"Yessir?"
"Ye see that mare? I want ye to ride her home. Can ye do it?"
"Yessir!"
"I doubt it," murmured Jack.
So did Jenny. She refused point blank to allow this stranger to mounther. Her master had left her in one spot, and there she would standuntil he chose to bid her move. In vain did the groom coax and coerce.She ran round him and seemed a transformed creature. She laid her earsflat and gnashed at the bit, ready to lash out furiously at the firstopportunity.
Jack watched the man's futile struggles with the ghost of a smile abouthis lips.
"Jenny!" he said quietly, and O'Hara looked round at him sharply,frowning. Unconsciously, he had spoken naturally, and the voice wasfaintly familiar.
Jenny twitched the bridle from the perspiring groom and minced up to theprisoner.
"Would ye allow me to have a hand free--sir?" he asked. "Mebbe I canmanage her."
Without a word Miles released him, and he caught the bridle, murmuringsomething unintelligible to the now quiet animal.
O'Hara watched the beautiful hand stroke her muzzle reassuringly, andfrowned again. No ordinary highwayman this.
"Mount her now, will 'ee?" Jack flung at the groom, and kept a warninghand on the rein as the man obeyed. With a final pat he turned away."She'll do now, sir."
O'Hara nodded.
"Ye've trained her well. Get in, please."
Jack obeyed, and in a minute or two O'Hara jumped in after him, and thecoach began to move forward.
For a while there was silence, Carstares keeping himself well undercontrol. It was almost unbearable to think that after this brief driv
ehe would never set eyes on his friend again, and he wanted so badly toturn and grasp that strong hand....
Miles turned in his seat and tried to see the masked face in thedarkness.
"Ye are a gentleman?" he asked, going straight to the point.
Jack was prepared for this.
"Me, sir? Lor' no, sir!"
"I do not believe ye. Don't be forgettin' I've seen your hands!"
"Hands, sir?" in innocent bewilderment.
"Sure, ye don't think I'd be believing ye an ordinary rogue, with handslike that?"
"I don't rightly understand ye, sir?"
"Bejabers then, ye'll be understanding me tomorrow!"
"To-morrow, sir?"
"Certainly. Ye may as well tell me now as then. I'm not such a daft foolas I look, and I know a gentleman when I see one, even an he does growlat me as you do!" he chuckled. "And I'd an odd feeling I knew ye when yespoke to the mare. I'd be loth to send a friend to the gallows."
How well Jack knew that soft, persuasive voice. His hands clenched as heforced himself to answer:
"I don't think I've ever seen ye afore, sir."