It was on the night of the third day, and they were in the last stage of the journey.
They were going slowly down that terrible mountain pass, leading to the village of Blackville. The road was even unusually difficult and dangerous, and the night was very dark, so that the coachman was driving slowly and carefully, when suddenly the bits of the leaders were seized and the coach stopped.
In some alarm the bailiffs thrust their heads out of the side windows to the right and left, to see what the obstacle might be.
To their horror and amazement they found it surrounded by half a score of highwaymen, armed to the teeth.
CHAPTER X.
THE NIGHT ATTACK ON THE COACH.
| "The sound of hoof, the flash of steel, |
| The robbers round her coming." |
"The road robbers, by all that's devilish!" gasped Jones, falling back in his seat.
"Good gracious!" cried Smith.