for the night at Hexham."

Having the day before them, they set off at a leisurely pace. The air
was cold but still, and bright sunshine shone upon the tableland, which
rolled north, rising steadily towards distant snow-streaked hills.
Nothing suspicious happened, and late in the afternoon they came down
into the valley of the North Tyne and turned south for Hexham. As they
did so they passed an inn and Foster stopped. They were some distance
from Hexham and he felt hungry, while the inn looked unusually
comfortable. He was tempted to go in and order a meal, but hesitated,
for no very obvious reason.

"We'll wait and get dinner when we make Hexham," he said, setting off
again.

A thin wood, separated from the road by a low fence, ran between them
and the river. The light was faint among the trees, the road narrow,
and presently they heard a car coming towards them. It was going very
fast and when it lurched across an opening in the hedge round a bend
Foster put his hand on the fence and swung himself over. Pete followed
silently, but when they stood in the shadow among the dry undergrowth
Foster felt annoyed because he had yielded to a half-instinctive
impulse. He must, of course, be cautious, but there was no reason for
overdoing it.

Next moment, the car, which swung towards the fence as it took the
curve, dashed past, and Foster set his lips as he saw Graham, who
seemed to be gazing up the road. Then the car vanished among the
trees, and Pete looked at him curiously.

"Is yon the man frae Newcastle ?" he asked.

"Yes," said Foster grimly; "I rather think we were just in time. It's
very possible that he'd have run over me if I'd been in the road. An
accident of that kind would have suited him well. But I thought I was
a fool for jumping."

Pete nodded. "I ken! When ye feel ye must do a thing, it's better
just to do it and think afterwards." Then he raised his hand. "She's
stopping!"

The throb of the engine suddenly slackened, as if the driver had seen
the inn, and Foster got over the fence.

"It's lucky we didn't stop for a meal; but, although it may be risky,
I'm going back."

They kept along the side of the road, where the ground was soft, but
Foster was ready to jump the fence if the car returned; the noise would
give him warning enough. After a few minutes they stopped and waited
in the gloom of a hedge, where they could see the inn. The car stood
in the road and it was empty. Gra