hat he was being
chased; so away he ran, big stick in hand, his long arms flying, and his
loose-jointed legs shambling over the ground at a pace which kept him
well ahead.

This pleased Tom; there was something exhilarating in hunting his enemy,
and besides, it was pleasant to feel that he was inspiring dread.

"Wonder what he has been doing," said the boy, laughing to himself, as
Pete struck off at right angles through the wood and disappeared,
leaving his pursuer breathless in the lane. "Well, I sha'n't run after
him.--Hah! that has done me good."

Tom had another good look round where the lane curved away now, and ran
downhill past the big sand-pit at the dip; and then on away down to
where the little river gurgled along, sending flashes of sunshine in all
directions, while the country rose on the other side in a beautiful
slope of furzy common, hanging wood, and closely-cut coppice, pretty
well filled with game.

"Better get back," thought Tom; and then he uttered a low whistle, and
broke into a trot, with a new burden on his back in the shape of the
bath-chair, for he had suddenly recollected Uncle James's complaint
about not having been out for a ride.

Sure enough when he reached the garden David met him.

"Master's been a-shouting for you, sir. Yes, there he goes again."

"Coming, uncle," cried Tom; and he ran into the house, and encountered
Uncle Richard.

"Oh, here you are at last. Get out the bath-chair quickly, my boy.
Your uncle has been complaining bitterly. Little things make him fret,
and he had set his mind upon a ride."

"All right, uncle--round directly," cried Tom, running off to the
coach-house. "Phew! how hot I've made myself."

In two minutes he was running the chair round to the front door, and as
he passed the study window a doleful moaning greeted his ear; but it
ceased upon the wheels being heard.

"All right, uncle, here it is," cried Tom; and James Brandon came out
resting upon a stick, and moaning piteously, while his brother came
behind bearing a great plaid shawl.

"Here, take my arm, Jem," he said.

"I can walk by myself," was the pettish reply. "Then you've come back,
sir. Tired of your job, I suppose. Oh dear! oh dear!"

"I really forgot it for a bit, uncle," said Tom humbly.

"Forgot! Yes, you boys do nothing else but forget. Ah! Oh! Oh! I'm
a broken man," he groaned, as he sank back in the chair and took hold of
the handle.

"I'll pull you, uncle," s