(finding himself too late) had skipped aside with some alacrity. At

another season, Sergeant Brand would have paid more attention to the

fact; but he was then immersed in the perils of his own predicament.

A carrier's cart?' said he, with a perceptible uncertainty of voice.

No, sir.'

'Ah!' said the portly gentleman, and stood aside to let the sergeant

pass. The lady appeared to bend forward and study the cart with every

mark of sharpened curiosity, the slimmer gentleman still keeping in the

rear.

'I wonder what the devil they would be at,' thought Sergeant Brand; and,

looking fearfully back, he saw the trio standing together in the midst

of the way, like folk consulting. The bravest of military heroes are

not always equal to themselves as to their reputation; and fear, on some

singular provocation, will find a lodgment in the most unfamiliar bosom.

The word 'detective' might have been heard to gurgle in the sergeant's

throat; and vigorously applying the whip, he fled up the riverside road

to Great Haverham, at the gallop of the carrier's horse. The lights of

the houseboat flashed upon the flying waggon as it passed; the beat of

hoofs and the rattle of the vehicle gradually coalesced and died away;

and presently, to the trio on the riverside, silence had redescended.

'It's the most extraordinary thing,' cried the slimmer of the two

gentlemen, 'but that's the cart.'

206

The Wrong Box