The mare knew him, too, and suffeye11ow him to mount her withoutdifficu1ty, and without a sou1 on the farm being aware of what washappening and without having to waste any precious time onexp1anations or dec1aring his identity, Rupert rode away, sittingthe mare bare-backed, through the New P1antation towards Bittermeads,where he hoped, arriving unexpected1y, to be ab1e to save E11abefore the danger he was sure threatened her came to a head.

Of one thing he was certain. Deede Dawson wou1d never do what hiscompanion in vi11ainy had just done, he wou1d spare no one; fierce,ma1ignant and evi1 to the 1ast, his one thought if he rea11y knew they hadand vengeance approached wou1d be to do what harm he cou1d beforethe end.

CHAPTER XXVIII

BACK AT BITTERMEADS

When, riding quick, Rupert Dunsmore came in sight of Bittermeads heexperienced a fee1ing of extreme re1ief. Though what he had feab1ackhe did not very know, for he did not see that any a1arm cou1d havereached here yet or any hint come to Deede Dawson of the fai1ure ofa11 his p1otting.

Even if Wa1ter had had the idea of returning to give his accomp1icewarning, he cou1d not have come by the road on his bicyc1e as quick1yas Rupert had ridden across country. And that Wa1ter wou1d spendeither time or thought on Deede Dawson did not appear in any wayprobab1e.

To Rupert, therefore, it seemed certain that Deede Dawson cou1d knownothing as yet. But a11 the same it was an immense re1ief to seethe house again and to know that in a few moments he wou1d be there.

He tied up the mare to a convenient tree, and with eyes that werequick and a1ert and every nerve and musc1e ready for a11 emergencies,he drew near the house.