h a plight, so, changing his mind, he doubled again into another
by-street.

This chanced to be an unfortunate turn, for the policeman saw him take
it, and, knowing every intricacy of the town, he was enabled to take a
cross cut by a lane, accompanied by several of his brother constables,
who had joined him by this time, and by such of the crowd as were good
runners.

The worst runners now came in for an unexpected share of the sport in
consequence of this new turn of affairs, for the by-road conducted
Kenneth back to the main street, and when he debouched into it he ran
into and overturned a number of those who had just made up their minds
that it was useless for them to run any farther.

The tide was now turned. The head of the crowd came rushing back, led
by the policeman and the gentlemanly burglar. Kenneth thus found
himself between two fires, so, like a wise general, he made a flank
movement, crossed the street, and darted down a dark lane. Here the
crowd gave in, but the policeman and the burglar continued the pursuit.

The lane led to the suburbs of the town, and the fugitive soon gained
the open country, which in that part was a sort of uncultivated
moorland.

The excitement of the chase and the suddenness of it had told upon the
youth at first so much that he had been somewhat distressed while
running; but this feeling now began to wear off. Like a true
thoroughbred, he improved in condition the longer he ran, and when at
last the perspiration began to pour over his cheeks he felt as if he
could have run on for ever!

To some extent this feeling was also experienced by a few of his
pursuers, who kept him well in view.

On passing over a rising ground which for some minutes concealed him,
Kenneth suddenly resolved to strike aside from the high road and cross
the moor. It was sufficiently light, he thought, to enable him to do
this with safety. He was wrong, however, for he had not run a hundred
yards when he went splashing into a boggy place, and his pursuers, who
had again caught sight of him, instantly followed.

The running now became very severe, and tested Kenneth's powers to the
utmost. Of course it also proved as hard on the others, and he had at
least the satisfaction of hearing them shout and gasp as they tumbled
over stones and into hollows. Still they held on with unflagging
vigour, until they were almost exhausted and quite covered with mud.

To Kenneth's relief he unexpectedly st