Page:Rowland--The closing net.djvu/143

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HAWK AND RAVEN
127

on the road, but presently I sighted a cloud of dust ahead and over-hauled a big limousine car with a trunk on behind and a lot of small luggage on top.

"Kharkoff!" I said to myself, and sure enough it was. I cut loose the siren and the car swerved out to the right, and as I tore past I caught a glimpse of the Prince inside and Léontine. They could not have recognised me, my face being covered with the mask, but I hoped that Chu-Chu was far enough ahead to enable me to finish my business with him before they came up, and this seemed probable as the little car was light and fast.

I passed through Amiens, then hit up the speed again. Then, just outside the town I sighted a small car spinning up a hill on ahead. Getting closer I saw that there were two men aboard it. They were travelling fast, but I slowed a bit, as the place was too populated for my purpose.

Five kilometres spun past and we were in a big, open country with a clear road and few houses, these for the most part scattered farms, with here and there some peasants working in the fields. I took a long breath.

"Now for it," I said to myself. "I'll get him on the next long down-grade."