"Or, stay, I will go myself."
He ran out of the hall, and in a few moments returned.
"The horse has not been brought back," he cried; "there must be
something wrong."
"Stop," cried the squire; "pray, my dear Mr. Douglas Dale, do not let
us give way to unnecessary alarm. There may be no cause whatever for
fear or agitation. If Mr. Dale was summoned away from the hunt to
attend the bed of a dying parishioner, he would be the last man to
think of sending his horse home, or to count the hours which he devoted
to his duty."
"But he would surely send a messenger here to prevent the alarm which
his absence would be likely to cause amongst us all," replied Douglas;
"do not let us deceive ourselves, Mr. Mordaunt. There is something
wrong--an accident of some kind has happened to my brother. Andrews,
order fresh horses to be saddled immediately. If you will ride one way,
squire, I will take another road, first stopping in the village to make
all possible inquires there. Reginald, you will help us, will you not?"
"With all my heart," answered Reginald, with energy, but in a voice
which was thick and husky.
Douglas Dale looked at his cousin, startled, even in the midst of his
excitement, by the strange tone of Reginald's voice.
"Great heavens! how ghastly pale you look, Reginald!" he cried; "you
apprehend some great misfortune--some dreadful accident?"
"I scarcely know," gasped the baronet; "but I own that I feel
considerable alarm--the--the river--the current was so strong after the
thaw--the stream so swollen by melted snow.
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