In spite of everything I joined her. It was purely a village girl's trick, and well carried out. A thirsty horse will drink a quantity of beer, and generally a few minutes after becomes light-headed and unable to walk straight. "You are a clever girl, Amelia," I said again, "and you are right in saying we must ride quickly. Clement will find out the trick, and will follow us on foot." "We've got the wind in our back," she replied, "zo ef we git a mile or so ahead, the sound of our 'osses wa'ant reach he." So we rode hard until we came to Summercourt. Here there were several branch roads, and so far as I could see no one was stirring. Even although Clement followed on foot, he would have great difficulty in finding which way we had gone. "Which way shall we go?" I asked of Mistress Nancy. "Do you think it will be safe for us to go to Polperro?" she asked hesitatingly. "I think so," I replied, although my heart was sore at saying this. "These Killigrews will know your whereabouts, and as a consequence there will be no watchers at Polperro." "And you will take me there safely?--that is," she continued, as though she were correcting herself, "you think you can?" "Oh yes, I can," I replied; "and I will take you whither you will." "Then perhaps we had better go there--I know of no other place." She spoke plaintively, and as I thought hesitatingly. I longed to offer her a home at Trevanion, but I dared not. "It is well," I replied, as cheerfully as I could; "there is just another matter we may as well settle, however. Shall we ride there on our horses, or shall we go by water?" "What do you mean?" she asked anxiously. "Polperro's house is close to the sea, is it not?" I asked. "Yes--that is, I believe so." "Well, if we were to ride to Veryan Bay, we could get a boat and sail from there." "And is that a better way?" "You shall decide, if you please," was my reply. "From here to Veryan is, perchance, twelve miles. I do not imagine that the Killigrews would suspect us of going there; so even if Clement should try and follow us with another horse, I do not think he would take that course. He would rather imagine that we should make for Polperro by road." She was silent for a few seconds, then she told Amelia to ride behind us out of earshot. At this my heart fluttered wildly, for I thought she had something of importance to say to me. For a few minutes we rode side by side without either speaking a word. The moon had risen high in the heavens, and many of the clouds had passed away, so I could see her every feature plainly. "Do you wonder," she said presently, "that, in spite of the vow you took some time ago, I cannot feel as friendly towards you as I would." "No," I replied almost sullenly. "Perhaps you know that my liberty, my happiness, my fortune, the whole future of my life is at stake." "Yes."