He did not see a single man, though he looked carefully; but he did see--and the sight made his heart jump wildly--the horse and trap, the horse contentedly feeding on the rich grass. He would risk it! One chance, and one alone, offered, and he would take it! He beckoned to his companions to join him, and whispered his plans. "It is the only chance. No one is near the trap, and we can drive off before they will even know that it is gone. Will you dare it?" "Yes," said the man desperately. And Ralph, with a "Follow me, then!" was at the trap, had the rope, with which the horse had been tethered, cut; the other two were up after him, and, with a crack of the whip, away they went, clean across the open moor. Lame or not, that pony had to go, for once. They were right across, close on two miles away, and getting near to Great Stow, before a distant shout, and figures running from the wood, told them that the theft had been discovered. "Lie down, Charlton," he said, "and you sit directly behind me," he added to the man. "It will be far better if they can only see one person in the trap. We don't want them to know that I helped you if it can be avoided." They reached the road; then turned to the right, so that the view was shut off from those behind. No one had seen them with the trap, and now Ralph reined in, and jumped down. "Come on!" he said. "Lord Elgert's pony must look after itself now. Quick, we must hurry!" "Where are you going to, Rexworth?" cried Charlton in surprise. "There is nowhere about here where father can hide." But Ralph answered with a smile, never slackening his pace as he spoke-- "Hurry up! There is one place--a safe place. I am going to Mr. St. Clive's." CHAPTER XXI A HOUSE OF REFUGE "To Mr. St. Clive's!" What wonder that the words filled Charlton with surprise. Ralph was surely risking a great deal in taking such a step. But Ralph knew Mr. St. Clive, and Charlton did not--and that made a great deal of difference. Besides, the case was desperate. Somewhere must be found in which to hide; and no other place offered, so to Mr. St. Clive's they went; and Ralph, leaving his two companions in the garden, went indoors by himself. But if the Charltons were surprised when Ralph announced his intention of going to Mr. St. Clive's, that gentleman was still more astonished when the lad told him of his adventures, and what he had done. "You know that you said, sir," Ralph concluded by saying--"that you always had a great idea that Mr. Charlton was innocent; and that if I were instrumental in getting him taken I might regret it all the rest of my life, and so I thought that you would be sure to sympathize with the poor man, and be ready to help him."