the Pirate had not prepared me
for such an exhibition as this. What Mannering had said about the
delight of flying along an open road at a hundred miles an hour recurred
to me. I had not deemed it possible. But I paced the distance between
the Colonel's house and the bend where the strange car had passed out of
sight. The distance was just about two hundred yards, and it had been
covered as near as possible in four seconds. The car must have been
travelling just about a hundred miles an hour.

I went straight indoors to bed. I am not ashamed to confess that I was
not able to continue my dreams in comfort, while pacing the road, by the
consideration of what would have happened to me had the Motor Pirate
come along just two seconds before I happened to turn and see him.

CHAPTER V

THE COLONEL DREAMS, AND I AWAKEN

I SLEPT until late the next morning. I have always been accustomed to a
clear eight hours' sleep, and, as I did not get between the sheets until
about four in the morning, I naturally did not awaken until mid-day. So
what with my tub and the necessity for shaving, my early morning call
upon the Colonel did not come off. I suppose, as a matter of fact, I sat
down to breakfast just about the time when the gastronomic warrior was
thinking of luncheon. However, when I saw how amply my expectation of a
change in the weather had been fulfilled, I did not regret my lengthy
sleep. From a sodden grey sky sheets of water were steadily pouring.
There was not the slightest chance of any break in the clouds.
Consequently I felt assured of finding Miss Maitland at home if I made
my call in the afternoon, and since her father oftentimes thought it
expedient to take a little repose after luncheon in order to prepare
himself for the fatigue of dining, it was possible that I might even be
fortunate enough to secure a _tete-a-tete_ with her.

I came to my breakfast, therefore, with as good a spirit as appetite,
neither being in the slightest degree affected by the memory of the easy
way in which I had been plundered by the Motor Pirate. Of course I felt
a certain chagrin. Still, I could contemplate the adventure with a
considerable deal more equanimity than I had managed to display the
night before, though I found that my curiosity concerning him had, if
anything, increased. I turned with eagerness to the morning papers to
see whether they could add to my knowledge concerning him.

As every one is aware, all the pap