"Listen!" he continued, in a voice of authority; "they've half an hour's start nearly, and we shall not overtake them this stage. We must not blow our horses at the beginning. A steady trot for the first few miles, and then forward at a canter. It will be a long race." "Right, sir," cried the dragoon. "He's right, Mr Linnell. Take the lead, sir; my head's on fire." "Forward!" cried the Colonel; and away they went through the dark night, but with the chalky road making their way clear. After a mile or two the rapid swinging trot of the chargers grew into a regular military canter, and that, by an imperceptible change, into a rapid gallop that was now kept up, for the excitement of the chase told upon Mellersh, and his ideas of prudence as to husbanding the horses' powers were swept away as if by the keen wind that dashed by their ears. "I ought to check him," said Mellersh, as he toned down his excitement for the minute; and then--"No, I cannot, for I must take that scoundrel by the throat." Volume Two, Chapter XXVI. THE END OF THE RACE. Colonel Mellersh was the only one who was likely to ride with a cool head: the others were for racing at the top of the horses' speed. And so it was that before long, as Richard Linnell sat well down and gave his horse its head, James Bell, whom the ride was gradually sobering in one sense, but also making far more excited as he realised clearly the position of his sister, shook his reins, pressed his horse's flanks with his heels, and the brave beast began to almost fly. Naturally enough, the Colonel's steed pressed more heavily upon its bit, refusing, after the fashion of a cavalry horse, to be left behind, and forcing itself between the other two, till the riders were knee to knee, and tearing along as if in a desperate charge. "We're distressing the horses, Dick," said Mellersh, turning his head to his right; but Bell heard him. "I'm sorry for the horses, sir; but they are his. Let them be distressed." "We must overtake them," said Linnell between his teeth. "Right, sir, right," cried Bell. "Forward, Colonel. Please don't draw rein." Fortunately for them, the night grew a little lighter, and along the treeless Down road they thundered. Every now and then one of the horses snorted as the dust flew, but mile after mile was spurned beneath their heels and they showed no sign of distress, but seemed to rejoice in the long night gallop and the music of their clattering hoofs. The road was singularly silent and deserted; not so much as a foot-passenger was on the way, not a vehicle was seen. A gate at last came in view as they were breathing the horses up a hill, after riding for some distance without a word, the very silence telling the intensity of the men's feelings. Here was a check, for the gate was closed, and no light visible, but Bell rode close up and kicked hard at the panel, till the door in the gatekeeper's hut was opened.