It might be a cat, it might be a hare, it might be a rabbit, it might be some other animal; it was all one to Mr.Dan Duff; and he had not been a boy had he resisted the propensity to pursue it.

Catching up a handful of earth from the lane, he shied it in the proper direction, and tore in at the gate after it.
Nothing came of the pursuit.

The trespasser had earthed itself, and Mr.
Dan came slowly back again.

He had nearly approached the gate, when somebody passed it, walking up the lane with a very quick step, from the direction in which he, Dan, was bound.

Dan saw enough to know that it was not Rachel, for it was the figure of a man; but Dan set off to run, and emerged from the gate just in time to catch another glimpse of the person, as he disappeared beyond the windings of the lane.
"'Twarn't Rachel, at all events," was his comment.