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."
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 fountains, and well-kept walks, with great clumps of bushes and flowering shurbs well calculated for concealment. Into one of these they crept and were soon fast asleep.
It was late in the afternoon when they awoke, roused by the sound of laughter, and of the chatter of many voices.
