THE STORY 293 



Mr French swallowed hastily, as if he were 

 swallowing down something unpleasant, then — 

 " Go on," he said. 



"Think of it!" said Mr Dashwood. "I've 

 always taken chances and come out all right, and 

 the first time I'm careful, there I go and spoil 

 everything. Isn't it enough to make a fellow 

 cuss? " 



" It is," said French, " and it's just the same 

 way with me. But go on." 



" I got the blessed old lamps alight," said Bobby, 

 " and the blessed old car going, and I'd gone 

 scarcely haK-a-mile when I saw before me, after 

 I'd rounded a bend of the road, a cart going full 

 speed. It was one of those gipsy sort of carts that 

 fellows hawk chickens and things about in, harness 

 half string and an old horse like a scarecrow to 

 look at, but like a steam engine to go. There 

 were two men in the cart and one was Giveen. 

 Though it was pretty dusk I could tell him, for he'd 

 taken his hat off and his bald head shone like a 

 stone. He'd evidently met the cart and paid the 

 man for a Hft. 



" ' Now,' said I to myself, slowing down a bit 

 so that I could think, ' what am I to do? If I 

 try to seize him by force the fellow he's with will 

 help him to resist, maybe, and if he doesn't he's 

 sure to tell about the affair at the next village 

 and I'll have the poKce on to me. I know — a 

 smash-up is the only thing. I'll ram them full 

 speed and damn the damage. I stand as good a 



