Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 263: what you’re looking at

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250 vOSEPH WILMOT; OR, THE MEMOTRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. Carrondale; and—pardon the allusion—but if Sir Alexander should happen to be in the village, he will at once afford us his protection and his counsel.” “Be it so, Joseph,” murmured Emmeline: and I could judge that she was violently agitated at the danger of pursuit. On Grace’s account we were unable to ride at the stretch of speed which we should otherwise have made our animals put forth: but for deli- cacy’s sake, as well as for that of the maid herself, I could not possibly propose that we should out- strip her and leave her behind. ‘The road skirted the lake ; and from every point a complete view of the castle on the Inch might be obtained. The lights grew more numerous—they were springing up in all directions throughout the vast structure : it was evident that all the inmates of the establish- ment were about, and that the flight was fully known. The extremity of the loch was reached; and just as we were rounding it—near that very spot where the scene in the tent took place on the day of the excursion some months back—my ear caught the sounds of horses’ hoofs coming from behind. ** We are pursued !” I said: “ we must go faster ! There are several after us!” I instantaneously added, as the sounds grew more plain, and I was enabled io distinguish that at least three or four horsemen were on our track. “Can you go faster, Grace ?’ inquired Emme- line, her voice trembling with nervous excitement. * Yes, Miss,” responded the maid. “I will keep up with you. Don’t mind me—nor fear on my account !” On we dashed. I kept watching Grace to assure myself that. she incurred no danger from the rapidity of our flight; and I was gradually re- heved from all apprehension on that score. She retained her seat admirably; and it was difficult to believe that she was unaccustomed to ride on horseback. The sounds from behind were no longer audible: but as the road was somewhat tortuous, the dread idea flashed to my mind that our pursuers might have taken a cut across the fields to intercept us some way ahead ;—and this I felt assured they would do, if they had not already done it—supposing that they had caught the sounds of our horses’ feet, and had thus ac- quired the certainty that they were on the right track. In this case our capture would be certain: what was to be done? “Miss Vennachar,” I said, in a hurried voice, “we cannot keep this road—we shall be taken beyond all doubt !” “Good heavens, Joseph! Then what do you advise ?” she asked, full of feverish agitation. “It is for you to say Good heavens! I would sooner die than be borne back to the castle!” “We must throw them off the scent, Miss Vennachar !” I exclaimed. ; “But how, Joseph?” she demanded, still in feverish agitation. “Let us turn into the fields Ah! an idea strikes me. It is a bold stroke! We will take the direction of Methglin itself :’—alluding to the village; for, as the reader will understand, having rounded the point of the loch, we were now on the same side as that village. “They will never think of pursuing us thither !” “Be it so! Vennachar. We accordingly diverged at once from the main road: the moonlight guided us completely—and we pursued a narrow bridle-path running through the fields. I felt assured that we were in com- plete safety for the present; and we had also leisure on our hands to decide on the course which we should take anon. Every now and then we halted to listen: but no sounds of pursuit reached our ears. The lights in the castle, about a mile and a half distant, gradually beamed upon our view: those lights were numerous—and it was therefore evident that the best portion of the inmates, if nof all, were up; and I could picture to myself the excitement which prevailed amongst We are in your hands,” said Miss j them. That the Chief would send off pursuers in every direction, I had not the least doubt; and therefore I saw that when we should again resume a route m some definite manner, after this strategetic divergence, perils would again beset us. I did not however communicate my fears—but de- liberated with myself most earnestly upon the best means for preventing their realization, We advanced to within half-a-mile of the vil- lage of Methglin. It was unsafe to proceed far- ther in that direction: we therefore diverged away from the vicinage of the loch,—still continuing our course through the fields. Some miles were thus accomplished: two hours had elapsed since the moment of our flight: it was now three in the morning. The chill was nipping: my hands were so numbed that I could scarcely hold the bridle. I was cold indeed all over: for I had no great- coat; and pursuing our way through the fields, we were frequently compelled to walk the horses. Often, too, was I forced to dismount and open gates, or fo-examine the facilities of fording a brook or passing a ditch. Thus we were delayed and chilled. It however would be several hours before the dawn in that deep wintry season; and the obscurity of night was to us fayourable to a certain degree. The moon was waning; and. as we were threatened by an interval of total dark- ness, I proposed that we should at all hazards get into the road which led from Methglin into the main one passing through Carrondale. Miss Ven- nachar and Grace—both of whom did their best to keep up their spirits—left themselves entirely in my hands; and we accordingly gained the road in about another half-hour. We now pushed quickly along once more. Grace had by this time become as habituated to her steed as if she were previously well skilled in equestrian exercises; and she rode fearlessly. On we went without inter- ruption—also without the slightest sounds of pur- suit—until we reached a village, which from the singular shape of the church-tower, just dimly visible through the obscurity, I immediately recog- nised, and knew to be about fifteen miles from Methglin. “We are only five miles from Carrondale,” I said. “There we may make inquiries relative to Sir Alexander; or at all events we may bait our horses, and likewise learn whether our pursuers have passed that way. Then on to Perth, if circum- stances compel us! It is fifteen miles from Car- rondale to Perth Can you accomplish itP We ought to be there before the dawn?” “T can accomplish anything,” answered Miss ElO@QO) cS (©) im