The older man turned his head. Down fluttered a bit of bark close to young Lionel's feet. Down fluttered another. The young man looked up. Sally made a swift sign.
"I wonder which way is the wind," said Lionel; "the vane is just out of sight."
The man walked a few yards away toward a corner of the house.
"Don't look up," called Sally, in a loud whisper, "but Hotspur is here. Down in the dell to the right. Run! he is only lightly tied. The others will be at Pamunkey turnpike at noon."
The man was already turning back, and Sally was surprised and, ah! how greatly disappointed to see her Fairy Prince go quietly with him to the porch.
Did he not hear her? Did not he believe her? The days were such as to make men crafty, quick to catch an idea, swift to use it.
Aha! as the front door, heavy and thick, was reached and both were stepping in, Lionel gave the man a sudden push, sending him head-long into the hall; then he slammed to the door, and rushed like mad to the dell sloping off to the right.
In a moment the great door opened and the attendant and another man ran out, but almost the next instant Sally, straining her ears, heard the rush and sweep of a fleet horse that seemed to scud like the wind, and—her Fairy Prince was free!
"There he goes! And I helped him!" gasped Sally, hugging her own young breast and quivering in every limb.
The men looked right and left and listened, half deceived by the sound. At last, far down the road, they saw horse and man, but going at a pace it were mere folly to strive to overtake.