"’Twas a bird in the hedge, then. My Josiah would have give us warning if he seed any one, and they young fellers be a mile away. Get on, Smail; ten shillings extry, man." He took Smail’s arm and led him, still reluctant, up the lane. They had just reached the edge of the tar when there were two loud reports from the direction of the hedge a few yards behind them. Startled, they plunged forward, floundered through the first few feet of the tar, tripped over the wire, and sprawled at full length, more or less mixed up with each other, in the deeper end. [Illustration: "THEY TRIPPED OVER THE WIRE AND SPRAWLED AT FULL LENGTH."] "Splendid!" whispered Eves. "Your tar entanglement is a great success, Bob. Let’s get back; we can very well leave them there." As they returned to the road they heard the rumble of cart wheels coming up the hill, and voices. The cart stopped. "That’s young Josiah speaking," said Templeton. "We had better wait and explain, Tom." "All right, the cart’s coming on again." They reached the farmyard gate and stood waiting. The lamps of the vehicle fell upon their faces, and both started when a lady’s voice exclaimed: "Robert!" "Aunt Caroline!" said Templeton in an undertone to Eves. "And Trenchard!" cried Eves. "What luck!" A ramshackle fly pulled up at the gate, and Mr. Trenchard assisted Miss Templeton to alight. "What has happened?" asked the lady. "We heard shots, and a little boy came running down the hill crying that his father was killed. It is Mr. Noakes, Mr. Trenchard says." "Quite a mistake, Aunt," said Templeton. "I _am_ glad to see you. Come in; I’ll explain. This is my friend Eves." "Yes, yes; but the boy was greatly agitated. Run after him, Robert, and tell him that his father is _not_ killed." "My hat!" muttered Eves, with a grimace, as Templeton sprinted down the hill. "What was it, Mr. Eves? I am greatly concerned that the little fellow should have had such a terrible shock." "Well, Miss Templeton, I really—you see—oh, yes, it was Bob’s tar entanglement, you know. But Mr. Trenchard has told you about old Noakes, I expect." "Mr. Trenchard has told me things about Mr. Noakes that I cannot credit. But I do not understand—a tar entanglement, you said?" "Yes, an invention of Bob’s, you know; a splendid thing. But there’s such a lot to tell: won’t you go into the house? Then Bob and I can tell you between us." "Very well. Give the driver ten shillings for his fare." "I’ve only four and elevenpence half-penny," said Eves, with a smile. "Dear me! Then I must ask the driver to come to the house. My notes are in my dressing-case. One cannot be too careful." By the time Miss Templeton had found her money and paid the driver Templeton was back. "It’s all right, Aunt. The boy is going home with his father." Eves grinned.