In selecting Barnabas as an especial messenger to Darlington, Colonel Blood showed good judgment, for on more than one occasion the Jew had ridden eighty miles in ten hours.
But Ellen’s friends had also selected a swift messenger, and a much faster one than the Jew could ever prove to be.
The messenger was nothing else than a carrier pigeon.
In those days, when coaches were slow and letters unsafe for robbers, gentlemen always had by them a number of trained pigeons, who carried messages to and from their country seats.
When, therefore, Sir Richard had found out who Ellen Harmer really was, he wrote a note, sent Tim up to the dormer to catch a pigeon, and, having tied the note to its neck, he threw it off, and away it went with lightning speed to its favourite home—Darlington Hall.
Hence the Jew had not gone far on his journey, when the pigeon, with its important message, arrived at Darlington Hall.
It was speedily caught, and the note, as directed, was immediately delivered to Miller Harmer, and read thus:—
“My dear friend Harmer,—I am happy to inform you that, through the agency of my young scapegrace nephew, Ned Warbeck, we have discovered your daughter Ellen, who was abducted some time ago. Come up to town at once, as speedily as possible, for business of great importance demands it.
“Yours in haste,
“Richard Warbeck.
“P.S.—Do not, on any account, whisper a word of your business to any one, but maintain the strictest silence in the village and on the road. R. W.”