"Here you be, sur." I hurried towards her, and found two horses saddled. "Mount, mount," I cried quickly, "they'll be after us." "No, they waan't," retorted Amelia, "I've turned all the other horses out in the field." "And where's Boundy?" "Lyin' inside there, weth his mouth chucked vull of hay." In spite of our danger, I could not help laughing aloud. By this time they had both mounted, and as yet no one had followed us into the yard. "There's another way down to the road," cried Amelia, "it'll bring us out furder down. Where's yore oss, sur?" "He's all right. You are a clever girl, Amelia." This I said while we went silently down the cart track under the trees. On reaching the road I gave a low whistle, and in a second I heard the clatter of hoofs, as Chestnut came towards me. He gave a whinney as he saw me, but before I could mount I heard a bullet whiz by me, and strike hazel bushes on the top of the hedge. Then I saw Clement Killigrew and the priest coming towards us. Great as was my longing to stop and meet these men, I deemed it prudent to get away as quickly as possible. A new fear had come into my life, a fear that they should harm the maid Nancy. I sprang to the stirrup therefore, and before I was fairly on Chestnut's back he started into a gallop. I checked him for fear I should leave my companions behind, but I need not have feared. Their horses kept neck to neck with mine. For a time I could hear no one following, but presently the sound of horses' hoofs rang out in the night air. I stopped and listened. "There is only one horse," I said, and as I spoke the sound ceased. Again we rode on, and again I could hear the following horseman; a mile or so farther on we pulled up a second time, and as soon as we stopped our pursuer also stopped. "What is the meaning of that, I wonder?" I said aloud. "We have been riding more slowly and he has not gained upon us. When we stop he follows our example. What does it mean?" "It is Clement," said Mistress Nancy; "he will have got his orders from Otho." "But why does he not seek to overtake us?" "It would not suit his purpose," cried she; "he dare not come too close to us. He will be afraid. He knows you have pistols. His purpose will be to keep us in sight and mark where we go." "But what good will that do him?" "When he thinks we are safely housed, he will send for help." "But how?" "The Killigrews have followers all around in this part of the country," she said. "They have friends unknown to you." "But we will ride right on to the west of the country, where Hugh Boscawen is raising men against the enemies of the King." "Even there he will have friends. Clement is almost as cunning as Otho." "I will go back and fight him," I said quietly. "We will soon be rid of him." "He will know of your coming, and will ride away from you. If you follow him he will lead you into some trap." "But we must be rid of him," I cried; "we shall not be safe while he follows."