CHAPTER XVII

THE NORTH COACH

ARNET was then, as now, a somewhat straggling place.
Soon after entering it the horseman turned off from the
main road. His pursuers were but fifty yards behind him,
and they kept him in sight until, after proceeding a quarter
of a°mile he stopped at a small tavern, where he dis-
mounted, and a boy took his horse and led it round by the
side of the house.

“Run to earth!” Harry said exultantly. “He is’ not
likely to move from there to-night.”

“At any rate he is safe for a couple of hours,” Charlie
said. “So we will go to our inn and have a good meal.
By that time it will be quite dark, and we will have a look
at the place he has gone into; and if we can’t learn any-
thing we must watch it by turns till midnight. We will
arrange at the inn to hire a horse. One will be enough,
He only caught a glimpse of us at that inn, and certainly
would not recognize one of us if he saw himalone. The
other can walk.”

“But which way, Charlie? He may go back again.”

“Tt is hardly likely he came here merely for the pleasure
of stopping the night at that little tavern. I have no doubt
he is bound for London. You shall take the horse, Harry,

and watch until he starts, and then follow him, just manag-
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