George rode off over the stony ground, and they looked after him. Then Ford bethought himself of a message he was charged to deliver at one of the pits, and Rupert went indoors and sat down to the desk on his high stool. Within the half-hour George Ryle was back again. He rode up to the door, and dismounted. Rupert came forward, a pen in hand. "Are you ready to go home now, Rupert?" Rupert shook his head. "Ford went to the pit and is not back yet; and I have a lot of writing to do. Why?" "I thought we would have gone home together. You shall ride my horse, and I'll walk; it will tire you less than going on foot." "You are very kind," said Rupert. "Yes, I should like to ride. I was thinking just now, that if Cris were worth anything, he'd let me ride his horse home. But he's not worth anything, and would no more let me ride his horse and walk himself, than he'd let me ride him." "Has Cris not gone home?" "I fancy not. Unless he has gone by without calling in. Will you wait, George?" "No. I must walk on. But I'll leave you the horse. You can leave it at the Farm, Rupert, and walk the rest of the way." "I can ride on to the Hold, and send it back." George hesitated a moment. "I would rather you left it at the Farm, Rupert. It will not be far to walk after that." Rupert acquiesced. Did he wonder why he might not ride the horse to the Hold? George would not say, "Because even that slight attention must, if possible, be kept from Chattaway." He fastened the bridle to a hook in the wall, where Mr. Chattaway often tied his horse, where Cris sometimes tied his. There was a stable near; but unless they were going to remain in the office or about the pits, Mr. Chattaway and his son seldom put up their horses. George Ryle walked away with a quick step, and Rupert returned to his desk. A quarter-of-an-hour passed on, and the clerk did not return. Rupert grew impatient for his arrival, and went to the door to look out for him. He did not see Ford; but he did see Cris Chattaway. Cris was approaching on foot, at a snail's pace, leading his horse, which was dead lame. "Here's a nice bother!" called out Cris. "How I am to get back home, I don't know." "What has happened?" returned Rupert. "Can't you see what has happened? How it happened, I am unable to tell you. All I know is, the horse fell suddenly lame, and whined like a child. Something must have run into his foot, I conclude. Whose horse is that? Why, it's George Ryle's," Cris exclaimed as he drew sufficiently near to recognise it. "What brings his horse here?" "He has lent it to me, to save my walking home," said Rupert. "Where is he? Here?" "He has gone home on foot. I can't think where Ford's lingering," added Rupert, walking into the yard, and mounting one of the smaller heaps of coal for a better view of the road by which Ford might be expected to arrive. "He has been gone this hour."