“He is, Sir William. I told you I'd find out something, and you must own that I've managed to put you on the right scent.” “You have,” cried the sheriff, jumping on his horse. “Follow me, gentlemen!--follow me!”--he called out to the yeomen, who had been waiting all this time outside the gate. Next minute they were rattling down the avenue, with the sheriff at their head. We may be sure Jesmond was not left behind. II.--PURSUIT. |On arriving at Corbridge, the sheriff found that the carriage had taken the high road to Newcastle, the crossroad by Whittingham and Stamfordham being impracticable, and accordingly he and his troop galloped off in that direction; but when they reached the extensive moor that skirts the town, they discovered that a deviation from the direct course had been made on the left, and that the travellers had crossed, or attempted to cross the moor to Gosforth. The road chosen was so bad, that it seemed almost certain the carriage would be found buried up to the axle-tree in a bog, and with that confident expectation the pursuers took the same route. From appearances on the road, it was sufficiently clear that the heavy vehicle had been more than once partially engulfed, and could only have been extricated with difficulty--but it had reached firm ground at last, and had gone on to Gosforth. About three miles further on the pursuers descried it slowly, rumbling on towards Blagdon Park. Cheered by the sight, they accelerated their pace, and shouting loudly as they went on, soon caused the carriage to stop. Anxious to make the intended arrest without any appearance of violence, the sheriff ordered a halt of his followers, and rode up to the carriage, attended merely by Jesmond. Lady Webb and the two women-servants inside had been greatly alarmed by the shouting of the pursuers and sudden stoppage of the vehicle, and Sir John thrust his head out of the window to see what was the matter. Just then the sheriff came up, and saluting him formally explained his business. Sir John replied rather angrily, and declared in positive terms that there was no one in the carriage beside himself and Lady Webb and their two women-servants. As the sheriff expressed a doubt, Sir John called to his man-servant to come down and open the door, and immediately got out. “Now, Sir William--pray satisfy yourself!” he cried. “I must trouble Lady Webb to alight--and the two women,” said the sheriff. The injunction was obeyed by her ladyship, though not without strong expressions of displeasure. As soon as they had all come forth, Jesmond got into the carriage, and looked under the seats, but found only trunks and boxes. As he emerged with a crestfallen look, he was jeered by Sir John and her ladyship. The sheriff, too, blamed him for the blunder he had made. “I am certain the Pretender is in the carriage, Sir William,” he said. “Then find him,” cried the sheriff. “Ay, find him, fellow, if you can,” added Sir John, derisively.