SALTERSGATE MOOR 85 



and exercised, so that his condition appeared better than 

 it had been, and his breathing was certainly less stertorous. 

 As for a game-bag, Mead said that his man would carry 

 that, and so there was no more to think of, except as to 

 whether it would be well to go to bed at all or not over- 

 night. 



" I did not like to trust anyone to wake me, but as I 

 happened to have an alarum with me, I concluded to 

 trust it, and so, setting it to one o'clock, I essayed to snatch 

 a few hours of rest. 



" Breakfast had been laid out for me overnight, and 

 when I was startled from what seemed but a momentary 

 period of repose by the noise of the alarum I certainly felt 

 that I should have been better advised had I not gone to 

 bed at all. There was my cold bath, and very untempting 

 it seemed : nevertheless I resolutely entered it. ... 

 I felt cold, shaky and unrefreshed, as I went downstairs, 

 where I found a little servant was already bestirring herself 

 and boiling the kettle to make me tea. 



" The tea and a little food certainly improved me, but 

 I shivered as I looked out into the night and then stepped 

 gingerly forth to fetch Don from the outhouse. The 

 wind blew chill and there was a slight drizzling rain, so I 

 was glad to get back into the house with the liberated 

 dog. . . . Then I sat down at one side of the kitchen fire, 

 and the little servant, half dead with sleep, bestowed 

 herself upon a stool in the corner. Don became pensive 

 and blinked at the flickering flames. I was half nodding 

 off to sleep when suddenly the sound of wheels aroused 

 me and I started up as I heard them stop opposite the 

 house. Then came a prolonged shout, ' Yo-ho-hup ! ' 

 and I knew that Mead had arrived, so I hurried to the 

 door, called out : ' All right/ and quickly collecting gun, 

 greatcoat and ammunition, summoned Don and sallied 

 forth. 



" ' Good-morning, sir/ said Mead, with what seemed to 

 me revolting heartiness for he did not mean it by way 

 of joke ' we're in nice time. Here, John, get down and 



