He hardly knew what he said, as he doffed his hat, and exclaimed--
"Madam, you are pursued."
"Pursued!" Both at once looked back.
"There's time," said Steadfast; "but Smith Hopkins said one of the
shoes was Worcester make, and he is gone to fetch the constable and
raise the hue-and-cry."
"And you are a loyal--I mean an honest lad--come to warn us," said
the groom.
"Yes, sir. I think, if you will trust me, they can be put off the
track."
"Trusty! Your face answers for you. Eh, fair Mistress Jane?"
"Sir, it must be as you will."
"This way then, sir," said Steadfast, who was off his own horse by
this time, and leading it into a rough track through a thicket whence
some timber had been drawn out in the summer.
"They will see where we turned off," whispered the lady.
"No, ma'am, not unless you get off the hard ground. Besides they
will go on the way to Breakneck Hill. Hark! I hear a hallooing.
Not near--no--no fear, madam."
They were by this time actually hidden from the common by the
copsewood, and the distant shouts of the hue-and-cry kept all silent
till they were fairly out beyond it, not far from Stead's own fields.
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