THE TABLES ARE TURNED
"Ralph! Oh, my son!" cried Mr. Rexworth, as he saw the peril in which
the brave lad stood. And the boy turned and looked at his father.
"I cannot hold on here much longer, father," he said. "I shall have to
drop, and take my chance with the dogs."
"Wait--wait a moment, Ralph!" answered the agonized man. "Let me get
down and attract their attention, and then you will have a chance."
"Don't, don't father," implored Ralph. "What chance will you have with
them with your arm hurt? I may manage it."
"I will do it," volunteered Mr. Charlton; "I am uninjured. You stay
here, sir."
"Don't either of you do it!" cried Ralph, shifting his position a
little so as to avoid the smoke if he could. "I am going to try and
creep back a bit. I may find a better place."
"It is useless, Ralph," was his father's answer. "The wall is cracking
behind you. I can see the smoke coming through. Oh, if we only had a
rope!"
"A rope!" cried Mr. Charlton. "If a rope can aid in such an extremity,
I can supply that; for I have kept a long one on my person in case I
might be in need of it to escape from my own enemies."
As he spoke he threw off his coat and waistcoat, and there, wound round
his body, was a long but fine line, one quite long enough to serve the
purpose of reaching to where Ralph clung, though he could not see of
what avail it would be.
But Mr. Rexworth saw. And, shouting to Ralph to keep up his courage and
to look out, he threw one end of the rope--not to the boy--but up over
another branch of the tree that was some height above them. Then he
caught this end as it fell, and gave the other to Mr. Charlton, bidding
him give one turn round the trunk and hold on with all his might. The
other end he whirled round his head, and, with practised aim, he sent
it to Ralph, who gripped at it with one hand, having to risk falling to
earth as he did so.
[Illustration: "WITH PRACTISED AIM, HE SENT THE ROPE TO RALPH, WHO
GRIPPED IT WITH ONE HAND." p. 287]
But, having got it, the rest was easy. He was able to swing across that
fiery gulf which separated him from safety, and the next moment was
safely beside his father, while the dogs ran to the tree and leaped
against its trunk in vain rage. And almost at that moment the wall to
which he had been clinging collapsed and fell in fiery ruin. A few
moments sooner, and it would have carried the brave boy with it to his
death.
Safe so far, but still held prisoners by those dogs; and still with
the flame and smoke blowing upon them. If the walls fell in their
direction death might claim them after all.
"If we only had some weapon to beat these brutes off with," said Mr.
Charlton, as he looked down. But Mr. Rexworth replied--
"We had better remain here. The fire is sure to be seen, and help will
arrive soon."
Help! Yes, help for Ralph and his father. But what would that help mean
to poor Mr. Charlton--what but being taken prisoner again? He sighed,
but said nothing. He had done his best to help the boy who had helped
him, and if that must be the price paid he would pay it.
But Ralph had little idea of remaining perched in a tree. He saw that
there was a weapon, and one which, in skilful hands, would prove very
effective--one which he excelled in the use of.
The rope was coiled in his hands, and a running noose was formed at
one end. He crawled far out on the branch, and got a firm hold with
his legs; then he gave his rope a whirl, and sent it flying downwards.
And soon one of those great dogs was jerked into mid-air, and when it
touched earth again it was dead--its neck was broken.
They hauled it up and loosened the noose, letting the body fall heavily
to the earth. And ere long the second animal had shared its fate, and
there was nothing to hinder them from descending.
Nothing! No, that was not quite right. There was a desperate man, who
had remained hidden, to see the result of his wicked work--a man whose
face was dark with wrath, and whose heart was maddened with fear. For
if these escaped unscathed, it meant the ruin of everything for him.
Mr. Charlton and Ralph had helped Mr. Rexworth to the ground, and
either from weakness, or from the reaction of feeling, Mr. Rexworth
staggered and sunk half swooning at the foot of the tree; while the
other two bent over him anxiously.
That was the chance. Lord Elgert and his brutal follower suddenly
dashed from the shelter of the trees and rushed upon them. The man was
armed with a rugged stick, and Lord Elgert had a heavily-loaded whip.
It seemed as if the others were at their mercy; but Ralph's quick
ear caught the sound of their approach, and with a cry of warning he
started up. The others were almost upon them, and they were unarmed.
The lad glanced around; at his feet one of the dead dogs lay; he seized
it, he put out all his strength, and sent the heavy body direct at the
pair, who, quite unprepared for such an unexpected assault, received it
full in their faces.
The man fell heavily, Lord Elgert turned and fled. And Ralph, with an
eager cry, darted after him, rope in hand. The man who had treated his
father thus should not escape him now.
But now through the growth there came the crashing of heavy bodies,
and loud shouts were raised. The fire had attracted attention, and
people were rushing from Crab Tree village to see what was the cause.
And not only villagers, but policemen--policemen who had patiently
waited and watched, feeling sure that the man they wanted was still
hiding in the locality. It was a constable who grabbed hold of Ralph's
arm, and, pulling him up with a sudden jerk, demanded what he was doing
and what had occasioned the fire.
Ralph struggled. It was maddening to think that he was stopped while
Lord Elgert was escaping. He did not stop to think that escape was next
to impossible. He was accustomed to the ways of the wild plains, and
there, if a man once got away, it was almost certain that no one would
catch him again.
"It was Lord Elgert who did it, and he is running away!" he cried. "My
father is there. You know how he was missing, and we thought he had
been murdered. Lord Elgert had him. He is here."
"Whatever are you talking about, young man?" the constable demanded,
perplexed at such a dramatic statement. But the sergeant, who had come
up with a horse-constable interposed--
"Don't stand there talking, man, see what is amiss!" The constable had
let go of Ralph, and the mounted man had jumped from his horse. Ralph
caught sight of a trap being driven at full speed over the moor. He
had no need to ask who was in that. Lord Elgert was making good his
escape. With a shout of anger and defiance, Ralph had sprung into the
empty saddle and was off before a single man there could get over his
surprise and hinder him.
"There he goes, there he goes!" he shouted, pointing after the trap.
"That is Lord Elgert, but I will ride him down!" And away he went,
leaving the men open-mouthed.
They found the two dead dogs, they found Mr. Rexworth, and alas! they
found poor, patient Mr. Charlton. He might have attempted to escape,
but he would not leave the injured man. Besides, it was no use now;
there was nowhere else to hide, and he must be taken sooner or later.
And after the galloping mare went Ralph, riding hard. It was
like the old life once more--this wild gallop. He had ridden the
half-wild broncho steeds of Texas, and he had no difficulty with this
well-trained horse.
On he went; on, on, near and nearer to the flying man in front. He
saw Lord Elgert look back at him. A man against a boy! Surely the man
need have no fear in such a contest! And yet Lord Elgert did fear. He
had feared this boy from the very first time he had seen him in Stow
Wood. He had feared him from the moment Ralph had cut that bullet
from the tree, and from the time when he had heard him declare that
he would never rest until he had solved the mystery of his father's
disappearance. That mystery was solved, all his wicked devices were
brought to naught, and now he was fleeing for life and for liberty,
being hunted just as he had made the police hunt Mr. Charlton. The
tables were being turned indeed!
Nearer and nearer Ralph drew, and fiercer and more cruelly did the
man lash the sides of his faithful little mare. Ralph stood up in his
stirrups, and Lord Elgert looked at him over his shoulder. The boy had
the rope in his hands. Ah, the very first thing he did when he had come
to the place was to rope his black bull! Now he was going to serve him
in the same way--to serve him as he had served the two dogs!
Lord Elgert saw the arm of the boy sweep round his head, and he ducked.
But Ralph had not aimed at him, he had a better plan than that. The
noose settled over the little mare. Ralph pulled up, and braced himself
for the shock which he knew would follow--a shock which nearly pulled
him from his saddle. The mare went down, the trap was shattered,
and Lord Elgert, totally unprepared--not even looking where he was
going--was sent flying through the air to fall heavily, striking his
temple against a rugged stump.
Ralph was at the spot in a moment. The man was stunned and at his
mercy. The rope had done its duty as a lasso, and was now used to bind
Lord Elgert. Ralph felt no remorse or compunction about that. He must
take this man to his father, and his father must declare what should
next be done.
"He isn't much hurt," he muttered; "nor are you, you poor thing," he
added, turning to the plunging mare. "There you are"--as he cut her
free from the ruin of the trap. "Now I reckon that you can find your
own way home, and, in the meantime, I will wait here."
He placed his hands to his mouth, and gave his old wild call, and from
the distance it was answered by his father. They would soon be here
now. Ralph tethered the horse, and seated himself on the grass. Lord
Elgert opened his eyes, and looked at him with an expression of the
deepest hate; but Ralph little heeded that. His father was safe, and
that was all he thought of then. Ralph Rexworth felt happier at that
moment than he had done for many a day, and, paying no attention to his
fallen foe, save to take care that he did not get free, he waited until
the police, people, and Mr. Rexworth arrived upon the scene. Yes, the
tables were turned now; and had he but known it, they were turned at
school also.