the black, crawling patch might appear at any
moment, "I am afraid we have hardly time for
afternoon calls."

" DoctorRenard's house is only three minutes
off," said the Colonel.

"Our danger," said Dr. Bull, "is not two minutes
off."

"Yes," said Syme, "if we ride on fast we must
leave them behind, for they are on foot."

"He has a motor-car," said the Colonel.

"But we may not get it," said Bull.

"Yes, he is quite on your side."

"But he might be out."

"Hold your tongue," said Syme suddenly.
"What is that noise?"

For a second they all sat as still as equestrian
statues, and for a second--for two or three or four
seconds--heaven and earth seemed equally still.
Then all their ears, in an agony of attention, heard
along the road that indescribable thrill and throb
that means only one thing--horses!

The Colonel's face had an instantaneous change,
as if lightning had struck it, and yet left it scathe-
less.

"They have done us," he said, with brief military
irony. "Prepare to receive cavalry!"

-201-