here, what's this?' He
had opened the door by which sacks were taken in from waggons without,
and dangling from the cat-head projecting above it was the rope used in
lifting them. 'There's the way he went down,' the officer continued.
'The man's gone.'

Amidst mumblings and curses the gang descended the pair of ladders and
came into the open air; but Captain Bob was nowhere to be seen. When
they reached the front door of the house the miller was standing on the
threshold, half dressed.

'Your son is a clever fellow, miller,' said the lieutenant; 'but it would
have been much better for him if he had come quiet.'

'That's a matter of opinion,' said Loveday.

'I have no doubt that he's in the house.'

'He may be; and he may not.'

'Do you know where he is?'

'I do not; and if I did I shouldn't tell.'

'Naturally.'

'I heard steps beating up the road, sir,' said the sergeant.

They turned from the door, and leaving four of the marines to keep watch
round the house, the remainder of the party marched into the lane as far
as where the other road branched off. While they were pausing to decide
which course to take, one of the soldiers held up the light. A black
object was discernible upon the ground before them, and they found it to
be a hat--the hat of Bob Loveday.

'We are on the track,' cried the sergeant, deciding for this direction.

They tore on rapidly, and the footsteps previously heard became audible
again, increasing in clearness, which told that they gained upon the
fugitive, who in another five minutes stopped and turned. The rays of
the candle fell upon Anne.

'What do you want?' she said, showing her frightened face.

They made no reply, but wheeled round and left her. She sank down on the
bank to rest, having done all she could. It was she who had taken down
Bob's hat from a nail, and dropped it at the turning with the view of
misleading them till he should have got clear off.

XXXII. DELIVERANCE

But Anne Garland was too anxious to remain long away from the centre of
operations. When she got back she found that the press-gang were
standing in the court discussing their next move.

'Waste no more time here,' the lieutenant said. 'Two more villages to
visit to-night, and the nearest three miles off. There's nobody else in
this place, and we can't come back again.'

When they were moving away, one of the private marines, who had kept his
eye on Anne, and noticed her dist