Part 19 (1/2)

”He--he looks like a gentleman,” spluttered Nesta

”Oh, shut up,” said Eustace ”Can't a gentle up the hill?”

His quick ears had caught the sound of hoofs, and glad of a pretext to change the subject he went and leant over the balcony

Nesta was at his side with a pounce

”Hulloa!” he shouted a few seconds later; ”here is so queer”

”What is it, Eustace?” called his mother froerly down the hill

Co up at a leisurely trot was a riderless horse--saddled, bridled, but alone

The watchful party waited in breathless astonishment till it was close to the house Then Eustace said sharply,--

”Mother, it's the horse Bob went away on this ! There's been some accident”

CHAPTER X

A VOICE FROM THE SCRUB

There could be no doubt about it, and every one stared blankly after the beautiful big creature as it passed on, round the house towards its own stable

”What can have happened?” Mrs Orban exclaimed ”Bob is such a splendid rider”

”Oh, he can't have been thrown, of course,” Eustace said, with an emphasis meant to impress Aunt Dorothy

”Perhaps it's black-fellows,” said Nesta shakily

”Stupid,” said Eustace sharply, ”Bob can shoot straighter than any one I know”

”Instead of wrangling over possibilities, we ought to be doing so,” said Mrs Orban ”Eustace, you had better fetch that horse and ride down to father at once Perhaps he will guess what it means”

Eustace was off like an arrow fro erect and fearless, riding the returned horse

He looked such a scrap perched up there that Miss Chase had a sudden qual down alone?” she asked

”All right?” questioned Mrs Orban, looking puzzled

”Yes; I oody, no!” Nesta answered with a laugh ”Why, Eustace can ride anything; he has ridden ever since he was six”

”Father ant to see the horse,” Mrs Orban said ”Perhaps it has only run away frohlands before it was stabled But I can't think what it has been doing in the interval, or why Bob has not sent over to inquire He ought to have got home by nine at latest”