CHAPTER XXII.
IN WHICH THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF FAST TRAVELLING.
Meantime Philip was wandering about the edge of the woods, with a ramrod in his hand, looking for an apple-tree.
As there could be no such trees in the woods except those that had been planted around the house,—which had disappeared so long ago that even the clearing in which it had stood had grown up,—it is not to be supposed that Phil’s search could be crowned with much success; but still he kept on, peering about the trees and bushes until he had wandered some distance from the junction of the roads.
It was at this time that Emile Touron, driving northward in the grocer’s buggy, had nearly reached the point which Phil had appointed for the meeting of Chap and himself.
Seeing a horse grazing by the roadside, Emile drew up, and then stopped. Looking at the horse intently, he recognized him as Jouncer, of whom he had made several careful studies during his visit to Hyson Hall.
Apprehension of danger immediately seized him. If that horse were here, the boys could not be far off.
He turned his buggy in the road, the wheels making but little noise in the soft dust, and was about to drive back again, when he caught sight of Phil’s gun leaning against a tree. Farther up the road he saw Phil—some two or three hundred feet away, with his back towards him.
Drawing up the horse, Emile threw the reins around the dashboard, stepped lightly from the buggy, and stealthily approaching the tree, he seized the gun. Raising the hammers, he saw that the gun was capped, and ready to fire.
Now he felt like another person. Seeing neither Chap nor his horse, he quickly concluded that that individual had gone away somewhere, and that Phil was waiting for him. He had been afraid to meet his armed enemies, but now the tables were turned. All his rage and vindictiveness boiled up afresh, and, going out into the road, with the gun in his hand, he gave a yell.