"Ah! Same as the gentleman up the hill," cried the soldier. "Now, tell us quick; have you seen a coach, wagon, or other four-wheeled piece of machinery hereabouts?" "Yes; a two-horsed carriage drove down to the inn yonder about twenty minutes ago." "What road did she come?" "This very road that you’re on." "Confusion on it! Then how did we miss the thing? But there, no matter; we’ll after it and catch the villain." Without more delay the sergeant and his men clattered off down the hill, relieving Dick of the necessity of giving explanations, which he felt might be somewhat awkward. Being now thoroughly excited, he forgot his fatigue and wetness, and ran after the dragoons to see what happened when they reached the inn. He was but a minute or two behind them. The village was still in complete darkness; the rain had ceased, and the moon showed her rim through a rift in the scudding clouds. The troopers were at the door of the inn, five still on horseback; the sixth had dismounted and was rapping on the door with the hilt of his sword. "Hang me, will he never open?" cried the man, when repeated blows drew no response. "Must be a rare sleeper, to be sure," said another. "I’ll bust the lock with a shot from my carbine if he don’t open soon," cried the angry sergeant. "This is some jiggery-pokery, sure as I’m alive." He thundered again on the door, calling upon the innkeeper with many imprecations to open in the King’s name. At last there was the sound of a casement opening above. Looking up, the troopers saw first a blunderbuss, then an arm, and finally a head in a white nightcap. "Who be that a-bangin’ and smitin’ at an honest man’s door, when he be abed and asleep?" demanded Doubledick’s voice angrily. "’Tis for you to answer questions, not to axe ’em," said the sergeant. "Now, speak like a true man, and hide nothing, or the King will have your miserable head. Did a carriage come down the hill a while ago?" "Oh, if ye be King’s men I bean’t afeard o’ ye. A carriage? Why, to be sure ’a did, a half-hour ago, or maybe more." "And where is it now?" "There’s a question to axe a poor simple soul wi’ only two eyes. How be I to know that, captain, on a dark night like this?" "Be hanged to you! You know whether it stayed or went on, and you’d best speak up without any shilly-shally." "True. I do know that. The carriage went on, to be sure." "Which way? Speak up." "Well, I can’t ’zackly say, but ’twarn’t up the hill, so I reckon ’twas through village towards Redruth. Iss, I reckon ’twas that." "And the man inside?" "Daze me if ever I knowed of any man inside. Driver had lost his way, seemingly; ’a was like a squashed turmit in the rain: and when he’d took summat to comfort his innards, off-along he drove. Warn’t here five minutes, no, nor yet four."