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as he stood there watching them his face was like a fiend's。
〃Walter；〃 the general shouted； and to his son Rupert he said： 〃The
boy's ill。〃
Walter moved forward from among the trees。 He had a gun in his
hand； and he flung it forward as though preparing to fire； and at
the same moment Rupert Dunsmore drew from his pocket the pistol
Deede Dawson had given him and fired himself。
But at the very moment that he pulled the trigger the general
struck up his arm so that the bullet flew high and harmless through
the tops of the trees。
Walter stepped back again into the wood； and Rupert said：
〃You don't know what you have done； father。〃
〃You are mad； mad；〃 the general gasped。
His face was very pale； and he trembled a little； for though he had
heard many bullets whistle by his ears； that had happened in action
against an enemy； and was altogether different from this。 He put
out his hand in an attempt to take the pistol that Rupert easily
evaded。
〃Give it to me；〃 he said。 〃I saved his life； you might have
killed him。〃
〃Yes； you saved him； father；〃 Rupert muttered； thinking to himself
that the saving of Walter's life might well mean the loss of Ella's；
since very likely the failure of their plots would be at once
attributed by the conspirators to her。 〃Father； I never wrote that
letter you say you had。 Walter forged it to get you here； where he
meant to kill us both。 That's why he looked like that； that's why
he had his gun。〃
General Dunsmore only stared blankly at him for a moment。
〃Kill me？ Kill you？ What for？〃 he gasped。
〃So that he might become Lord Chobham of Wreste Abbey instead of
Lord Chobham's poor relation；〃 answered Rupert。 〃The poison attempt
on uncle which Walter discovered was first of all his own doing； it
was through him Charley Wright lost his life。 He has committed at
least one other murder。 Today he meant to kill both of us。 Then
he would have been heir to the title and estates； and when uncle
died he would have been Lord Chobham。〃
〃Nonsense； absurd； impossible。 You're mad； quite mad；〃 the general
stammered。 〃Why； he would have been hanged at once。〃
〃Not if he could have fixed the blame elsewhere；〃 Rupert answered。
〃That was to have been my part； it was carefully arranged to make
it seem I was responsible for it all。 I haven't time to explain now。
I don't think he is coming back。 I expect he is only loaded with
small shot； and he doesn't dare try a long range shot or come near
now he knows I'm ready for him。〃
〃But it's … it's impossible … Walter；〃 stammered the general。
〃Impossible。〃
〃The impossible so often happens；〃 answered Rupert； and handed his
pistol to him。 〃You must trust me； father； and do what I tell you。
Take this pistol in case you are attacked on the way home。 You may
be； but I don't think it's likely。 Get the motor out and go straight
to Wreste Abbey。 An attempt on uncle's life will be made tonight；
if they still carry out their plans； about dinner…time tonight。 See
that every possible precaution is taken。 See to that first。 Then
send help as soon as you can to Bittermeads； a house on the
outskirts of Ramsdon； any one there will tell you where it is。〃
〃But what are you going to do？〃 General Dunsmore asked。
〃I'm going to find Walter； if he's still hiding in the wood here；
as he may be；〃 Rupert answered。 〃I should like a little chat with
him。〃 For a moment he nearly lost his self…control； and for a
single moment there showed those fiery and tempestuous passions he
was keeping now in such stern repression。 〃Yes a little talk with
him； just us two；〃 he said。 〃And if he's cleared out； or I can't
find him I'm going straight on to Bittermeads。 There's some one
there who may be in danger； so the sooner I am there the better。〃
〃But wait a moment；〃 the general cried。 〃Are you armed？〃
〃Yes； with my hands； I shall want no more when Walter and I meet
again；〃 Rupert answered； and； without another word； plunged into
the wood at the spot where Walter had vanished
At first the track of Walter's flying footsteps was plain enough
for he had fled full speed； panic having overtaken him when he saw
Rupert and his father together and understood that in some way his
deep conspiracy had failed and his treachery become known。
For a little distance； therefore； he had crashed through bracken
and undergrowth； heedless of all but the one need that was upon him
to flee away and escape while there was yet time。 But； after a
while； his first panic subsiding； he had gone more carefully； and；
as the weather had been very dry of late； when he came to open
ground his footmarks were scarcely visible。
In such spots Rupert could make but slow progress； and he was
handicapped； too； by the fact； that all the time he had to be on
his guard lest from some unsuspected quarter his enemy should come
upon him unawares。
For； indeed； this enterprise he had undertaken in the flood tide of
his passion and fierce anger was dangerous enough since he； quite
weaponless； was following up a very desperate armed man who would
know that for him there could be henceforth no question of mercy。
But there was that burning in Rupert's heart that made him heedless
of all danger； and indeed； he who for mere love of sport and
adventure； had followed a wounded tiger into the jungle and tracked
a buffalo through thick reeds； was not likely to draw back now。
Once he thought he had succeeded； for he saw a bush move and he
rushed at once upon it。 But when he reached it there was nothing
there； and the ground about was hard and bare； showing no marks to
prove any one had lately been near。 And once he saw a movement in
the midst of some bracken and caught a glimpse of what seemed like
Walter's coat； so that he was sure he had him at last； and he
shouted and ran forward。
But again no one was there； though the bracken was all trampled and
beaten down。 The tracks Walter had made in going were plain； too；
but Rupert lost them almost at once and could not find them again；
and when he came a little later to the further edge of the wood； he
decided to waste no more time； but to make his way direct to
Bittermeads so as at least to make sure of Ella's safety。
He told himself that he had failed badly in woodcraft and； indeed；
he had been too fierce and hot in his pursuit to show his wonted
skill。
The plan that had been in his mind from the moment when he left his
father was to take advantage of the fact that on this edge of the
wood was situated a farm belonging to Lord Chobham； where horses
were bred and where he was well known。
Some of these horses were sure to be out in the fields； and it would
be easy for him； wasting no time in explanation； to catch one of them；
mount bare…backed and ride through the New Plantation … the New
Plantation was a hundred years old； but still kept that name … over
the brow of the hill beyond； swim the canal in the valley； and so
straight across…country to Ramsdon。
Riding thus direct he would save time and distance； and arrive more
quickly than by going the necessary distance to secure a motor…car
which would have also to take a much more circuitous route