and, judging from the guns, we cannot be more than ten or twelve miles
away. It will not do to go back along this road, for the fellows we have
got away from may strike it below us and follow it up. Let us go forward
along it till we meet a side road, and take that."

Ten minutes' walking brought them to a point where a side road came in,
and, taking this, they walked steadily on. They passed two or three
villages, which the moonlight enabled them to see before they reached
them; these they avoided by a detour, as the dogs would be sure to arouse
the inhabitants, and it was only in a solitary abode that they had a
chance of being sheltered. Toward morning they saw ahead a building of
considerable size, evidently the abode of a person of consequence. It was
not fortified; but behind it was a large inclosure, with high walls.

"I vote we climb over that wall, Ned; there are several trees growing
close up to it. If they hunt the country round for us they will never look
inside there; and I expect that there is a garden, and we are sure to find
a hiding-place. Then, if the owner comes out, we can, if he looks a decent
chap, throw ourselves on his hands."

"I think that a good idea, Dick; the sooner we carry it out the better,
for in another half-hour day will be breaking."

[Illustration: A TIGER STOOD, WITH ONE OF THE GUARDS IN HIS MOUTH,
GROWLING FIERCELY.]

They made a detour round to the back of the building, and after some
search found a tree growing close enough to the wall to assist them. This
they climbed, got along a branch which extended over the top of the wall,
and thence dropped into the garden. Here there were pavilions and