The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 398: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XXXII THE JOLLY WAGONER — FRESH PERILS ~ We must now return to Sir Douglas Huntingdon, who was destined this night to pass through so many strange and perilous adventures. At the moment he bounded forth from the hut in the manner already described, he knew full well that pursuit would be instantaneous. Accordingly, instead of rushing away straight ahead and plunging into the thicket in the direction of the road, he at once passed around to the back of the cottage and there posted himself, remaining as still and motionless as a statue. At the same time he heard his pursuers rushing forth from the door on the other side of the building; and as they at once made for the road, the baronet had reason to congratulate himself on the success of his manceuvre. Not for an instant did the ruffians suspect that he had remained so near; and not only were they thus thrown completely off the right scent, but they could hear nothing, not a footfall amongst the dried leaves, nor the snapping of a twig, to mark the course which the fugitive baronet might have taken. Having suffered several minutes to elapse, Sir Douglas Huntingdon stole away from the vicinity of the cottage; and securing about his person the knife which he had brought with him, he proceeded at random through the intense blackness of the night. The reader will therefore understand that Sir Douglas was now advancing in the very opposite direction from that which his pursuers had taken; and while they had become engaged in the adventure of the overturned coach, as already stated, the object of their search was speeding across the fields toward a light that glimmered in the distance. Cheered by the appearance of this ray, which he hoped 376 CONNIE OO KS (E(0)