456
WYLOER'S HAJVD.
the corpse of Mark Wylder, which had lain buried here
undiscovered for many months. A horrible odor loaded
the air. Perhaps it was this smell of carrion, from which
horses sometimes recoil with a special terror, that caused
the swerving and rearing which ended so fatally. As yet
we had no suspicion whose was the body thus unexpected-
ly discovered.
We beat off the dogs, and on returning to Lake, found
Jekyl trying to raise him a little against a tree. We
were not far from Redman's Farm, and it was agreed that
our best course would be to carry Lake thither at once by
the footpath, and that one of us — Wealdon undertook
this — should drive the carriage on, and apprising Rachel
on the way of the accident which had happened, and that
her brother was on his way thither, should drive on to
Buddle's house, sending assistance to us fron the town.
It was plain that Stanley Lake's canvass was pretty well
over. There was not one of us who looked at him that
did not feel convinced that he was mortally hurt. I don't
think he believed so himself then; but we could not move
him from the place where he lay without inflicting so much
pain, that we were obliged to wait for assistance.
"D— the dogs, what are they barking for?" said Lake,
faintly. He seemed distressed by the noise.
"There's a dead body partly disclosed down there —
some one murdered and buried; but one of Mr. Juke's
young men is keeping them off."
Lake made an effort to raise himself, but with a grin
and a suppressed moan he abandoned it.
"Is there no doctor — I'm very much hurt?" said
Lake faintly, after a minute's silence.
We told him that Buddle had been sent for; and that
we only awaited help to get him down to Redman's Farm.
When Rachel heard the clang of hoofs and the rattle