136 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" To Marston Castle, indeed ; you mean Gretna Green ! ha ! 

 ha ! caught, my Lord Vancourt ! caught at last ! " 



"Stand aside," said Beauchamp, jumping on the ground, 

 and attempting to close the carriage door. "Miss Douglas 

 is under my protection now." 



" She is not, and never shall be," exclaimed Vancourt, 

 vehemently, thrusting him violently away; and seizing Blanche 

 by the arm, he tried to drag her forth. 



"Villain!" shouted Beauchamp, now thoroughly roused, 

 " take that for your insolence ; " and he felled him with his fist, 

 instantly, to the ground. At the same moment, Mark, putting 

 his fingers to his mouth, sent forth a whistle, which echoed far 

 through hill and dale, making the horses almost spring out of 

 their harness. 



"Hold them tight, Job," cried Mark to Mr. Harcourt's 

 coachman ; " you don't move without the squire, mind, again 

 to-night, or it shall be your last move on earth. Keep your 

 box and sit still, or I'll knock you out of it, as I would a 

 pheasant from his roost." 



Lord Vancourt, recovering his feet, instantly levelled his 

 pistol and fired, without effect, at Beauchamp, who, returning 

 the compliment, shot Lord Vancourt through the left arm, 

 breaking the bone above the elbow. 



" Look out, sir ! " shouted Mark, " here's more of the 

 blackguards coming on," as three men rushed down upon 

 them, who were soon in fierce conflict hand to hand, Mark 

 plying his cudgel so effectually as to knock the foremost in- 

 stantly off his legs, and Beauchamp conferring a similar favour 

 on the next with the muzzle of his pistol ; when the third, 

 fearing the fate of his companions, drew his pistol and shot 

 Beauchamp through the fleshy part of his body, under the 

 shoulder blade. He staggered, but did not fall ; and Mark, 

 receiving at the same time a dig in the back from the dagger of 

 the valet, smarting and rendered savage by the pain, shot 

 Beauchamp's antagonist through the body. Meanwhile, Lord 

 Vancourt, disabled but not subdued, with his right hand re- 

 newed his efforts to drag Miss Douglas from the carriage. 

 Assisted by Alice, she was resisting with her utmost strength, 

 when Beauchamp dealt him a blow on the face, which broke 

 his nose and sent him staggering into the road. 



" Quick, my lord!" cried the valet, catching him in his arms 

 and dragging him to his chariot, " I hear men running down 

 the road. All is lost — quick ! or we shall be made prisoners ! " 



