“What—are you sure?”
“I’ve asked them all. All the others have come. I expect he’ll get pretty drenched if he’s lost his way.”
“He can’t have lost the way—it’s too simple. What was he doing at the abbey when you last saw him?”
“Going after owls,” said Dig.
“Where?”
“On the big window. We got to the top, you know; and I came down as soon as I saw you all starting; and he shouted that he would be down in a second, and was going to walk home; and we weren’t to wait. I say, I wonder if he’s got stuck up there, or come a cropper?”
Dig’s face was pale as the thought flashed across his mind. Railsford was not a bit less concerned.
“Go quickly and see if Mr Roe has sent away his trap, and, if not, keep it. If it has gone, go to Jason’s and get one directly, Oakshott.”
In five minutes the baronet returned.
“I can’t get a trap anywhere,” said he dismally, “but I’ve got Jason to send a horse.”