And then, as the crowd of horsemen and carriages came on, the word "poison" was passed among them from mouth to mouth! "What does all this mean ?" said the Senator.
"I don't at all know.

I'm afraid there's something wrong," replied Morton.
"I heard that man say 'poison.' They have taken the dogs back again." Then the Senator and Morton got out of the carriage and made their way into the crowd.

The riders who had grooms on second horses were soon on foot, and a circle was made, inside which there was some object of intense interest.

In the meantime the hounds had been secured in one of Mr.Twentyman's barns.
What was that object of interest shall be told in the next chapter..