Then Sir Charles saw he had offended a vindictive blackguard.
He sank back in his seat, and a cold chill crept over him.
Just then they passed a little clump of fir-trees.
In a moment there rushed out of these trees a number of men in crape masks, stopped the horses, surrounded the carriage, and opened it with brandishing of bludgeons and life-preservers, and pointing of guns.
CHAPTER XXX.
A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.
The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.
“Hand him out here, you scoundrels!”
“Yes! yes! Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?”