The Black Moth

"The place I spoke of is but a short way on, miss," ventured the man,keeping his seat.

She paused.

"But why will these not suffice?"

"Well, miss, if you like. But those others were a deal finer. It seems apity not to get some."

Diana looked doubtfully along the road.

"'Tis not far?"

"No, miss; but another quarter of a mile, and then down the track by thewood."

Still she hesitated.

"I do not want to be late," she demurred.

"No, miss, of course not. I only thought as how we might come back byway of Chorly Fields."

"Round by the mill? H'm...."

"Yes, miss. Then as soon as we get past it there is a clear stretch ofturf almost up to the house."

Her eye brightened.

"A gallop? Very well! But let us hurry on."

She touched the cob with her heel, and they trotted on briskly out ofthe leafy canopy along the road with blue sky above and pasture landaround. After a little while the wood came in sight, and in a minutethey were riding down the track at right angles to the road. Harper wasat Diana's heels, drawing nearer. Half unconsciously she quickened herpace. There was not a soul in sight.

They were coming to a bend in the road, and now Harper was alongside.

Choking a ridiculous feeling of frightened apprehension, Diana drewrein.

"I do not perceive those berries!" she said lightly.

"No, miss," was the immediate response. "They are just a step into thewood. If you care to dismount here I can show you."

Nothing could be more respectful than the man's tone. Diana shook offher nervous qualms and slipped down. Harper, already on the ground, tookthe cob's rein and tied both horses to a tree.

Diana gathered her skirts over her arm and picked her way through thebrambles to where he had pointed.

The blackberry hedges he held back for her entrance swung back afterthey had passed, completely shutting out all view of the road. Therewere no berries.

Diana's heart was beating very fast, all her suspicions springing tolife again, but she showed no sign of fear as she desired him to holdthe brambles back again for her to pass out.

"For there are no berries here, as you can see for yourself."

She swept round and walked calmly towards the bushes.

Then, how she could never quite remember, she was seized from behind,and before she had time to move, a long piece of silk was flung over herhead and drawn tight across her mouth, while an arm, as of steel, heldand controlled her.

Fighting madly, she managed to get one arm free, and struck outfuriously with her slender crop. There was a brief struggle, and it wastwisted from her grasp, and her hands tied behind her, despite all herefforts to be free.

Then her captor swung her writhing into his arms, and strode awaythrough the wood without a word.

Diana was passive now, reserving her strength for when it might availher something, but above the gag her eyes blazed with mingled fright andfury. She noticed that she was being carried not into the wood, butalong it, and was not surprised when they emerged on to the road whereit had rounded the bend.

With a sick feeling of terror, she saw a coach standing in the road, andguessed, even before she knew, what was her fate. Through a haze she sawa man standing at the door, and then she was thrust into the coach andmade to sit down on the softly-cushioned seat. All her energies wereconcentrated in fighting against the faintness that threatened toovercome her. She won gradually, and strained her ears to catch what wasbeing said outside.