134 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" Get my horse, Mark, and one for yourself, saddled directly, 

 and I will run down to the stable-yard." 



In five minutes, Beauchamp had put on a strong dark- 

 coloured shooting jacket, with two brace of pistols in his pockets, 

 and was galloping with Mark Rosier up the ride leading to the 

 lodge gate. " Now, Mark, tell me what has happened, as we 

 go along — where is Miss Douglas 1 " 



" At the Priory, sir, I hope, yet ; but Mrs. Harcourt's- 



carriage is sent to take her home at ten ; and that d d 



rascally lord has got his travelling chariot, with four posters, 

 waiting on the common, to intercept and carry her off to 

 Scotland." 



" How do you know this, Mark 1 " 



"The ostler at Cherrington, sir, is an old friend of mine, 

 and told me all about the horses being ordered, and fresh relays 

 bespoke on the North Road ; and Tom Carter, my lord's foot- 

 man, fished out something about it, too, and ran out to my 

 hiding-place, behind the castle (where I have been the last 

 three nights, from dark till nearly daylight), about six o'clock 

 this evening, telling me he overheard the valet and Lord 

 Vancourt saying something about Marston Common, at ten 

 o'clock to-night. * They are off, Mark,' said he, ( trunks 

 packed and all, and you haven't a minute to spare ; ' so, sir, I 

 ran down to the village, where my partners were, ordered them 

 to go to the steep hill beyond the common, with their air-guns, 

 and hide themselves behind the hedge, to knock over the 

 leading horses, and rescue the young lady, if we did not arrive 

 in time." 



"Well done, Mark," exclaimed Beauchamp. "Here, take 

 these two pistols, but don't use them, unless obliged to do so, to 

 save your life ; now come along," as, setting spurs to his horse, 

 Beauchamp rode rapidly on towards the -Priory. "Quick, to 

 the back door, Mark, and learn of the servants if the carriage 

 has left with Miss Douglas; if it has, give a whistle, and 

 follow me as fast as you can ; I shall keep on the road." 



In a few minutes the shrill whistle of the poacher was heard, 

 piercing through the house, even to where Mrs. Gordon was 

 sitting. At the signal, Beauchamp almost flew along, at such a 

 pace that Mark strove in vain to overtake him. 



We must now relate what was occurring to Blanche 

 Douglas, who, accompanied by her maid, Alice, had left the 

 Priory in Mrs. Harcourt's carriage, about twenty minutes 

 before Beauchamp's calling there. They had proceeded about 



