From that night he had set himself to discover the secret
of its location, had listened at windows and at keyholes, and had
once intercepted a letter from one to the other. By chance he had
discovered that the baby was carrying the secret in her locket,
and he had set himself to get it from her.
But his chance did not come. He could not make friends with her,
and at last, in despair of finding a better opportunity, he had
slipped into her room one night in the small hours to steal the
chain. But it was wound round her neck in such a way that he
could not slip it over her head. She had awakened while he was
fumbling with the clasp and had begun to cry. Hearing her mother
moving about in the next room, he had hastily carried the child
with him, mounted the horse waiting in the yard, and ridden away.
In the road he became aware, some time later, that he was being
pursued. This gave him a dreadful fright, for, as Bucky had
surmised, he thought his pursuer was Mackenzie. All night he rode
southward wildly, but still his follower kept on his trail till
near morning, when he eluded him. He crossed the border, but late
that afternoon got another fright.
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