Chapter 10 Part 1

Once out of sight of the church, I pressed forward briskly on my way to Nolesbury.

The road was, for the most part, straight and level.

Whenever I looked back over it, I saw the two spies steadily following me.

For the greater part of the way, they kept it a safe distance behind.

But once or twice they quickened their pace as if with the purpose of overtaking me, then

stopped, consulted together, and fell back again to their former position.

They had some special object evidently in view, and they seemed to be hesitating or differing

about the best means of accomplishing it.

I could not guess exactly what their design might be, but I felt serious doubts of reaching

Nolesbury without some mischance happening to me on the way.

These doubts were realized.

I had just entered on a lonely part of the road with a sharp turn at some distance ahead,

and had just concluded, calculating by time, that I must be getting near to the town,

when I suddenly heard the steps of the men close behind me.

Before I could look round one of them, the man by whom I had been followed in London,

passed rapidly on my left side, and hustled me with his shoulder.

I had been more irritated by the manner in which he and his companion had dogged my steps

all the way from old welding-ham, than I was myself aware of, and I unfortunately pushed

the fellow away smartly with my open hand.

He instantly shouted for help.

His companion, the tall man in the game-keepers' clothes, sprang to my right side, and the

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