s unconscious," said the seemingly
hysterical young woman, "but I hurried here as soon as I recovered
myself."

"Where did it occur? Down the road you came?"

"Ye-es."

Saint-Prosper vaulted into the saddle. "Tell the manager to see a
magistrate," he said.

"But you're not going to follow them alone?" began Susan. "Oh dear, I
feel quite faint again! If you would please help me into the--"

By way of answer, the other touched his horse deeply with the spur and
the mettlesome animal reared and plunged, then, recalled by the sharp
voice of the rider, galloped wildly down the road. Susan observed the
sudden departure with mingled emotions.

"How quixotic!" she thought discontentedly. "But he won't catch them,"
came the consoling afterthought, as she turned to seek the manager.

Soon the soldier, whose spirited dash down the main thoroughfare had
awakened some misgivings in the little town, was beyond the precincts
of village scrutiny. The country road was hard, although marked by
deep cuts from traffic during a rainy spell, and the horse's hoofs
rang out with exhilarating rhythm. Regardless of all save the distance
traversed, the rider yet forbore to press the pace, relaxing only
when, after a considerable interval, he came to another road and drew
rein at the fork. One way to the right ran gently through the valley,
apparently terminating in the luxuriant foliage, while the other, like
a winding, murky stream, stretched out over a more level tract of
land.

Which thoroughfare had the coach taken? Dismounting, the young man
hastily examined the ground, but the earth was so dry and firm, and
the tracks of wheels so many, it was impossible to distinguish the old
marks from the new. Even sign-post there was none; the roads diverged,
and the soldier could but blindly surmise their destination, selecting
after some hesitation the thoroughfare running into the gorgeous,
autumnal painted forest.

He had gone no inconsiderable distance when his doubts were abruptly
confirmed. Reaching an opening, bright as the chapel of a darkened
monastery, he discerned a farmer in a buckboard approaching from the
opposite direction. The swift pace of the rider and the leisurely jog
of the team soon brought them together.

"Did you pass a coach down the road?" asked the soldier.

"No-a," said the farmer, deliberately, as his fat horses instinctively
stood stock still; "didn't pass nobody."

"Have you come far?"

"A good ways."