Notwithstanding the hour she saw a light at its windows.
A murmured thanksgiving escaped her lips.
“Almost there!” she exclaimed.
A minute later she rode furiously into the yard.
Reining up her foam-flecked horse in front of the door she sprang from the saddle just as her grandfather appeared in the doorway with a light in his hand.
“What has happened?” he cried, excitedly.
“I am pursued! Oh, save me!” she panted, falling exhausted on the threshold.
With a cry almost human the steed she had ridden staggered forward and fell at the old man’s feet in the throes of death!
At the same instant the horsemen dashed upon the scene.
“What, ho! there!” cried the leader. “It is a long race that has no end!”