It was a long drop, but he intended taking it. He swung one leg over the
sill as some one came up the stairs.
It was Sparling.
"Why are all the lights out?" he exclaimed. "Who's there?" for there was
light enough from the hall for him to see Drake dimly.
"All right; it's I," said Drake quietly. "Turn up the lights. There are
burglars. Don't shout; you'll frighten the ladies. Get the bicycle lamp
from my room--quick!"
Sparling tore into the room, and came dashing out with the lamp, and,
with trembling hands, lit it.
"Drop it down to me when I call," said Drake. "I'll risk its going out.
Then get some of the men and search the grounds. And--mind!--no
frightening the ladies!"
Then he lowered himself, dropped, and called up. He caught the lamp,
which was still alight, and covering the glass with his hand, ran in the
direction the men had taken; and as he ran he buttoned his dress coat
over the big patch of white made by his wide shirt front.
He had stalked big game often enough to be aware that his only chance of
tracking the thieves lay in his following them quietly and unseen, and
he ran on tiptoe, and keeping as much as possible among the shrubs as he
went, his ears and eyes strained attentively, he endeavored to put
himself in their place.
"Yes," he muttered, "they'll make for the road, where there'll be a trap
waiting for them--or bicycles; but which part of the road?"
The park fence was high, but easily climbable by an experienced burglar,
and they might make for it at any point; presumably the nearest.
By this time he was cool enough, but extremely angry; and he blamed
himself for falling so easily into the string trap. What he ought to
have done----At this point in his futile reflections he stopped and
listened, not for the first time, and he fancied he heard a rustling
among the trees in front of him. He ran on as softly as possible, and
presently saw a figure--one only--going swiftly in the direction of the
lodge.
Drake understood in a moment; one man had gone to bring the vehicle near
the gates, and this other man was waiting for it.
Up to this instant Drake had given no thought to the fact that he was
pursuing two men, desperate, and, no doubt, armed, while he had no kind
of weapon upon him. But now he smiled with a grim satisfaction as he saw
that he had only one man to deal with.