Mohun shrugged his shoulders, whistling softly.

“Man proposes,” he said.  “It’s almost a pity we found so many cocks in the lower copse this afternoon.  I have fifteen charges or so in my pistol-case.  We must make that do, loading the rifles light.”  Then he went to a window, whence he could see down the road; the moon was shining brightly.

“I thought so; they have got scouts posted already.  The barbarians know something of skirmishing, after all.  Maddox, come here.” (The groom was a strong English boy, very much afraid of his master, but of nothing else on earth.) “Saddle Sunbeam, and go out by the back gates, keeping well under the shadow of the trees.  When you clear them, ride straight at the rails at the end of the paddock.  You’ll get over with a scramble, I think.  Keep fast hold of his head—­you mustn’t fall.  Then make the best of your way to A——­, and tell Colonel Harding, with my compliments, that I shall be glad if he will send over a troop as quickly as possible.  They ought to be here in two hours.  And, mind, don’t spare the horse going, but bring him back easy.  You will be of no use here, and I won’t have him lamed if I can help it.  You’ll have to risk a bullet or two as you get into the road; but they can’t shoot.  It’s odds against their hitting you.  Now go.”

The groom pulled his forelock as if the most ordinary commission had been given him, and vanished.

“Connell,” Ralph went on, “go and saw the ladders that are in the yard half through.  They will hardly try the barred windows; but it looks more workmanlike to take all precautions.  Then come back, and help Fritz to pile chairs and furniture all up the staircase, and about the hall near it.  Line the gallery with mattresses, two deep, leaving spaces to fire through.  Light all the lamps, and get more candles to fix about; we shall not see very clearly after the smoke of the first dozen shots.  When you have finished, come to me.  Now, shall we go back to dinner?”

I am not ashamed to own I had little appetite; nevertheless, I sat down.  Kate had gone to her room.  If her courage was failing, she did not wish to show it.

Suddenly our host got up and went to the window.  His practiced ear had caught the tread of the horse which Maddox was taking out as quietly as possible.  We watched him stealing along under the trees till their shelter failed him.  Then he put Sunbeam to speed, and rode boldly at the rails.  A yell went up from the road, and we saw dark figures running; then came a shot, just as the horse was rising at the fence, he hit it hard, and the splinters flew up white in the moonlight, but he was over.  We held our breath, while several flashes told of dropping shots after the fugitive.  They did not stop him, though; and, to our great relief, we heard the wild rush of the frightened horse subside into a long stretching gallop, and the wind brought back a cheery hollo—­“Forr’ard, forr’ard away!”