the bittermeads mystery-第3部分

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seemed　to　have　met　his　match。

In　vain　Dunn　tried　again　to　lift　his　adversary　up　so　that　he　might
hurl　him　to　the　ground。　　It　was　an　effort；　a　grip　that　seemed　as
though　it　might　have　torn　up　an　oak　by　the　roots；　but　the　other
neither　budged　nor　flinched　beneath　it。

And　in　vain；　in　his　turn；　did　he　try　to　bend　Dunn　backwards　to　crush
him　to　the　earth；　it　was　an　effort　before　which　one　might　have
thought　that　iron　and　stone　must　have　given　away；　but　Dunn　still
sustained　it。

Thus　dreadfully　they　fought；　there　in　the　darkness；　there　in　the
silence　of　the　night。

Dreadfully　they　wrestled；　implacable；　fierce；　determined；　every
primeval　passion　awake　and　strong　again；　and　slowly；　very　slowly；
that　awful　grip　laid　upon　the　big　man's　body　began　to　tell。
　
His　breathing　grew　more　difficult；　his　efforts　seemed　aimed　more
to　release　himself　than　to　overcome　his　adversary；　he　gave　way　an
inch　or　two；　no　more；　but　still　an　inch　or　two　of　ground。

There　was　a　sharp　sound；　like　a　thin；　dry　twig　snapping　beneath　a
careless　foot。

It　was　one　of　his　ribs　breaking　beneath　the　dreadful　and
intolerable　pressure　of　Dunn's　enormous　grip。　　But　neither　of　the
combatants　heard　or　knew；　and　with　one　last　effort　the　big　man　put
forth　all　his　vast　strength　in　a　final　attempt　to　bear　his　enemy
down。

Dunn　resisted　still；　resisted；　though　the　veins　stood　out　like
cords　on　his　brow；　though　a　little　trickle　of　blood　crept　from
the　corner　of　his　mouth　and　though　his　heart　swelled　almost　to
bursting。

There　was　a　sound　of　many　waters　in　his　ears；　the　darkness　all
around　grew　shot　with　little　flames；　he　could　hear　some　one
breathing　very　noisily　and　he　was　not　sure　whether　this　were　himself
or　his　adversary　till　he　realized　that　it　was　both　of　them。　　With
one　sudden；　almost　superhuman　effort；　he　heaved　his　great　adversary
up；　but　had　not　strength　enough　left　to　do　more　than　let　him　slip
from　his　grasp　to　fall　on　the　ground；　and　with　the　effort　he　himself
dropped　forward　on　his　hands　and　knees；　just　as　a　lantern　shone　at
a　distance　and　a　voice　cried：　

〃This　way；　Tom。　　Master　John；　Master　John；　where　are　you？〃



CHAPTER　III

A　COINCIDENCE


Another　voice　answered　from　near　by　and　Dunn　scrambled　hurriedly　to
his　feet。

He　had　but　a　moment　in　which　to　decide　what　to　do；　for　these　new
arrivals　were　coming　at　a　run　and　would　be　upon　him　almost　instantly
if　he　stayed　where　he　was。

That　they　were　friends　of　the　man　he　had　just　overthrown　and　whose
huge　bulk　lay　motionless　in　the　darkness　at　his　feet；　seemed　plain；
and　it　also　seemed　plain　to　him　that　the　moment　was　not　an　opportune
one　for　offering　explanations。

Swiftly　he　decided　to　slip　away　into　the　darkness。　　What　had
happened　might　be　cleared　up　later　when　he　knew　more　and　was　more
sure　of　his　ground；　at　present　he　must　think　first；　he　told　himself；
of　the　success　of　his　mission。

Physically；　he　was　greatly　exhausted　and　his　gait　was　not　so　steady
nor　his　progress　so　silent　and　skillful　as　it　had　been　before；　as
now　he　hurried　away　from　the　scene　of　the　combat。

But　the　two　new…comers　made　no　attempt　to　pursue　him　and　indeed　did
not　seem　to　give　his　possible　presence　in　the　vicinity　even　a
thought；　as　with　many　muttered　exclamations　of　dismay　and　anger；
they　stooped　over　the　body　of　his　prostrate　enemy。

It　was　evident　they　recognized　him　at　once；　and　that　he　was　the　〃Mr。
John'　whose　name　they　had　called；　for　so　they　spoke　of　him　to　each
other　as　they　busied　themselves　about　him。

〃I　expect　I've　been　a　fool　again；〃　Dunn　thought　to　himself　ruefully；
as　from　a　little　distance；　well…sheltered　in　the　darkness；　he
crouched　upon　the　ground　and　listened　and　watched。　　〃I　may　have
ruined　everything。　　Any　one　but　a　fool　would　have　asked　him　what　he
meant　when　he　hit　out　like　that　instead　of　flying　into　a　rage　and
hitting　back　the　way　I　did。　　Most　likely　it　was　some　mistake　when
he　said　he　knew　who　I　was　and　what　I　wanted　…　at　least　if　it
wasn't　…　I　hope　I　haven't　killed　him；　anyhow。〃

Secure　in　the　protection　the　dark　night　afforded　him；　he　remained
sufficiently　near　at　hand　to　be　able　to　assure　himself　soon　that
his　overthrown　adversary　was　certainly　not　killed；　for　now　he　began
to　express　himself　somewhat　emphatically　concerning　the　manner　in
which　the　two　new…comers　were　ministering　to　him。

Presently　he　got　to　his　feet　and；　with　one　of　them　supporting　him
on　each　side；　began　to　limp　away；　and　Dunn　followed　them；　though
cautiously　and　at　a　distance；　for　he　was　still　greatly　exhausted
and　in　neither　the　mood　nor　the　condition　for　running　unnecessary
risks。

The　big　man；　Mr。　John；　as　the　others　called　him；　seemed　little
inclined　for　speech；　but　the　others　talked　a　good　deal；　subsiding
sometimes　when　he　told　them　gruffly　to　be　quiet　but　invariably
soon　beginning　again　their　expressions　of　sympathy　and　vows　of
vengeance　against　his　unknown　assailant。

〃How　many　of　them　do　you　think　there　were；　Mr。　John；　sir？〃　one
asked　presently。　　〃I'll　lay　you　marked　a　fair　sight　of　the　villains。〃

〃There　was　only　one　man；〃　Mr。　John　answered　briefly。

〃Only　one？〃　the　other　repeated　in　great　surprise。　　〃For　the　Lord's
sake；　Mr。　John　…　only　one？　　Why；　there　ain't　any　one　man　between
here　and　Lunnon　town　could　stand　up　to　you；　sir；　in　a　fair　tussle。

〃Well；　he　did；〃　Mr。　John　answered。　　〃He　had　the　advantage；　he　took
me　by　surprise；　but　I　never　felt　such　a　grip　in　my　life。〃

〃Lor'；　now；　think　of　that；〃　said　the　other　in　tones　in　which
surprise　seemed　mingled　with　a　certain　incredulity。　　〃It　don't
seem　possible；　but　for　sure；　then；　he　don't　come　from　these　here
parts；　that　I'll　stand　to。〃

〃I　knew　that　much　before；〃　retorted　Mr。　John。　　〃I　said　all　the　time
they　were　outsiders；　a　London　gang　very　likely。　　You'll　have　to　get
Dr。　Rawson；　Bates。　　I　don't　know　what's　up；　but　I've　a　beast　of　a
pain　in　my　side。　　I　can　hardly　breathe。〃

Bates　murmured　respectful　sympathy　as　they　came　out　of　the　shelter
of　the　trees；　and　crossing　some　open　ground；　reached　a　road　along
the　further　side　of　which　ran　a　high　brick　wall。

In　this；　nearly　opposite　the　spot　where　they　emerged　on　the　road；
was　a　small　door　which　one　of　the　men　opened　and　through　which　they
passed　and　locked　it　behind　them；　leaving　Dunn　without。

He　hesitated　for　a　moment；　half…minded　to　scale　the　wall　and
continue　on　the　other　side　of　it　to　follow　them。

Calculating　the　direction　in　which　the　village　of　Ramsdon　must　lie；
he　turned　that　way　and　had　gone　only　a　short　distance　when　he　was
overtaken　by　a　pedestrian　with　whom　he　began　conversation　by　asking
for　a　light　for　his　pipe。

The　man　seemed　inclined　to　be　conversational；　and　after　a　few　casual
remarks；　Dunn　made　an　observation　on　the　length　of　the　wall　they
were　passing　and　to　the　end　of　which　they　had　just　come。

〃Must　be　a　goodish…sized　place　in　there；〃　he　said。　　〃Whose　is　it？〃

〃Oh；　that　there's　Ramsdon　Place；〃　the　other　answered。　　〃Mr。　John
Clive　lives　there　now　his　father's　dead。〃

Dunn　stood　still　in　the　middle　of　the　road。

〃Who？　　What？〃　he　stammered。　　〃Who　…　who　did　you　say？〃

〃Mr。　John　Clive；〃　the　other　repeated。　　〃Why　…　what's　wrong　about
that？〃

〃Nothing；　nothing；〃　Dunn　answered；　but　his　voice　shook　a　little
with　what　seemed　almost　fear；　and　behind　the　darkness　of　the
friendly　night　his　face　had　become　very　pale。　　〃Clive　…　John
Clive；　you　say？　　Oh；　that's　impossible。〃

〃Needn't　believe　it　if　you　don't　want　to；〃　grumbled　the　other。
〃Only　what　do　you　want　asking　questions　for　if　you　thinks　folks
tells　lies　when　they　answers　them？〃

〃I　didn't　mean　that；　of　course　not；〃　exclaimed　Dunn　hurriedly；　by
no　means　anxious　to　offend　the　other。　　〃I'm　very　sorry；　I　only　meant
it　was　impossible　it　should　be　the　same　Mr。　John　Clive　I　knew　once；
though　I　think　he　came　from　about　here　somewhere。　　A　little；
middle…aged　man；　I　mean；　quite　bald　and　wears　glasses？〃

〃Oh；　that　ain't　this　'un；〃　answered　the　other；　his　good　humour　quite
restored。　　〃This　is　a　young　man　and　tremendous　big。　　I　ain't　so
small　myself；　but　he　tops　me　by　a　head　and　shoulders　and　so　he　does
most　hereabouts。　　Strong；　too；　with　it；　there　ain't　so　many　would
care　to　stand　up　against　him；　I　can　tell　you。　　Why；　they　do　say　he
caught　two　poachers　in　the　wood　there　last　month　and　brought　'em　out
one　under　each　arm　like　a　pair　of　squealing　babes。〃

〃Did　he；　though？〃　said　Dunn。　　〃Take　some　doing；　that；　and　I　daresay
the　rest　of　the　gang　will　try　to　get　even　with　him　for　it。〃

〃Well；　they　do　say　as　there's　been　threats；〃　the　other　agreed。　　〃But
what　I　says　is　as　Mr。　John　can　look　after　hisself　all　right。　　There
was　a　tale　as　a　man　had　been　dodging　after　him　at　night；　but　all　he
said　when　they　told　him；　was　as　if　he　caught　any　one　after　him　he
would　thrash　them　within　an　inch　of　their　lives。〃

〃Serve　them　right；　too；〃　exclaimed　Dunn　warmly。

Evidently　this　explained；　in　part　at　least；　what　had　recently
happened。　　Mr。　Clive；　finding　himself　being　followed；　had　supposed
it　was　one　of　his　poaching　enemies　and　had　at　once　attempted　to
carry　out　his　threat　he　had　made。

Dunn　told　himself；　at　any　rate；　the　error　would　have　the　result　of
turning　all　suspicion　away　from　him；　and　yet　he　still　seemed　very
disturbed　and　ill　at　ease。

〃Has　Mr。　Clive　been　here　long？〃　he　asked。

〃It　must　be　four　or　five　years　since　his　father　bought　the　place；〃
answered　his　new　acquaintance。　　〃Then；　when　the　old　man　was　killed
a　year　ago；　Mr。　John　inherited　everything。〃

〃Old　Mr。　Clive　was　killed；　was　he？〃　asked　Dunn；　and　his　voice
sounded　very　strange　in　the　darkness。　　〃How　was　that？〃

〃Accident　to　his　motor…car；〃　the　other　replied。　　〃I　don't　hold　with
them　things　myself　…　give　me　a　good　horse；　I　say。　　People　didn't
like　the　old　man　much；　and　some　say　Mr。　John's　too　fond　of　taking
the　high　hand。　　But　don't　cross　him　and　he　won't　cross　you；　that's
his　motto　and　there's　worse。〃

Dunn　agreed　and　asked　one　or　two　more　questions　about　the　details
of　the　accident　to　old　Mr。　Clive；　in　which　he　seemed　very　interested。

But　he　did　not　get　much　more　information　about　that　concerning　which
his　new　friend　evidently　knew　very　little。　　However；　he　gave　Dunn　a
few　more　facts　concerning　Mr。　John　Clive；　as　that　he　was　unma