ad never before
referred to the subject. He did not object to supplying us with the
names of his acquaintances who owned cars, and either Forrest or myself
made inquiries concerning every one of them. All were to no purpose.
When we had finished, we were no nearer discovering anything concerning
the Pirate than we were when we had begun.

Then occurred an incident which should have opened our eyes, if anything
possibly could have done so, to the personality of the Pirate. But
again we were absolutely blind.

It was the second week of May, and since, in spite of continued fine
weather, our unknown terror remained in the seclusion of his
hiding-place, wherever it might be, I had persuaded Forrest to come with
me for a run one afternoon as far as Cambridge, proposing to return
after sunset.

The roads were beginning to be a little dusty, but altogether we had a
very pleasant journey without any incident of note. We left the
university town about nine, reckoning upon getting home comfortably
before midnight. There was a bright slice of moon shining, and we did
the dozen miles before reaching Royston at a decent pace. We went slowly
over the hilly road out of Royston and had passed over the worst of it,
and I had just put on a higher speed, when I fancied I heard the distant
hum which once heard could never be mistaken for anything else. Forrest
heard it at the same time as myself.

"Pull up at the side of the road," he cried. "The car must not be
damaged."

I obeyed, running the bonnet into the hedge and leaving the back of the
car extended over the footpath. Meanwhile, Forrest had drawn his
revolver from his pocket, and the moment I brought the car to a
standstill I followed his example.

"Don't stand on ceremony," advised my companion; "shoot on sight!"

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when our enemy made his
appearance, coming from the direction of Buntingford. Whether he had any
intention of stopping and robbing us, I have no means of telling, but I
think not, for he was travelling at his most rapid pace, and gave no
signs of slackening as he approached. Once more I was astonished at the
wonderful steadiness of his machine. He passed us in a flash, the car
running as evenly as if it were upon rails. In fact I paid so much
attention to this, that I was too late to fire with any prospect of
hitting him. Forrest was more alert. As the Pirate swooped by, the
detective's Colt spoke twice. So far as we could