Jack Haydons Quest | Page 4

"That shows frightful skill and cunning, Colonel," said Dr. Lawrence.
"It does indeed," said the other, "and I could relate a dozen such stories.
But why Thugs should be here and attack Haydon seems a most
extraordinary mystery. How do you feel now, Haydon?"
"Much better, sir," replied Jack. "My throat's a bit stiff, but for the rest I
am none the worse."
"You've had a wonderful escape, my boy," said Colonel Keppel; "there
are not many who have felt a Thug noose and lived to say what it was
like. But now, Doctor, what are we to do? There must be some inquiry
made into this."
"Of course, of course," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "You are a magistrate,
Colonel; what do you recommend?"
"We must put it into the hands of the police at once," said Colonel
Keppel. "The fellows cannot have got far. We saw no sign of them on
the road, so they must have slipped away over the heath, very probably
as soon as they heard the sound of wheels in the distance. Now,
Haydon, jump up at the back of the trap. The cob will soon run us up to
the constable's cottage in Rushmere."
All three climbed into the Colonel's dog-cart, and away went the brown
cob at a slashing pace for Rushmere. Tom Buck, the Rushmere
constable, was just returning from a round, and he touched his hat

respectfully to the gentlemen. Colonel Keppel told the story, and Buck
slapped the gate-post with his open hand.
"Well, gentlemen," he said in surprise, "then they are the very men I've
just been hearing about."
"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel. "Where have you heard of them?"
"From Parsons, the postman, he drives the mail-cart, you know, sir,
from Longhampton. This morning, just after six, he was coming
through the Chase, the wood beyond the heath, when two men slipped
out o' the trees before him and made a dash at the horse's head. There
was hardly light enough to see 'em, an' they'd ha' stopped him as easy
as could be if he hadn't been drivin' a young, fresh, chestnut mare. She's
that wild he daren't use a whip to her, but seein' these suspicious
characters, he snatches the whip out and gives her a cut as hard as he
could lay it on. Off she went like a shot, took the bit between her teeth
and bolted. As for the men jumpin' at her head, it was all they could do
to save themselves from being run down and trodden underfoot.
Parsons luckily managed to keep her on the road, and after she'd
galloped a couple o' miles or so, he managed to pull her in all of a
lather."
"Then those rascals meant to raid the mail-bags to find your letter,
Haydon," said Colonel Keppel. "They seem to have been thoroughly
posted as to its time of arrival. Missing the postman, they hung about,
and a strange chance delivered you into their hands."
"It's certainly a most mysterious business, sir," replied Jack. "But why
they should want to see so simple and ordinary a letter, who they are,
and what they're after, are altogether beyond me."
"We must try to get hold of them," said Colonel Keppel, "then we shall
perhaps be able to fathom the mystery." He gave orders to Buck, who
went off at once to follow, if possible, the track of the strangers across
the heath, to inquire at cottages, and do his utmost to trace them.
"For my part," said Colonel Keppel, "I shall drive back at once to

Longhampton, and see the superintendent. The railway must be
watched, and every constable for miles round be warned by telegraph
to keep a look out for the rascals."
"You are very kind to take so much trouble, Colonel," said Dr.
Lawrence.
"I'm working for myself as much as anyone," laughed the other. "My
wife and daughters use that road continually, and very often they are
driving alone in a pony-carriage. It is imperative that the
neighbourhood be cleared of such desperate characters."
He drove away at once, and Dr. Lawrence and Jack walked up the hill
to the school. Jack had given up the idea of his visit to Longhampton.
"If I were you, Haydon," said the Head, "I should go and rest a little.
Sit down quietly in your study for an hour or two; you must feel badly
shaken by your awful experience."
"Thank you, sir," replied Jack, "I will do as you say, though as a matter
of fact I am practically recovered now. Luckily, I'm in first-rate
condition, I'm not bothered with nerves."
"No," smiled Dr. Lawrence, "I suppose not. Still, I should be careful for
a time if I were you."
At the Doctor's gate they parted, and