The Master of the Ceremonies Part 77

"And give them an hour's start," cried the dragoon. "Horses, man, horses."

"Where can we get them quickly?"

"In Major Rockley's stable, curse him!" was the reply.

In five minutes they were at the stable, and the dragoon threw open the door.

"Can you saddle a horse?" he panted, as they entered the place, dimly lit by a tallow candle in a swinging horn lantern.

"Yes--yes," was the reply.

"Quick then. Everything's ready."

Each ran to a horse, the head-stalls were cast loose, and the order of the well-appointed stable stood them in such good stead that, everything being at hand, in five minutes the three horses were saddled and bridled, and being led out, champing their bits.

"We've no spurs. Where are the whips?"

"They want no whips," cried the dragoon excitedly; "a shake of the rein and a touch of the heel. They're chargers, gentlemen. Can you ride, Mr Linnell?"

"Yes," was the answer; and as it was given Linnell's foot was painfully raised to the stirrup.

He stopped though, and laid his hand upon the dragoon's shoulder.

"The London Road?" he said, looking him full in the eyes.

"The Weymouth Road, I tell you."

Another half minute and they were mounted and clattering down the lane to turn into the main street, up which the three sleek creatures pressed, hanging close together, and snorting, and rattling their bits as they increased their stride.

"Steady--steady--a carriage," cried Mellersh; and they opened out to ride on either side of a chariot with flashing lamps, and as they pa.s.sed they had a glimpse of Lady Drelincourt being escorted home from the party by Sir Matthew Bray.

"Steady!" cried Mellersh again, as they came in sight of the cl.u.s.ter of lamps and carriages by Mrs Pontardent's gates; and but for his insistance there would have been a collision, for another carriage came out and pa.s.sed them, the wheel just brushing Linnell's leg in the road narrowed by a string of carriages drawn up to the path.

"Now we're clear," said Mellersh; and they cantered by the wall, past the lane in which the chaise had been waiting, past a few more houses and the ragged outskirts, always mounting, and then bearing off to the left as the way curved, till there it lay, the broad chalk western road, open, hard, and ready to ring to their horses' beating hoofs.

"Now then, forward!" cried the dragoon hoa.r.s.ely.

"At a trot!" shouted Mellersh.

"No, no; gallop!" roared the dragoon, and his horse darted ahead.

"Halt!" shouted Mellersh in a ringing voice, for he had not forgotten old field-practice; and the three horses stopped short.

"Listen!" he continued, in a voice of authority; "they've half an hour's start nearly, and we shall not overtake them this stage. We must not blow our horses at the beginning. A steady trot for the first few miles, and then forward at a canter. It will be a long race."

"Right, sir," cried the dragoon. "He's right, Mr Linnell. Take the lead, sir; my head's on fire."

"Forward!" cried the Colonel; and away they went through the dark night, but with the chalky road making their way clear.

After a mile or two the rapid swinging trot of the chargers grew into a regular military canter, and that, by an imperceptible change, into a rapid gallop that was now kept up, for the excitement of the chase told upon Mellersh, and his ideas of prudence as to husbanding the horses'

powers were swept away as if by the keen wind that dashed by their ears.

"I ought to check him," said Mellersh, as he toned down his excitement for the minute; and then--"No, I cannot, for I must take that scoundrel by the throat."

Volume Two, Chapter XXVI.

THE END OF THE RACE.

Colonel Mellersh was the only one who was likely to ride with a cool head: the others were for racing at the top of the horses' speed. And so it was that before long, as Richard Linnell sat well down and gave his horse its head, James Bell, whom the ride was gradually sobering in one sense, but also making far more excited as he realised clearly the position of his sister, shook his reins, pressed his horse's flanks with his heels, and the brave beast began to almost fly. Naturally enough, the Colonel's steed pressed more heavily upon its bit, refusing, after the fashion of a cavalry horse, to be left behind, and forcing itself between the other two, till the riders were knee to knee, and tearing along as if in a desperate charge.

"We're distressing the horses, d.i.c.k," said Mellersh, turning his head to his right; but Bell heard him.

"I'm sorry for the horses, sir; but they are his. Let them be distressed."

"We must overtake them," said Linnell between his teeth.

"Right, sir, right," cried Bell. "Forward, Colonel. Please don't draw rein."

Fortunately for them, the night grew a little lighter, and along the treeless Down road they thundered. Every now and then one of the horses snorted as the dust flew, but mile after mile was spurned beneath their heels and they showed no sign of distress, but seemed to rejoice in the long night gallop and the music of their clattering hoofs.

The road was singularly silent and deserted; not so much as a foot-pa.s.senger was on the way, not a vehicle was seen.

A gate at last came in view as they were breathing the horses up a hill, after riding for some distance without a word, the very silence telling the intensity of the men's feelings.

Here was a check, for the gate was closed, and no light visible, but Bell rode close up and kicked hard at the panel, till the door in the gatekeeper's hut was opened.

"Now, then, quick!" cried Bell. "How long is it since a chaise and four pa.s.sed?"

"Chaise and four?" said the man surlily.

"Yes, chaise and four. Has a chaise and four pa.s.sed?"

"What, to-night?"

"Yes, to-night. Answer; quick, or--"

He caught the man by the collar, and the evasion he was about to utter did not pa.s.s his lips.

"Yes," he growled; "one went by."

"How long ago?" said the Colonel.

"How long?"

"Yes, yes. Quick, man, quick! and here's a crown for the toll. Keep the change."

This seemed to enliven the surly fellow's faculties, and he took the money and rubbed his head as he began to unfasten the gate.