whole against them on one throw, after which, no matter what
the result, I take my departure. Are you agreed?"

There was a murmur of admiration from those present at the
recklessness and the generosity of the proposal, and Foster was
forced to accept it. Two more rings he drew forth, a diamond
from the ruffles at his throat, and a pearl that he wore in his
ear. The lot he set upon the board, and Crispin threw the
winning cast as the host entered to say that his horse was
ready.

He gathered the trinkets up, and with a polite word of regret
he was gone, leaving Mr. Harry Foster to meditate upon the
pledging of one of his horses to the landlord in discharge of
his lodging.

And so it fell out that before Cynthia had gone six miles along
the road to Denham, one of her attendants caught a rapid beat
of hoofs behind them, and drew her attention to it, suggesting
that they were being followed. Faster Cynthia bade them
travel, but the pursuer gained upon them at every stride.
Again the man drew her attention to it, and proposed that they
should halt and face him who followed. The possession of the
musketoon gave him confidence touching the issue. But Cynthia
shuddered at the thought, and again, with promises of rich
reward, urged them to go faster. Another mile they went, but
every moment brought the pursuing hoof-beats nearer and nearer,
until at last a hoarse challenge rang out behind them, and they
knew that to go farther would be vain; within the next
half-mile, ride as they might, their pursuer would be upon