old school-back again at Garside House. He had had a pretty good time during the "vac.," but, none the les

-why wasn't he christened Weazel?-one might put up with a lo

a five-barred gate into a lane which wound round the side of the Man

at? Some one down

ttle distance down the lane. Paul

ong, sir?

knew where I was I was out of the saddl

ider. He grasped it, and tried to ri

that you are

against the saddle. "Poor old Falcon," patting the horse, "don't

and he stood listening as one who fears pursui

aven had inspired him, he turned to Paul suddenly wit

de almost as soon as I

ht riding at a very early age, and was as

inful every moment. I've got a message of the utmost impor

el

e for me? I ask it as a

once respond. Redmead was seven miles distant; it was getting dusk; the journey to Redm

. You don't know what it

ar, honest eyes, and an open, gentlemanly bearing. It was plain that the business on which h

outs in

the house of

've a chum at school named

living at Redmead is Stanley

Perc

ke your acquaintance, though I wish our introduct

aul was all aglow. H

shall only be too pleased to d

rapidly on a sheet

is a letter from Zuker, the German Jew,

torn paper, bearing on them, as it appeared to Paul, mysterious hieroglyphics. He put these insi

Walter Moncrief-in no one else's hands. I cannot tell you how much may depend upon

rds and manner. "There is my house, sir"-pointing to the Manor House. "You will

e open road. Though it was getting dusk, it mattered little to Paul, for he was well acquainted with eve

to help him and take his message. Shan't I have so

oglyphics on them, could mean, and what could be the message of which h

aves rustled beneath Falcon's feet. It was a noble, intelligent horse, and seemed as

g its neck. "I wouldn't mind a horse like you

o Paul as he reached it. There were two ways of going to his destination-one was by taking the road by the side of the common and skirting it, the other, by the more solitary but nearer roa

r. The road was bounded on either side by hedges, and the branches of trees interlaced each other in an arch-wa

the sooner our journey's ended, the sooner y

scarcely were the words from Paul's lips than a

decisive voice, with a

s on the eyes, which seemed to Paul, in that swift glance he caught of them, of a steely blue. He had a thick, military moustache, drawn out to fierce poin

east, only a few coppers. You're welcome

therefore, we don't want your coppers. We've got one or two questions to put to you. If

the terrible fate which might await the boy in the ev

Mr. Moncrief's

an was, and how he had

's right.

riding Falcon inste

e doing wrong. Yet what wrong could he do by speaking the truth. Paul wa

an accident-that's why,

th the other man. "That's the reason he's been

t he was giving Mr. Moncrief awa

ing to Mr. Walter Monc

He felt that he had

nough my information's right. All you need do is just to hand over to m

eless Mr. Moncrief's words, "I feel that I can trust you. You will not part with the letter,

eh? Quick! quick! hand over the packet,"

o the inner pocket where the packet lay, and drew it a little way from his pocket. This movement disarmed the man who held the bridle. He

rage and pain the ma

ow!" cried Paul, urg

ounded forward like a dart along the road. It went forward at a breakneck speed, quivering in every li

What a noble horse it is. That man is a foreigner, I'm sure of it-o

these men were the enemies of Mr. Moncrief; that they were anxious to get from him the packet of which he was the bearer. More

athe hard. What was the meaning of it? Had an accident befallen him, or had he grown weary? Paul knew enough of the animal to know that it would not readily

o keep the advantage he had gained on his pursuers. Once more he encouraged

o extricate his feet from the stirrups whe

fall, but he had no thought for h

ef glance he could tell that poor Falcon was dying, and he kn

ld fellow? Goo

was bathed in perspiration and foam. What had happened to it? In the uncertain light it was impossible to tell. Had it injured a foot or leg?