurt. He glanced at the road and then at me.

"You won't escape so easily as this, Mr. Ewart!" he cried. "We want you
for several jewel robberies, you know. Don't you think you'd better go
quietly? If you shoot me you'll only hang for it. Now do you think
that's really worth while? Is such a game worth the candle?"

Without replying, I slowed down again.

"I tell you to get off this car--otherwise you must take the
consequences," was my cool response. Those were terribly exciting
moments, and how I remained so calm I cannot tell. My whole future
depended upon my extrication from that _impasse_. Perhaps that is why my
wits had, in that moment, become so sharpened.

"I shall stay with you," was the police-officer's defiant reply, as,
with a sudden movement, he grabbed my left wrist in an endeavour to
wrest the weapon from my grasp. Next second I had stopped the car,
pressed down the brake, and thus had both my hands free.

In a moment the struggle became desperate. He fought for his life, for
he saw that, now he had defied me, I meant what I threatened. No doubt
he was physically stronge