hoke, gasp, and shout at the top of his voice, "Hi! hallo!" At
the same instant the old dinner-gong sent a peal of horrible sound
through the house, and we took to flight filled with unutterable terror.

Oh, how we did run! We had scarcely cleared the offices and got fairly
into the avenue when we heard Edwards shout as he started in pursuit.

We were both good runners, but Jack soon took the lead, and kept it by
about five yards. Our feet scarcely touched the ground. I felt as if I
had wings, so great was my terror. We reached the end of the avenue.
The gate was full five feet high. To my inexpressible amazement, Jack
went clear over it with one bound!

I have never been able to analyse my feelings and impulses on that
occasion. I am, and always was, rather a poor jumper; yet, without
hesitation, without even a doubt as to my ability to clear it, I went at
that gate like an Irish hunter at a stone wall, and leaped fairly over
it! The leap did not even check my pace for an instant. I remember, in
the whirl and confusion of the moment, that I attributed my almost
superhuman powers to terror; but the feeling that we were pursued again
absorbed all my faculties.

We dashed on at a killing pace, and, strange to say, without feeling the
slightest fatigue. Having cleared the avenue, we mounted the high
ground in the neighbourhood, passed the church, entered the village, and
went through it like a railway train; came out upon the road beyond, and
reached a wooded part of the country where several roads and by-paths
diverged from the highway. All this time Edwards kept close on our
heels. He did not gain on us, but we felt that we did not distance him.
"Down here!" cried Jack, doubling suddenly into a lane.

We passed a small bridge that crossed a mill-lake. Beyond, there was a
farm-yard. The path-way was high, and we could look down on the tops of
the stacks. One of these, a haystack, stood about ten feet from the low
wall that skirted the road. It had been half pulled down, and the hay
was loose. Without a word or warning Jack sprang completely across this
space, turned right over, and plunged head first into the hay. I
followed instantly, and disappeared. We lay for a few seconds perfectly
still, and heard Edwards pass at full speed. Then we struggled out and
watched him out of sight.

Sliding down, we regained the lane, returned to the high-road, and
continued our flight.

We saw no more of Edward