“He rode a dark horse and——”
“But when I saw him he was afoot, captain,” interrupted one of his followers. “His horse must have played out.”
“You are sure he was coming this way?”
“As certain as I am that I am looking at you.”
“Then he can’t be far off. Are you sure you have not seen him, Miss Morland?”
“I might have seen him and not have known him,” she replied evasively. “Come to think of it a young man did pass near the house this morning. He was quite tall, and wore a citizen’s suit with a black, slouched hat. That much I noticed.”
“He is our man!” cried Captain Dermot, excitedly. “Come on, boys. We shall soon overtake him.”
“Hold on, captain!” exclaimed the flaxen-haired soldier who had ridden nearer to the house than any of the others, “here is something that tells a story if I’m not mistaken.”
As he spoke he raised on the point of his gun where it had lain by the door a fine silk handkerchief.
Mara uttered a low exclamation of dismay.