t mental perturbation, owing
to his prolonged absence.

Hastily describing to the lad the fortunate discovery which he had made,
George made what few preparations were required for the short but
dangerous journey before them, and then the two resumed their load, and
with cautious steps wended their way along the ledge to the treacherous
slope, it was by this time as dark as it would be throughout the night;
but this circumstance rather lessened than increased their peril, for it
prevented their realising as fully as in broad daylight the giddy height
of the narrow path along which they were travelling; whilst the
brilliant light from the stars overhead was sufficient to enable them to
pick their steps, and find the bare patches in the grass, in which it
was so imperatively necessary for them to plant their footsteps. At
last, after nearly a quarter of an hour's arduous labour, and several
narrow escapes from a disastrous accident, the welcome shelter of the
cave-like fissure was reached, and, feeling their way cautiously into
it, they laid Walford down, released him from his uncomfortable bonds,
and hungry, thirsty, and utterly fagged out as they were with the
arduous labours of the day, threw themselves down beside him, and, with
a half-unconscious thanksgiving for their preservation trembling upon
their lips, fell at once into a profound slumber.

Their sleep lasted until late on in the following day, the sun being
already low in the heavens when George was awakened by Walford with a
querulous demand for food and drink. He at once rose, and, proceeding
to the mouth of the fissure, effected a cautious reconnaissance, the
result of which was the establishment of the satisfactory circumstance
that no one was visible in the ravine below. The next point to be
ascertained was, whether his pursuers--any or all of them--were still
maintaining a watch for them on the cliff above. George had not the
slightest doubt but that, when he saw them riding up the valley on the
previous evening, they had resolved to ride round and intercept the
fugitives, or pick up their trail at the cliff-top, if possible; the
question to be settled was, whether, having failed in both these
objects, they would establish a watch upon that part of the cliff at
which the fugitives might be expected to make their appearance; or
whether, believing that pursuit had been baffled, and an escape
effected, they would return discomfited to the estate. Leic