THE NORTH COACH 311

“Well, Charlie, how have you succeeded?” Harry asked
as he sat down at the table.

“Could not be better, Harry, though I did not find out
where he puts up in London. However, that is of small
consequence. In the first place, I found out that our sus-
picions were right, and that the fellow is a highwayman,
and seems to be captain of a gang consisting anyhow of
three, and perhaps of more, fellows like himself. In the
second place, he intends with his three comrades to attack
the coach on Friday week, two or three miles out of town.
Nothing could better suit our purpose, even if we had
planned the affair ourselves. Of course we will be there.
If we can capture him while engaged in that work, we can
get anything out of him. He has either got to confess or
be hanged.”

“That is a stroke of good luck indeed,” Harry exclaimed.
“Tt will be rather difficult to manage, though. ‘The fel-
lows will be sure to be masked; and if we were to shoot
him instead of one of the others, it would be fatal.”

“Yes, that would be awkward. Besides,” Charlie said,
“even if we did recognize him and shot his horse, he might
jump up behind one of the other men, or might make off
across the country, and we might lose sight of him before
we could get down from the top of the coach to pursue.”

“It might be better if we were mounted instead of being
on the coach.”

“Better in some ways, Harry; but if they heard two
mounted men coming along beside the coach, they would
probably take the alarm and not attack at all; while, if we
were to keep a bit behind and ride up as soon as we heard
the firing—for they generally shoot one of the horses to
bring the coach to a stand-still—they might ride off as
soon as they heard the sound of the horses on the road.
Those fellows are splendidly mounted, their lives depend
upon it, and nothing we should be able to hire would be
likely to have a chance with them.”