He took a little electric torch from his pocket and stooped down in the road. In less than a dozen seconds he was back in the driving seat.
'By Royston,' he whispered. 'I fancy, somehow, we are gaining on him.'
They tore onwards along the narrow but lonelier road. Once, on a distant hillside far in front, they caught the flash of a light. Lavendale gave a little whoop of triumph.
'We shall get him,' he cried fiercely. 'We've twenty miles of road like this to Royston.'
The excitement of the chase began to tell on both of them. Suzanne, sitting close to the side of the car, leaned a little forward, her eyes bright, her hair wind-tossed, her cheeks flushed, breathless all the time with the lashing of their speed-made wind. Lavendale sat like a figure of wood, leaning a little over his wheel, his hands rigid, his whole frame tense with the strain. Once more they saw the light, this time a little nearer. Then they skidded crossing an unexpected railway track, took a few seconds to right themselves, and the light shot ahead. They passed through Royston and shot up the hill, scarcely slackening speed. It was a little before moonlight now, and the heath stretching away on their left seemed like some silent and frozen sea on which the mists rested lightly. Suddenly a little cry broke from Lavendale's lips, his foot crushed down upon the brakes. In front of them, by the side of the road, was the other car, disabled, its left wheel missing, the driving seat empty. They came to a standstill within a few feet of it and Lavendale leapt lightly out. Lying with his head upon the grass was the driver. Lavendale bent rapidly over him.
'The front wheel must have shot off and pitched him forward,' he explained to Suzanne. 'I'm afraid he is hurt. You'd better go and sit in the car.'
Then the woman he had seen nothing of blazed out from the girl by his side.
'Do not be foolish,' she cried fiercely. 'He is alive, is he not? Quick! Search him!'
Lavendale for a moment was staggered. He was feeling for the man's heart.
'What is the life or death of such as he!' she continued, almost savagely. 'Search him, I say!'