No doubt he had got into safety somewhere, perhaps in the cottage itself, where no one would dream of looking for him.

He stumbled along among the loose stones by the wall till he came to the place by the gate where it was broken down, and clambering up, for the gate was locked, made his way back through the shrubberies, and desolate remains of garden, towards the point near the house where Raymond had first broken cover.

As he came round a clump of bushes his heart gave a great leap, and then sank within him.
Three men were standing in the middle of the lawn in the moonlight, gathered round something on the ground.

Seized by a horrible misgiving, he hurried towards them.

At a little distance a dog-cart was being slowly led over the grass-grown drive towards the house.
"What is it?
Any one hurt ?" he asked, hoarsely, joining the little group; but as he looked he needed no answer.