Part 70 (2/2)
Again they relapsed into silence
”Well!” exclai to do to-morrow?”
”Chase her till I find her,” replied Potts, savagely
”But where?”
”I've been thinking of a plan which seeood old plan,” said Potts ”Your pup, Johnnie, can help us”
John pounded his fist on the table with savage exultation
”My blood-hound! Good, old Dad, what a trump you are to think of that!”
”He'll do it!”
”Yes,” said John, ”if he gets on her track and comes up with her I'm a little afraid that we'll arrive at the spot just too late to save her
It's the best way that I know of for getting rid of the difficulty handsoh anxiety, and the dog is an innocent pup who comes with us; and if any disaster happens ill kill him on the spot”
Potts shook his headabout this
He was shaken to the soul at the thought of this stern, relentless girl carrying out into the world his terrific secret
Early on the following irl This time the servants were not employed, but the three themselves went forth to try what they could do With them was the ”pup” to which allusion had been e blood-hound, which John had purchased to take the place of his bull-dog, and of which he was extravagantly proud True to his instinct, the hound understood fro an article of Beatrice's apparel what it was that he was required to seek, and he went off on her trail out through the front door, down the steps, and up to the grove
The others followed after The dog led therove and through the underbrush Scraps of her dress still clung in places to the brushwood The dog led theht from Vijal
They all believed that they would certainly find her here, and that she had lost her way or at least tried to conceal herself But at last, to their disappointain Then he led theh the woods until he reached the Park wall Here the aniave a long deep howl
”What's this?” said Potts
”Why, don't you see? She's got over the wall so over, and follow on”
[Illustration: ”WHY, DON'T YOU SEE? SHE'S GOT OVER THE WALL SOMEHOW”]
The others at once understood that this must be the case In a short ti found the trail again, and led on while they followed as before
They did not, however, wish to see in a country of law and order They chose to walk rather slowly, and John held the dog by a strap which he had brought with hier than they had anticipated, and began to regret that they had not coone too far, however, to remedy this now, so they resolved to continue on their way as they were
”Gad!” said John, who felt fatigued first, ”what a walker she is!”
”She's the devil!” growled Clark, savagely
At last, after about three hours' walk, the dog stopped at a place by the road-side, and snuffed in all directions The others watched hi at the ground, but to no purpose