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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-03 08:23:09 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-03 08:23:09 -0800 |
| commit | 716a5c184b1e11fdcde528f471a7bd64fd4b4334 (patch) | |
| tree | 3d0d55e7b0acb641527a0cb9439aa81cda0d568a /43318-h/43318-h.html | |
| parent | b680ae903ac85fd382e7174af49d9947a9db2b60 (diff) | |
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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } - -</style> -<title>TARNISHED SILVER</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Tarnished Silver" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Mary Frances Outram" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1914" /> -<meta name="MARCREL.ill" content="Stanley L. Wood" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="43318" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2013-07-26" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Tarnished Silver" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Tarnished Silver" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="silver.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2013-07-26T21:54:13.634926+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43318" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="Mary Frances Outram" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="Stanley L. Wood" name="MARCREL.ill" /> -<meta content="2013-07-26" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.20a7 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="tarnished-silver"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">TARNISHED SILVER</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> -included with this eBook or online at -</span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: Tarnished Silver -<br /> -<br />Author: Mary Frances Outram -<br /> -<br />Release Date: July 26, 2013 [EBook #43318] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>TARNISHED SILVER</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 68%" id="figure-10"> -<span id="cover-art"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover art" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover art</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold x-large">TARNISHED SILVER</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">By</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">MARY FRANCES OUTRAM</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">Author of -<br />"The Story of a Log-house," -<br />"The Mystery of the Ash Tree," etc</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">ILLUSTRATED BY STANLEY L. WOOD</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">LONDON -<br />THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY -<br />Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard -<br />1914</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="center line"><span>"</span><em class="italics">The eyes of the Lord are in every place,</em></div> -<div class="center line"><em class="italics">beholding the evil and the good.</em><span>"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"><span class="medium">I </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#mr-field-lays-down-the-law">Mr. Field Lays Down the Law</a><span class="medium"> -<br />II </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#forbidden-fruit">Forbidden Fruit</a><span class="medium"> -<br />III </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#judge-simmons">Judge Simmons</a><span class="medium"> -<br />IV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#timothy-s-three-friends">Timothy's Three Friends</a><span class="medium"> -<br />V </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-thief-in-the-night">A Thief in the Night</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#that-terrible-eye">That Terrible Eye</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-mysterious-packets">The Mysterious Packets</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#robin-hood-s-lair">Robin Hood's Lair</a><span class="medium"> -<br />IX </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-tramp">The Tramp</a><span class="medium"> -<br />X </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-flash-of-lightning">A Flash of Lightning</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-treacherous-shore">The Treacherous Shore</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#death-and-the-tide">Death and the Tide</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#near-death-s-door">Near Death's Door</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#pin-pricks-and-pellets">Pin-pricks and Pellets</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#alive-from-the-dead">Alive from the Dead</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#for-conscience-sake">For Conscience' Sake</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#well-founded-fears">Well-founded Fears</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#judge-simmons-again">Judge Simmons Again</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIX </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#revelations">Revelations</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XX </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#good-hope">Good Hope</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="mr-field-lays-down-the-law"><span class="bold x-large">TARNISHED SILVER</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Mr. Field Lays Down the Law</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the breakfast-room of a large house near -the seacoast Mr. Thomas Algernon Field -sat eating a plain boiled egg.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a long time since he had tasted such -a rarity, and he was enjoying it to the full.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not that eggs were scarce in his establishment, -but it was seldom that they found their -way to his table in so simple a form. The Earl -of Monfort, the owner of the adjoining estate, -regularly ate a boiled egg every morning of his -life--three hundred and sixty-five in the year, -and one more in leap year, so he made his -boast--but to Mr. Thomas Algernon Field this would -have been sheer folly and waste.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field had a French cook--a French cook -whose salary far exceeded that of many a -hard-worked clerk; and of what use was such an -expensive treasure unless to turn out elaborate -and costly menus? So to the detriment of his -digestion, but with a brave effort to keep up -the honour of his table, the master of the house -wrestled daily with complicated dishes -burdened with high-sounding names, though often -longing secretly in his heart of hearts for plainer -and more wholesome fare.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The room in which he sat was a fine one, with -long windows opening on to a wide terrace -with heavy stone balustrades, over and through -which masses of roses climbed in graceful -luxuriance of spray and bloom. Beyond lay -yet another terrace, wider and larger than the -first, with beds gay with many-coloured flowers, -set in the greenest of velvet turf. A belt of trees -bounded the further side of the lower platform, -their topmost branches were bent sideways and -shorn by the prevailing winds, while in the -distance stretched the straight blue line of the -North Sea, now rippling and sparkling in the -morning sunshine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field finished his egg and leant back -pompously in his carved oak chair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was a strongly built man, of medium -height and with a tendency to stoutness, which -did not improve his already clumsy figure. His -neck was short and thick, and more than one -layer of what is popularly known as a double -chin lurked beneath his square and heavy jaws. -Small eyes of a pale tawny brown looked out -from under scarcely defined eyebrows, which -twitched and frowned nervously, betokening a -restless and uneasy mind. A scrubby moustache -only slightly hid the thin compressed lips, at the -corners of which ran deeply graven lines, as if they -sought by their almost cruel hardness to counteract -the weakness of the brow. It was a selfish -and secretive face, and just at present it was a -very self-satisfied one as it turned towards the -fair scene beyond the casement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Julius," he said, turning to the other occupant -of the room, "it's not every lad of your age who -starts in life with such prospects. A house like -Farncourt and enough dollars to buy up all the -landowners round about! My sakes--not many -boys in England can boast of that, I can tell -you! Don't you forget it, Julius; and don't -let others forget it either."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think Farncourt is a horrid old hole, father, -and what use is it saying you can buy up all the -landowners when you can't get the only bit of -ground you really want, however much you try, -even though it only belongs to a poor fisherman -like Timothy Green?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The speaker was a small boy of about ten years -of age. He might have been a good-looking -child if it had not been for the discontented -expression upon his face, and the ill-tempered -mouth and chin. From his speech, if you did -not look at him, he might have been double his age.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thomas Field's countenance darkened as he -directed his gaze beyond the terrace boundary, -where, in a gap between the trees, a -whitewashed cottage could be seen, standing out -plainly against the background of sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As a red rag to a bull, so was this unpretentious -building to the owner of Farncourt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is absurd," he exclaimed, as he had done -many a time before, "to think that a beggarly -old fellow with one foot in the grave should be -able to defy me openly and ruin my view, when I -offer him good money down, tenfold more than -the ramshackle hovel is worth, if he'll only clear -out to a better house and leave me in peace. -When the whole of this fine place is mine, -honestly bought and paid for, why should he be -allowed to stick there in full sight of my windows, -so that I can't look out without for ever seeing -that one blot which spoils it all?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He says he'd rather die in his bed there than -own Farncourt," replied the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Obstinate old duffer," exclaimed his father, -"but I doubt he'll get his desire sooner than he -thinks. The way the cliff is breaking away there -is a caution, and some fine night he may find his -precious roof come tumbling down upon his head; -which will be a good way out of the difficulty for -me, even if it does not benefit him overmuch! -I'll not rest till I'm master of all the land I can -see from Farncourt Tower, and have the undisputed -right to prevent upstarts from loafing -about the place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are two new people come to live at -Mrs. Sheppard's house," remarked Julius, "a -lady and a boy. I saw him on the beach -yesterday, and he seemed rather jolly. I mean to have -him here to play with me sometimes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen to me, Julius," said his father; "you -get quite enough of your own way as it is, but I -do draw the line somewhere. Ask me for -anything in reason and you'll get it, but to be allowed -to bring within my doors any chance riff-raff you -may happen to pick up, that I cannot and will -not permit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's not a riff-raff," answered Julius sulkily, -"he's quite a gentleman, even if he has rather -shabby clothes, and he's not come on chance. -John says he's going to live here for some time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How often have I told you not to gossip with -your groom," retorted Mr. Field. "If the earl -chooses to allow his tenants to let lodgings it's no -business of mine, and he may turn his end of the -village into slums for all I care, but the part that -belongs to me, I keep for myself and my own -people. I've knocked about the world all my -life, and now I've made my pile and settled -down on my private estate, no one is to go -wandering over it without my permission. I came here -for quiet and solitude, and I mean to see that I -get it, in spite of all the earls in creation. If you -find that stranger woman or her boy trespassing -within my grounds, let me know about it, and I'll -soon teach them their place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see why I shouldn't play with him," -rejoined Julius, petulantly pushing back his -chair from the table, and kicking his feet about. -"You won't let me talk to John, and I don't like -the gardener's boys; they're horrid rude fellows -and won't do what I want."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You've got everything you can desire that -money will buy," answered his father sternly. -"Only last month I gave you that thoroughbred -pony which you had set your heart on, and which -cost me a pretty penny, I assure you, though -you're welcome to another if you wish, for all it -matters to me. You've got the best games and -books that can be bought, enough to stock a shop, -and yet it appears you are not satisfied. There -are motors in the garage, and boats on the lake, -with servants at hand to do your every bidding, -why should you go hankering after loafers you -know nothing about, and who have the impudence -to hang about my property against my express desire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's no fun playing games by myself," -grumbled Julius. "Now that old Finney has -gone, I've not even got him to help me. I want -a boy the same age as me, that I can lick if he -gets cheeky, and who won't call me names, like -the gardener's sons."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Call you names, like the gardener's sons," -repeated Mr. Field incredulously. "I never -heard of such a thing. Benson shall have a piece -of my mind about this before the day is out, and -if he can't teach his cubs to behave themselves, -he must look out for another situation, that's all. -If things go on at the Good Hope mine as they -have done in the past, the world will hear about -you, Julius, and at no very distant time either. -Folk must climb down when they speak to you, -and treat you with fitting respect. You've had -advantages that I never enjoyed, and some fine -day, if I mistake not, you'll find yourself at the -top of the tree; so in the meantime, my lad, -don't price yourself too cheap, but just stand up -with the best of them. There's a new tutor -coming next term in place of Finney--a younger -man who has carried off every prize he could win -and charges accordingly, so you'd better get as -much as you can out of him when he arrives, and -leave this shabby young rascal and the gardener's -boys to fight it out together upon the beach."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a satisfied air, as if the last word had now -been said, Mr. Field rose from his chair and -sauntered out to charge Benson with the enormity -of his offence, a congenial task which lost nothing -in the doing. Meanwhile Julius, left to himself -in the breakfast-room, proceeded to feed Pat, his -Irish terrier, with chicken rissoles, until that -amusement palled, and he whistled to the dog to -follow him out of doors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Aimlessly the child wandered round to the -back of the house, where a row of splendid -rabbit-hutches with pedigreed inhabitants -claimed his attention for a few brief moments. -There was nothing to do there, for the lad -specially engaged to attend to their wants had -just given them their morning meal, and each -silky creature was already contentedly nibbling -the tender cabbage leaves so plentifully provided -for their repast. To excite Pat by inviting him -to put his nose through the wire netting was the -only interest in that quarter, and as the dog -sensibly refused to respond, there was nothing -for it but to go further afield.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For about half an hour Julius watched the -cleaning of the great sixty-horse-power car, -amusing himself by executing a series of deafening -hoots upon the motor horn to the distraction -of the chauffeur, who had learnt only too well -that to remonstrate only meant a prolongation -of the din.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the garage to the stables was the next -move, and the order was given to saddle the new -pony.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going to take Prince over those hurdles -again," Julius remarked as John led the beautiful -animal out of its stall. "You'd better come to -the field to set them up for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The vet said as how Prince had been too -hard set at them last time, sir, seeing as he -strained his off foreleg a bit," replied the groom, -"and the master he told me he didn't wish the -pony to jump again for a while, though he was all -right for a quiet ride."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the fun of a pony that can't jump?" -exclaimed the boy impatiently. "I don't want -to walk about the roads as if I was at a funeral. -I won't ride at all if I can't try the hurdles, so you -may take the stupid beast away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's Red Rover, sir, if you want another -horse. I'll saddle him in a jiffey, and he's a rare -one at a gallop, even though he's not so light at -the fences as Prince."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius eyed the smart little cob that had been -his favourite mount till the new-comer arrived -upon the scene, and felt half inclined to follow the -friendly advice. But after all, what was the good -of going for a gallop when there was nowhere -special to gallop to, and no one to gallop with -except John, who was apt to be surly if you went -too fast? So he shook his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't want Red Rover," he said. "They're -a rotten lot, all of them. I'll get father to give -me a stronger pony next time, that won't strain -its silly old legs by jumping over a footstool."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Turning his back upon the stable yard he -made his way slowly into the lane.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish the new tutor was here," he said to -himself, "even old Finney would be better than -nobody. I think I'll go to Timothy Green's -cottage and see how far the cliff has broken away. -Father seemed to think it was going pretty fast. -I wonder if some day the house will really topple -over on to the beach."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With some definite purpose at length in his -mind, Julius hurried down the track which led -through the copse to the sea. The trees thinned -as he neared the cliff, those that were left, -standing out gaunt and weather-beaten by the storms -which broke upon them so fiercely from the east.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A rough fence enclosing a patch of ground -marked the boundary of the small domain which -had so excited the wrath of Mr. Field. The -cottage lay end on to the sea, its low door facing -the south. Hardy flowers bloomed within the -little plot, but Julius remarked with surprise that -the wall, on the further side of the garden had -disappeared since he had last walked that way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Passing the rickety gate that gave entrance -from the lane, he crept cautiously to the edge of -the cliff and peeped down.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="forbidden-fruit"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Forbidden Fruit</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Far below lay the debris of the crag not yet -carried away by the waves which now -crept sleepily along the shore. Harmless, gentle -ripples they looked that day, softly crooning a -lullaby to the pebbles on the beach; very -different to the angry guise in which they appeared -on winter nights, when the mighty hissing billows -came leaping up the cliff like hungry tongues, -seeking to lick out the very foundations of the -land. Many a great slice had they already -snatched away. Acre after acre of fair -cornfield and forest had once stood where now the -ocean rolled, and every year fresh portions of the -fruitful earth disappeared beneath the irresistible -onslaught of the foe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>North and south as far as eye could reach, -Julius could trace the long rampart of cliff facing -the wide expanse of water. In the distance a -lonely church stood perched upon the edge, a -mere deserted shell, with ruined tower and -roofless nave, of which the greater part had long since -fallen into the sea. Sole relic it remained of the -prosperous city which once in bygone years had -clustered round its walls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Julius withdrew his gaze from the distant -prospect to the nearer one at his feet, he noticed -the effects of the last storm on his humble -neighbour's property.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A large hawthorn hung head downward, its -roots holding on like claws in the crumbling crag, -while bits of broken garden fence still clung in -untidy festoons over yawning gaps along the -upper portion of the cliff. Fragments of bricks -and boards were scattered upon the shore below, -waiting in disorderly confusion for the waves to -finish their handiwork and bury them out of -sight. Only a foot or two of solid ground -remained between the sea end of the dwelling and -the top of the landslip. Already great cracks -were making themselves seen in the cottage walls, -showing the gradual subsidence of the soil -beneath.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder old Timothy dares to stay in his -house when any moment a lump of earth may -break away," said the boy to himself. "What a -lot has gone since I was here last! I remember -there used to be a pigsty here in the spring, but -I suppose that's it lying in pieces on the shore. -I wonder if the pig was in it when it went down."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he meditated upon this possible tragedy -the door of the house opened and two people -came out. Julius at once recognized them as the -stranger lady and her little son, whom he had met -before and been cautioned to avoid. He crouched -down behind a sheltering bush until they should -pass by.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She's got rather a nice face," he murmured, -"and the boy's not half bad, in spite of all father -says against them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was no wonder that the lonely child looked -with longing eyes upon the pair. Others as well -as he had found comfort in the calm sweetness -which rested as the habitual expression on -Madelaine Power's fair features. As she turned -at the porch to wave farewell to old Timothy, the -honeysuckle made a fitting frame to her tall, -graceful figure, clad in the simple black gown -which tells the story of widowhood to the world.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius watched her as she walked down the -path towards the gate, her eyes full of -mother-love as she met the eager upturned gaze of the -curly-headed child at her side, and a sharp pang -of jealousy shot through his heart, leaving a sore -feeling behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a perfect beauty, mother!" the boy was -saying. "I think it was just awfully good of -Timothy to give it to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius noticed that the lad was carrying something -beneath his jacket, carefully pressed against -his chest--something that moved, for it needed -both hands and arms to hold it safe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll have to make a little house for it, -Robin," answered his mother. "I'm afraid it -will feel rather strange at first, poor creature, in -its unaccustomed quarters."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what he's got," soliloquized Julius. -"I expect it's a puppy or a kitten, or some -idiotic thing like that. What's the use of making -such a fuss about it, when they're as common as -blackberries."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But to Robin the little, warm, furry bundle he -held so closely to his breast meant a treasure -precious beyond words, the possession of which -had suddenly turned his prospects rose-colour. -All the way down the lane his busy tongue -never ceased. Plan after plan for the accommodation -of his new favourite was poured into his -mother's attentive ear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius listened enviously until the clear ringing -voice had died away in the distance. When he -could hear it no longer, he rose from his hiding-place -and sauntered slowly and discontentedly home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was early next morning when he met Robin -once again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yielding to John's persuasions he had -condescended to mount Red Rover, and after a good -gallop on the heath was returning by the road -that led to the sea. He was about to pass in at -the lodge gates which guarded Farncourt, when -he caught sight of Robin coming towards him on -an ancient grey pony, whose sedate bearing and -somewhat stiff movements proclaimed a long life -of uneventful toil.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a fine old cow you've got," he said -rudely, when the pair reached the entrance of the -park.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin flushed. Pride had filled his heart -when he said good-bye to his mother at the garden -door, and he and the blacksmith's pony had gone -out alone into the great unknown. No boy was -he, enjoying a rare and unwonted ride--rather -was he a knight in armour on his trusty warhorse, -pacing forth undauntedly to do battle with -tyrants and dragons in the cause of Right. And -now--to hear his charger called a cow! It was -galling, to say the least of it, and his spirit rose to -the occasion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Insult me not, caitiff!" he exclaimed, "or -thou shalt rue the day. Stand and deliver!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a whoop, more like that of an Indian at -Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show than of an errant -knight of King Arthur's Table, the boy suddenly -applied his whip to the old pony's flanks, making -him lurch heavily forward to the charge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Surprised by the unexpected attack, it required -all Julius' horsemanship to calm Red Rover, and -stay the plunging of the fiery little cob. Quieted -at length, he managed to bring him to a standstill -within the gates, and from that safe vantage -ground he turned to face the enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You'd better not come in here with your -clumsy beast," he called out. "If you do, you'll -be prosecuted. Look, it's written up on that -board."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I desire not to set foot within thy territory," -replied Robin grandly. "I go forth to the great -battle where the king awaits me, relying upon my -trusty sword."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Taken aback by this strange form of address, -Julius watched silently as the youthful combatant -laboriously turned his steed and passed with sober -tread along the road. One more shot came -Parthian-wise as they went their way, revealing -the boy beneath the knight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all very well to call my pony a cow, but -it can shake hands and open a gate, and I expect -that's more than yours can do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Julius rode up the avenue one purpose only -filled his mind. How could he get to know this -lad, and find out more about the delightful game -which he seemed to be enjoying all by himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If only we could play at being knights -together, what glorious tournaments we could have -in the meadow," he thought. "He looked so -jolly and brave when he came banging into Red -Rover like that, just as if he was a real warrior. -I wonder how he taught his pony to shake hands. -I wish Prince could learn to do it too. Why does -father hate to have anybody here? I don't -think it's fair. Anyhow, I'm going to try and see -the boy again, whatever any one may say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The late afternoon sun was shining down on -Sea View Cottage as Julius crept up to a small -hole in the hedge which separated the garden -from the lane. A pretty picture met his eye as -he peered through. Not a stone's throw from -him stood the little house, nestling in a bower of -green, its long slope of rich brown thatch cut -into fantastic patterns, across which wandering -creepers seemed to cast protecting arms. A -profusion of sweet-smelling flowers filled the narrow -border on each side of the path, making a bright -foreground to the scene.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stranger lady sat sewing in a low chair -beneath a tree, while beside her was the quondam -knight, hard at work with hammer and saw -fashioning something out of old boxes and wire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where's Peter?" suddenly exclaimed Robin, -springing to his feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's Peter?" whispered Julius to himself, -as he tried to get a better view of the group.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The words had no sooner fallen from his lips -than a tiny brown rabbit darted out of the hedge -at his feet and hopped rapidly down the road. -Quick as thought, Pat the terrier had the little -creature in his mouth, from which Julius rescued -it a moment later, trembling and terrified, but -apparently none the worse for its unceremonious -capture.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a good thing it was that you and your -dog were just passing when Peter slipped out," -said Robin to him as he walked into the garden -and delivered up the runaway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was with certain qualms of conscience that -Julius had lifted the latch of the gate and entered -the forbidden ground, but he strove to stifle -them as best he could. Even if his father did see -him, surely he would not blame him for doing -such a kind and simple act? It was very -unlikely, however, that he would know anything -at all about it, for he hardly ever came to that -end of the village, and Sea View Cottage lay quite -off the beaten track. There would surely be no -harm just finding out if the boy was a nice fellow -after all, for if he wasn't, he would not trouble -his head about him again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Apparently his investigations proved satisfactory, -for it was only when it got too dark to -see any more that he reluctantly tore himself -away. Never could he remember to have spent -an afternoon that passed so quickly. No grand -patent rabbit-hutch, perfect in every detail, had -ever given him half so much joy as this rough -makeshift at which the two boys laboured eagerly -as long as it was light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When at length the crowning moment arrived, -and Peter was formally introduced to his new -home, Julius was almost as excited over it as -was Robin himself. Long did he linger, so -fascinating was it to watch the little inmate as it -explored the corners of the old packing-case, and -stood up on its hind legs to sniff the wire netting -which had been so carefully fastened on, with a -vast amount of vigorous hammering and -super-abundance of nails. He almost danced with -delight when Peter went through the narrow -doorway, sawn with infinite labour in the hard -wood, which led to the sleeping apartment within. -How comfortable he would find it, filled as it was -with nice dry bracken, which the two lads had -gathered from the adjoining wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll come back to-morrow early," he remarked -to Robin, when at length he could bring himself -to say good-bye. "I think everything's right, -but there might be a nail or two we could stick -in somewhere to make it all quite secure, and -we'll be able to see better in the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think Robin's the jolliest boy I ever knew," -he said to himself as he went home. "I'll often -go to see him, if only I can manage without father -finding out. We'll have some fine times together, -and no one will be any the wiser."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I couldn't have believed he was such a -decent sort of chap," was Robin's comment after -Julius had taken his departure. "He seemed -such an utter cad when he spoke to me at the gates."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor little fellow," replied Mrs. Power, -"you see he's got no mother to help him to -behave, and I expect he's not used to meeting -people, as Mr. Field leads such an isolated life. -We must try and be kind to him if we can."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="judge-simmons"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Judge Simmons</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"A gentleman to see you, sir," said the -footman as he approached Mr. Field -with a salver on which lay a solitary visiting card.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eh, what? A visitor, did you say?" said -his master. "What's his name, Jenkins?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's written there, sir," replied the footman. -"He said you wouldn't know him, but he would -be glad if you could see him for a few moments -on business."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Judge Simmons," read out Mr. Field, as he -took up the card. "Sounds as if he came from -America."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So he does, sir, if you can go by his accent," -answered Jenkins.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't like Yankees, though I've spent so -much of my life among them," murmured Mr. Field -under his breath. "What can this fellow -want, coming bothering me here?" he added in a -slightly louder tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir, I didn't happen to -enquire," replied the footman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be impertinent, Jenkins," said Mr. Field -looking up sharply. He lived in continual -dread that his servants were making fun of him -behind his back, and Jenkins' tone was -suspiciously polite. "Of course it's not your place -to question my visitors, and you'd pretty soon -find yourself in hot water if you did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Judge Simmons is a better specimen of a -gentleman than old Field," was the footman's -conclusion as he piloted the visitor into the -library, "and I fancy he knows a thing or two -by the look of him. I shouldn't like to be faced -by him if there was anything shady I wanted to -hide. His eyes seem to go right through you, as -if he could count your very bones."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Certainly the tall spare figure that crossed the -room to shake hands with Mr. Field was a good -example of the typical well-bred American. -Clean-shaven, with a firm jaw, and quick, piercing -eyes, he gave one the impression at once of a -strong man, alert and observant, with a sense of -humour tempering the sternness of the mouth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must apologize," he said, "for intruding -upon you in this manner, but I shall be grateful -if you will allow me to speak to you on a matter -of rather urgent business."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field motioned him to a chair, and replied -that he would be pleased to assist him if it was in -his power to do so.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," continued the stranger, "the fact is -this. I have a young friend over in Mexico, -who is rather too fond of embarking on -commercial enterprises of a decidedly risky and -precarious nature, and as I am in a way his adviser, -I feel a certain amount of responsibility when he -asks my opinion about things. He has just -written, saying he has the option of purchasing -some land in which rumour says that silver maybe -found, and he wants to know what I think about -it. It is quite out of your beat, Mr. Field, as I -know your mines are in California, so I felt it -would not be trespassing on your preserves if I -asked you to be kind enough to answer a few -questions in a friendly way as to the risks of -such a speculation, knowing what an authority -you are upon the subject. I am staying with -Lord Monfort, and, hearing that you resided -so near, I ventured to make myself known to -you, hoping that my nationality would perhaps -appeal to you, seeing you have lived so long in -my country."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field's features, which at first had been -decidedly forbidding, relaxed at the mention of -the earl. Aloof though he held himself from the -ordinary run of mankind, it was his secret ambition -to mix with that society into which, except -for his great wealth, he could never hope to obtain -entrance. To know that he had been the subject -of conversation at Lanthorne Abbey was as -nectar to his aspiring soul.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall be glad to do what I can for you," he -said urbanely, "if you will kindly give me some -particulars as to locality and the like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After about half an hour's conference Judge -Simmons rose to go.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You will stay to lunch, won't you?" urged -Mr. Field. "It's getting on towards one o'clock, -and I shall be pleased to welcome you, if you will -be content with merely the company of myself -and my little boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've only once been down your way," remarked -Judge Simmons as they were seated at table, -"and that was some years ago, before you had -made that corner of the world a household word. -Everyone knows the Good Hope silver mine and -its apparently exhaustless resources, but I wish -I could locate it better in my own mind. I don't -seem able to fit it in with what I remember of -the place. I went with a nice young fellow named -Barker who was prospecting then in those parts, -and he staked out a claim somewhere thereabouts. -I recollect he called it Wild Goat Gully. I've -quite lost sight of him since, and have never -been up there again, but I fancy he didn't strike -it rich, or we should have heard of it before now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was told that he went completely to the -dogs, and was at last drowned when crossing one -of the big rivers," replied Mr. Field. "He -certainly made nothing out of his Gully, so far as I -heard, and the very name he gave it has died out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One peculiarity about it struck me much at -the time," remarked the judge. "There was a -high precipice bounding it on one side, with a -great orange streak right across it as if it had -been daubed on with a brush. Some geological -freak, I suppose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, how funny!" exclaimed Julius, who -had been sitting silently listening to the -conversation. "That's just like the Good Hope cliff. -It looks exactly as if some enormous giant had -thrown his pot of yellow paint at the rock."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Strange," said the judge, glancing up at -Mr. Field, "I heard there wasn't another formation -like it in the whole country."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What nonsense!" ejaculated Mr. Field -testily. "I've explored every part of the district -for miles round, and know every inch of it well, -and I could show you half a dozen valleys where -there were similar rocks, any one of which might -be Wild Goat Gully."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think there are, father," chimed in -Julius, "for I asked old Joe the trapper, who -has lived there all his life, and he told me just -the same as Judge Simmons. He said it was -'unique,' and I remember when I asked you what -that was, you said it meant there wasn't another -like it in the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you contradict me in this way, Julius, you -may just leave the room," said his father in an -angry tone. "I won't have lies told at my table, -even by my own son. Do you hear me, Julius? -Be off with you this instant, or I'll give you a -thrashing that you won't soon forget."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's quite true, father," stoutly asserted -the boy. "You know you've often said to me that -no one could equal the Good Hope mine any more -than they could match the yellow splash on its -cliff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A box on the ears was Mr. Field's only reply, -as he grasped the lad by the arm and hustled -him out of the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sorry, sir," he said when he returned -to the table, "but I am ashamed to say my boy -has developed a terrible faculty for telling the -most deliberate untruths, and I have to do my -best to check him. He seems to take a perfect -delight in inventing stories without a shadow of -foundation, and in sticking to them at all costs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe the child's version was the right -one," said Judge Simmons to himself as he -motored back to Lanthorne Abbey. "Why -should Field be so anxious to demonstrate that -orange streaks were such very ordinary things?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly he sat up and gave a low exclamation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What if he wished to prove to me that Good -Hope mine could not possibly be the same as -Wild Goat Gully? That's a question which -opens out some interesting answers. I guess I'll -make some enquiries when I get back to California -again."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="timothy-s-three-friends"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Timothy's Three Friends</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Madelaine Power wandered along the -shore idly watching the waves as they -came tumbling in, their white crests curling in a -succession of long feathery lines, until with a -roar and a hiss they were flung upon the beach, -spreading themselves out like great fans of foam -upon the shingle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No figure but her own was to be seen on the -narrow pebbly strip, which ran like a yellow -ribbon between the foot of the cliff and the -incoming tide. No sound was to be heard save -the monotonous music of the breakers, and an -occasional wild cry as a stray sea-gull circled -above her head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine gave a little shiver as her eye -followed the desolate track.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only eleven years ago this month since -Gerald and I trod this very shore," she said. -"Only eleven years, and yet what a lifetime it -seems! Truly much of it has been to me a sad -and solitary way. It has been heavy walking, -and most of it against the wind!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She stood for a moment gazing at the coast-line, -up which a sea-mist was slowly travelling, -blotting out the distant view of ocean and headland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just as my troubles have blotted out my -sun," she thought to herself, as she morbidly let -her mind dwell on the dark days of the past.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not strange that her spirit failed her -at times, for the road had indeed been toilsome -to her young feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The only child of a struggling country doctor, -and left an orphan at the age of seventeen, she -had early engaged in a hard fight for existence, -earning a scanty livelihood by teaching in the -neighbouring town. It was there that the girl -made the acquaintance of the handsome young -surveyor whose friendship made so great a -difference to her lonely lot. Small wonder was -it, when he asked her to be his wife, that she -should feel as if a new and glorious era had -suddenly dawned. No matter that her home -was to be henceforth in the unknown West. -The heart's love of her strong and generous -nature had been given wholly to him whom she -would gladly have followed to the ends of the -earth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With high hope the youthful couple had gone -forth to try their fortune in the New World, and -for some months things went cheerily enough -with them. Then came speculations and -accompanying failure, and Madelaine learnt only too -well the weak side of the man whom she still -loved, but with the pitiful sustaining tenderness -of a nobler and braver character than his own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After the birth of their boy, Gerald had for a -time displayed greater energy and perseverance in -seeking to better his position, journeying often -long distances in search of work. It was during -one of these absences that Madelaine received -the letter which almost broke her heart and -sprinkled her chestnut hair with grey.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It told her how her husband had been suddenly -smitten by the cold hand of death while travelling -in a wild part of the country, his body being laid -to rest in the depths of the trackless forest. -His watch and chain and an unfinished diary -were the only tokens enclosed in the accompanying -package, and the young widow was left to -realize as best she could the desolate and -penniless position in which she and her infant were now -placed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Neither she nor Gerald had any relatives to -whom she could appeal, and had it not been for -the aid given to her in her distress by an eccentric -and benevolent neighbour she would indeed have -been destitute. Touched by the forlorn condition -of the hapless pair, this aged recluse invited -them to share his humble dwelling, and when he -died about three months later, Madelaine found -to her surprise, that he had willed the whole of -his little property to herself and her son. One -solitary stipulation he made, and that a hard -one in the faithful Madelaine's eyes. Only by -adopting his name could she and the boy claim -the legacy that he left. It was after much -searching of heart that finally the thought of the -benefit which would accrue to her child -outweighed the repugnance she felt in setting aside -the sacred name of her dead husband, and as -Madelaine Power she set sail with her baby for -England, and settled down in their new home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Helping out the small income by typewriting -and fine needlework, she had managed hitherto -to make a fairly comfortable living; but at -present the thought of Robin's education weighed -somewhat heavily upon her heart. To be either -a doctor or a surveyor was the summit of the -boy's ambition, but how to give him the training -he required for such a career was a problem she -had not solved as yet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she let her mind wander again to the future, -she chanced to look down upon the beach where -a wave had run up higher than its fellows, almost -to the spot where she stood. There at her feet -lay a tiny fish, struggling vainly on the sand, a -helpless waif, left high and dry by the retreating sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You poor little thing," she cried, as she -stooped, and, lifting it gently, threw it with a -steady hand into the deep water beyond. "I -couldn't leave you to die there all by yourself. -How strange to think that in all these miles of -desolate shore you should have been washed up -just at my feet. I wonder if God knew? Yes, of -course He did, for we're told plainly that the eyes -of the Lord are in every place. If He hears the -young ravens when they cry, and notices if a -sparrow falls, He knows surely when the -humblest of His human creatures are in need."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She turned and walked back by the shore, now -brightened by a gleam of sunshine, as the -sea-mist cleared away. The waves seemed to sing -a new refrain as she passed along, the melody of -which put vigour into her steps and a light into -her eyes;</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"How much more .... How much more</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Will He clothe you,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>O, ye of little faith?"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I may as well go up and pay Timothy a -visit," she thought, as she reached a rough ladder-like -staircase which gave access to the top of the -cliff from the beach below. The wall of the aged -fisherman's cottage could be seen almost on a -line with the edge of the crag.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How terrible it must be to live there," she -exclaimed as she looked up. "I hardly like -even to go in to visit him for a few minutes, and -to think of trying to sleep in such a place!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She knocked at the door, and entered the little -kitchen, which was fortunately at that end of the -house which was furthest from the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a low room with heavy wooden rafters -and whitewashed walls. The old man was sitting -by the open fireplace in his high-backed chair, -placidly smoking his pipe, while at his elbow -stood an oak table an which lay a well-worn -Bible in its brown leather binding, and a pair of -horn spectacles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a few words of greeting, Mrs. Power's -thoughts turned naturally to the danger threatening -the occupant of the perilous dwelling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder you're not afraid, Timothy, of -staying here all by yourself. Any night the -waves may break away another piece of the cliff, -and the house may go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Timothy slowly took his pipe out of his mouth -and laid it carefully upon the table; then placing -both his withered hands upon his knees, he leant -forward and nodded his head gently, while he -kept his kindly eyes fixed on the face of his -visitor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I be ninety-four year old come next -Lady-day," he commenced in his high quaking voice, -"and I've seen many a good friend pass away. -The old wife she's gone, and the two little ones -that God took with the whooping cough when -they were but babes. My brothers are all gone, -and my three sisters, and the fine comrades I -started with on life's journey. We went -together down to the sea in ships, and not one on -'em's outside the harbour now, except my old -worthless self. They're all gone, all my good -true friends, all gone but three. And them three, -I think on them by day, and I dream on them by -night, the only three on 'em that's left. Like as -not you'll smile when I tell you their names. -They be right strange friends even for an old -man like me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell me who they are?" said his visitor, -for Timothy had ceased speaking and was gazing -absently into the fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He hesitated a moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," he said at length, "I'll tell you. -One on 'em's Death, and another be the Tide, -but the third be the best One of all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean?" asked Madelaine, for -the old man had paused, as if his thoughts had -wandered back again to long past days. "How -do you count them your friends?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This here little house was my father's before -me," continued Timothy, as if talking to himself, -"and man and boy I've never lived elsewhere, -though when I was a little lad there were two fine -fields between us and the cliff. I was always a -running to the edge to watch the tide, it fair -bewitched me to see it come creeping up and -then backing away, day in, day out, like some -mighty living thing with a living breathing heart. -And when I got a bit older, that there sea made a -fisher of me. Summer and winter it gave me my -daily bread; it never failed me yet. The sea's -been a rare good friend to me from the one end -of life to t'other; a rare good friend it's been. -It'll not go back on me now, it won't. 'Twould -be a mean trick to play on me, it would, if it -took the old place from under my feet, after four -and ninety years of good fellowship! I'm not -afraid of the Tide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Power knew not what to say. No arguments -rose to her lips, though she vainly longed -to remonstrate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Timothy," she said at last, "I can't -say that I'm as well acquainted with the ways of -the tide as you are, but the other of your friends -that you seem so sure of, I have often heard -mentioned as the great Enemy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Timothy's face lit up with a triumphant smile -as he raised one hand and pointed upwards.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And why?--I reckon it's because they don't -understand. I thought that once myself, but I -see clearer now. The Tide's a good friend, but -Death's better."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did you find that out, Timothy?" -questioned Mrs. Power.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was many a long year ago now," was the -reply. "The old clergyman's sister, Miss Alice, -she was a good one, she was, and she would have -us young chaps up at the big house to learn us -summat when the winter nights did come, and the -sea was too rough for the fishing. She was -always for book learning, was Miss Alice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Don't go and waste your life, lad,' she would -say, 'thinking it's enough to feed the poor body; -'stead of that, do something for the soul too.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's dead and buried she's been this long -while now, but she comes back to me plain, -she do, my eyes they seem to see her sitting there -yet, same as I saw her last, the week before she -died. She sent for me, she did, seeing I was one -of her old scholars, to tell me she was going home, -and to bid me take more thought for heaven. -She was always a wonderful kind teacher, was -Miss Alice, and her face fair shone when she spoke -of God and the golden city.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That evening she was sitting by the fire, and -on the wall just behind her was a big picter. -Well--that picter it transfixed me wholly; it -stuck in my mind, it did, I have it before me -now, as plain as a pikestaff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was it like?" asked Mrs. Power.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was an old chap--as it might be me," -answered Timothy, "and he was sitting in his -big arm-chair--as it might be this 'un, and his -Bible by his side, and his vittles on the table--just -as I have here. He did look so wonderful -tired, that poor man, and he was resting so -comfortable in the big chair. His eyes they were -shut, and his head it was leaning back, and he was -sleeping so quiet and peaceable-like. But you'd -never guess what was in that room along of him. -No, you'd never guess."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would rather you told me," said Madelaine, -"I'm not good at guessing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," continued Timothy, "along side of -the table was a great big skeleton, dressed up in -long flowing clothes, and its face looked right -kind and gentle, it did, and its hands were -stretched up, a-pulling the rope of a great bell -that hung in the belfry over the old man's head. -The sun was just sinking, you could see it out of -the little window in the back of the picter. -Says I to Miss Alice, 'The old chap'll be finely -scared when he wakes up and sees the ghost.' 'No,' -said she, 'there's writing here below, and -it means something quite different. The name of -that picture is "Death as Friend." It means -that he's come to call the poor man away from -all his want and all his weariness, and to tell him -it's time to go up to the beautiful city and the -light of God.' He's no enemy--he's a right good -friend for an old man to have."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you're expecting him to come for you, -Timothy," said Madelaine gently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I'm just waiting here for my friend," was -the quiet answer. "He won't be long now, and -the other friend down below there, I know he'll -wait till I'm in the mansions of gold before he -takes down the walls of my little house here. -I'm waiting quite patient, and I'm not afraid. -We're waiting, all of us, my friends and me, for -we're all in the Hand of Him that's mightier -than the mightiest, Him that's the best Friend of -all. I be safe to trust in Him, for He knows the -end from the beginning, and the times and the -seasons are His alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old man took off his fisherman's cap as he -spoke, and closed his eyes as if in prayer. -Mrs. Power did not like to disturb him, but silently -left the hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sunny landscape look blurred to her -as she walked home along the edge of the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've had a lesson," she said to herself. "The -Lord knoweth them that are His. Surely we -may well commit ourselves to the care of our -Best Friend."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-thief-in-the-night"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A Thief in the Night</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was a warm August evening, and the windows -of Sea View Cottage were opened wide -to let in the faint breeze which had risen with the -turning of the tide. The lamp was lit in the -little sitting-room, and in its soft glow sat -Mrs. Power, her head bending low over her work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly she looked up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was that curious noise?" she exclaimed. -"It sounded as if someone was in the -garden. I really wish old Mrs. Sheppard would -keep a dog. It is not safe to be so far off the -high road, and she so deaf."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She rose and went to the window, peering -vainly out into the darkness, where nothing was -to be seen save the dim outlines of the trees lazily -waving their branches against the starlit sky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder if it was Robin walking in his -sleep again," she said. "I'll take the light and -see if he's all right."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She turned to go, but before lifting the lamp -she glanced at the watch which lay beside it on -the table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Half-past ten!" she remarked, as she took -the key and wound it up. "Late hours for this -Sleepy Hollow, but I think I'll go on a little -longer with my embroidery before I go to bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Replacing the watch, she disappeared with the -light into the passage. As the door closed, a -man's face glanced stealthily in at the window, -and the next moment a rough figure in a long -overcoat had crept unobserved into the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ladies shouldn't leave their jewellery so -tempting-like in a poor man's way," he muttered. -"What else can they expect but to find their -trinkets gone when they come back? Serves -'em right for dangling them in front of a fellow's -nose!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He made his way cautiously to the table and -groped about with his hands until he found -what he wanted. "Gold!" he ejaculated, "I'm -pretty sure of it by the feel, and a gent's too, by -the size of it; not to speak of a good thick -chain that'll bring in a nice little sum by itself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He slipped his spoils into the pocket of his -coat, and stood pondering for a moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is there nothing else that I could nab?" -he said to himself. "Silver spoons aren't usually -found in country lodgings, so it's no use looking -in the sideboard, but I think I caught sight of a -missionary-box on the mantelpiece which might -be worth enquiring into, seeing there's not much -else to bag.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ha! Pretty heavy!" he added, as he -weighed the box is his hand. "With no -disrespect to the missionary, I'll relieve him from -having to dispose of too much wealth. Pennies, -no doubt, mostly, but they tell no tales, and come -in handy for a drink."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he was in the act of putting the box into -his other pocket, he saw to his dismay that the -light was again approaching the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've particular reasons for not showing my -attractive face in this neighbourhood, lady," -he continued under his breath, "so with your -leave I'll decline the pleasure of making your -acquaintance this evening, and go back by the -way I came."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He made his way hastily to the window, and -was in the act of getting out, when the light of -the lamp flashed out over the garden from the -porch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine had found her little son fast asleep -in the tiny room which opened off her own, and -her motherly anxiety being allayed, her thoughts -turned again to outside dangers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll close the parlour window," she said, "as -it's getting late, just in case there might be some -one loitering about."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By experience she had discovered that to do -this efficiently it was necessary to push the sash -up from outside, so placing the lamp on the -porch-seat, she walked a few steps along the path which -led by the front of the cottage, and proceeded to -shut up the casement with a bang. The stranger -had just time to withdraw his hands from the sill, -and to start back into the darkness of the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out there!" he growled low to himself, -"I don't want to leave the tip of one of my -fingers in exchange for what I've taken. Now," -he added, "the question is--how shall I get -out of this hole? My knowledge of old Mother -Sheppard's diggings in the past ought to serve -me in good stead to-night. If I can only manage -to slip into the dark passage that leads to the -kitchen, I know there's a capital hidey-hole under -the stairs, where I've lain in ambush as a boy, -and into which I expect I could squeeze again at a -pinch."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sure enough, before Madelaine had re-entered -the house and reached the sitting-room with her -lamp, the intruder had gained the coveted refuge, -and was crouching down unseen within the -recess. Here he remained, cramped and silent, -until the last sounds had died away in the house, -and the uneasy watcher had laid herself down -to rest. Not till then did he creep forth from -his shelter and make his way to the kitchen, -into which he walked as one intimate with the -place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother Sheppard generally had a shakedown -in the room at the side," he soliloquized. -"If she's as deaf as she used to be, there's not -much fear of disturbing her, even if I dance a -hornpipe on the table. Anyway, there's no -doubt she's a good sleeper, judging by the noise -she makes over it. Sounds more like a concert -of tin whistles and drums, than one old woman -snoring!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The burglar peeped in at the half-open door, -and by the light which came from the still -flickering fire in the kitchen, he made out the humble -couch whereon Mrs. Sheppard lay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder if she keeps her hoard under her -pillow," he continued. "They say these -skinflints usually do. Anyhow it's worth a search, -and I'll hope for a bit of good fortune this time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went up to the bed and gently inserted his -hand beneath the bolster, on which reposed the -aged head with its close-fitting nightcap and neat -grey hair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing there!" he said. "Perhaps it's -under the mattress. I'll have one more try, -and then I'll go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If a flash-light had been turned at that moment -suddenly upon the scene, it would have disclosed -the evil look of triumph which just then rested -on the man's face. With a sardonic grin he -withdrew his arm, clutching in his hand a leather bag, -tied tightly up with knotted string. Returning -to the kitchen, he quietly let himself out by the -back door, after having feasted royally upon -goodly slices of the bread and ham which he -found so conveniently ready to his use in the -old dame's cupboard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, where are those two nice fat ducks I -collared so cleverly before I went round to the -front?" he said. "One of them nearly gave -me away when I cotched it round the neck. I -thought some one would be sure to hear its -parting quack. I'll be off with them and the rest of -the swag to Westmarket, before the sun is up, -and amuse myself there for a few days, before -coming back here to pay my respects to the old -man. No one saw me to-night, and if I turn -up like a good innocent prodigal son in a week's -time, not a soul will connect me with this neat -little job."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It would indeed be difficult to decide which of -the three inhabitants of the cottage was most -distressed when the morning revealed to them -their loss.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poor old Mrs. Sheppard sat rocking herself -to and fro in her chair by the kitchen fire, her -hands over her face, and the tears streaming -down her shrivelled cheeks. "It's all my -little savin's as have gone," she moaned, "every -mortal halfpenny as I've worked so hard to put -by. There's naught to keep me out of the -workhouse now--not even enough to bury me, if so -be as I die of a broken heart to-night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't believe I should mourn the theft -of all the money I have in the house as I do that -of the watch," said Madelaine, as for the -twentieth time she hunted in every likely and unlikely -place in hopes that she might absently have laid -it down somewhere the night before. "That -which my dear husband always wore, and which -was sent to me after he was dead! It may be -silly of me, but the face of that watch seemed to -me as the face of a friend. It comforted me when -I looked at it, and made me feel nearer my lost -one than anything else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As for Robin, he was inconsolable. To think -that his beloved Lily and Snowball should have -been carried off! His two special pets who -were so tame they would follow him all round -the garden and eat out of his hand! It was too -dreadful to think that their pretty sleek necks -had been wrung, and that they would be plucked -and eaten like any common barndoor fowl. -Such a possibility had never before entered his -head. To him they were only the beautiful -creatures which the good God had created for -his special joy. It is to be feared that the -disappearance of the missionary-box sank into -comparative insignificance beside this larger -grief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was vain to recount their woes to the stolid -village policeman who came pompously to -enquire and make elaborate notes of all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's been a clever fellow, that!" was the -verdict. "But whoever he is, he's got clear -away, and left no clue either. It's a mystery, -m'am, and a mystery it will remain for ever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a pity I've just come a few days too -late," said Benjamin Green, old Timothy's son, -as he sat taking a glass at the "Bull Inn," the -Saturday after the burglary. "Hopeless stick-in-the-muds -you are in this out-of-the-way place. -If you want to be wakened up it's to America -you should go, where I've been all these years. -Away there, they'd have hunted the scapegrace -out in no time, aye, and strung him up on the -nearest tree too, for daring to rob widows and -children in that heartless manner. If only I'd -been here in time, I bet you I'd have found him -for you! It's just my luck only to have arrived -to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have you been up to see your old father yet, -Green?" asked one of the men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," answered Ben. "I thought I'd -fortify myself here before setting out for the -affecting interview. It's not every day that a -long-lost son returns home, and I always feel -the better for a dram."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What be you a-going to do with him, now -you've come back?" continued his questioner. -"Be you going to leave him to tumble over the -crag along with the house, or be you going to -make him move, and take Squire Field's offer -before it be too late?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What offer is that?" asked Ben. "I -haven't heard of it before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mean to say you've been half an hour in the -place, and nobody's told you how the squire -says he'll give old Timothy one hundred pounds -for the bit of ground he owns on the top of the -cliff? Which sum he'll pay in solid gold the -day the old man quits the house. They say he's -wild to pull down the whole place seeing as how -it spoils the view from his grand windows."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben whistled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've not been up to see my father yet, but I -warrant you, he'll not stay much longer in yonder -cottage if that's the way the wind blows. One -hundred pounds in solid gold! What can the -old chap be dreaming of? Why on earth didn't -he move the same hour as the offer came?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Says he'll never budge till he's carried out -feet foremost," replied another of the company.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no use argufying with him. He's -wonderful firm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's not argument I'll use," answered Ben. -"It's common sense first, and then force, if need -be. You tell me the house may fall on to the -beach any day now, and if that happens Mr. Field -may cancel his bid for the land. Of course -one might draw him again by threatening to -build another house a little further back, but -that's a risk. If the offer is in writing it would -be safer to hold him to it now, so long as the walls -are there. Catch me losing a hundred pounds -for the sake of an old man's fads. I'll go up -to-night, and we'll soon see who's got the strongest -will!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a strangely assorted pair that sat -opposite each other in the little cottage on the -cliff that evening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben's countenance was dark with passion, and -his eyes were fixed with a vicious scowl upon his -father's frail shrinking form.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You say you'll not move," he shouted. -"You dare tell me that, and a hundred pounds at -stake."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I dare," was the answer, and the quavering -voice seemed to take on a new strength as he -said the words. "Never will I sleep under any -roof but this. Here was I born, and here will I -die, and no man has a right to say me nay. Many -a time have I prayed for thee, Ben, and longed -to see thee again, my only child, but for such a -home-coming as this did I never reckon. It had -been better that you had never returned at all. -Go now, and leave your old father to die in peace, -alone with God."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment, even Ben's rough spirit was -checked as he heard the quiet decision come from -the pale thin lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old man looked up with calm and reproachful -eyes into his son's face. "I'm in the -Hand of the Almighty," he added. "I'm not -afraid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he spoke, a sudden sound like the report -of a gun made the two men look round, and Ben -involuntarily took a few steps in the direction of -the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, it's a great crack just come in the -ceiling beyond the passage," he exclaimed. "The -next thing will be that the wall itself will be -down. If you don't think it worth while saving -your own neck, I certainly shan't risk mine a -minute longer. But you needn't flatter yourself -that the last word has been said. If the house -is still standing to-morrow morning I'll be up by -sunrise to carry you out bodily, with or without -leave, it matters not to me, and I'll see to it that -the money's paid--cash down--before that same -sun has set."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With an oath, Ben hastily quitted the house -and went back to console himself in the hospitable -parlour of "The Bull," where he aired his -grievances before an admiring and sympathizing -group, only too glad to drink at his expense to -the success of his desires.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="that-terrible-eye"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">That Terrible Eye</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The sun rose on Sunday morning in a cloudless -sky, and as the day wore on, continued -to pour down his golden beams upon the earth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bells of the little church rang out their -invitation to the villagers to come and worship -in the house of prayer, and from far and near -quiet groups of country folk wended their way -through leafy lanes and ripening cornfields to -hold their tryst with God. Robin and his -mother were there betimes, and old Mrs. Sheppard -took her seat as usual in the foremost pew, -her shawl pinned across her stooping shoulders -and her old-fashioned bonnet tied with large -black ribbon bows under her chin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Service ended, the little knots of worshippers -scattered once more in pleasant anticipation of -the Sunday dinner awaiting them at their -journey's end, and the hot afternoon wore on to its -close, its silence broken only by the low murmur -of the tide upon the beach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun was now nearing the end of his giant's -race across the sky, but old Timothy still sat -peaceful and unmolested in his cottage upon the -cliff, untroubled by the angry threats hurled at -him by his son the night before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The truth was that Ben was in no state that -Sabbath morning either to carry out his designs -against his father or to think again of the -tempting bait held out by Mr. Field. His time in the -"Bull Inn" the preceding evening had been -only too zealously employed, and all that long -summer day he lay a useless and helpless log in -an upstairs chamber of the little hostelry, -sleeping off the effects of his night's excesses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another inhabitant there was of that seaside -village to whom this day had been a blank. For -Julius, the lonely child of Farncourt, Sunday -brought no pleasant memories. The Sabbath -bells meant nothing to him, for Mr. Field had -long since given up church-going, and his little -son connected the day only with the dreary fact -that even the gardeners and grooms would be -away during all the long and cheerless hours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On this particular afternoon he felt more than -usually dull. The glimpse he had got of Robin -and his happy home interests made him long to -share again in the latter's pursuits. Neither his -rabbits nor his dog seemed altogether satisfying -after having once tasted the joy of a congenial -friend.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll go down to the Cottage," he said to -himself, "and see how Peter is getting on in his new -hutch. I know father's gone off in the motor to -call at the earl's, and he can't be back for an hour -at least, so I'm pretty safe not to be caught."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no one in the garden as he walked -up the little path, but just as he reached the -door of the house Robin rushed out with a -paint-box in his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo, Julius, is that you?" he said, coming -suddenly to a stand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo, Robin," was the reply. "How's Peter?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without more ado the two boys made their -way to the rabbit's dwelling, and stood for a -few moments wrapt in contemplation of their -joint handiwork.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I mustn't keep mother waiting any longer," -said Robin at last. "I'm going to paint a text -while she reads to me. We're sitting in the -summer-house, as it's so hot in the sun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean by painting a text?" -asked Julius. "I thought texts were in the Bible."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You </span><em class="italics">are</em><span> funny, Julius," replied Robin. "Of -course they're in the Bible, but these are printed -on cards in nice big letters with borders and -flowers. I'm allowed to paint them on Sunday, -and they're really jolly to do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before Julius was introduced -to the series of large outline texts which Robin -displayed with pride and the eager energy which -characterized his every action.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you like," he said, "perhaps mother will -let you paint one with her colours. She's lent -me her paint-box as it's so much better than -mine."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've got a far finer one than that," remarked -Julius, "with ever so many more paints in it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin looked up in surprise at the unmannerly -comment, but his mother signed to him to pass -it by, and spread out the texts for the boys to -choose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I find there are two exactly alike," she said, -"suppose you each take one, and we'll see who -gets on the better."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin read out the words as she held them up -for him to see.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, -beholding the evil and the good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's my favourite verse," he added. -"Let's paint that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think that's at all a nice one," said -Julius. "I don't want God's eyes to be always -looking down at me, seeing everything I do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It just depends on how you feel about God," -said Mrs. Power, "whether you look upon Him -as your enemy or as your friend. You remind -me of two little stories I once heard. I'll tell -them to you and then you'll understand what I -mean.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was once a prisoner who had been -sentenced to solitary confinement in a gaol. -He was condemned to live for months in a cell -with no window except a tiny grated one so high -up in the wall that he could not see out of it. -It was bad enough to be obliged to endure this, -but there was something else which made it much -worse. In the door of the cell a little round -hole had been made, and behind it a jailor was -always stationed so that he could look in through -the hole and watch the prisoner."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How horrid!" exclaimed Robin. "I -wonder how he could bear it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The thought of that eye always upon him -and taking note of everything that he did, nearly -drove the poor captive mad," continued his -mother. "Sometimes he would dash up -suddenly to the little aperture and thrust his face -close to it, if by this means he could perhaps -startle the jailor and make him withdraw if only -for a moment from the unceasing watch. 'That -terrible eye,' he would call it, when he was at -length released, and could recount his experiences -to his friends."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sure God's eye is terrible," said Julius. -"It makes me frightened when I think of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen to the second story then," answered -Mrs. Power, "and you'll see the other side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My mother used to tell me that when she -was quite a little girl she was dreadfully afraid -of two things--a brindled cow that had been -known to run at a child, and the butcher's large -black dog. My grandfather's cottage was at the -side of the road, and there was a straight piece -that led from its door to a small shop just at the -entrance of the village. You could see the entire -length from the corner of the garden, and it -would not take you more than five minutes to -run the whole way between the two houses. -One day my mother was sent to fetch some -groceries which had been ordered at the store, -and as the sister who usually went with her was -ill, she had to go alone. Now this was very -alarming to her, as the brindled cow's field lay beside -the road, and she had never been quite so far by -herself before. 'Don't be silly, Lizzie,' said her -father, who was smoking in the porch. 'You're -getting too big a girl to be frightened at nothing. -I'll watch as you go along and see that no harm -comes to you.' So off she started with her -pennies in her hand, and a very anxious little heart -beating beneath her white pinafore. To her -dismay, just when she had got about half-way, -the head of the brindled cow appeared above -the hedge, and a moment later the creature had -forced its way through and was standing in the -lane. The child turned, and would have fled -homewards, but there, trotting leisurely towards -her in the middle of the path, whom should she -see but none other than her second enemy, the -butcher's dog."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What did she do?" asked Robin breathlessly. -"Did she climb up a tree and get safe?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was no tree to climb," replied -Mrs. Power. "The only thing she could do was to -crouch down, crying and trembling on the ground, -and try to hide herself under the brambles by the -road-side. Her one thought was, 'I'm so glad -father's looking, for he'll be sure to come and -help.' Sure enough before either the brindled -cow or the dog had reached the spot where she -lay, her father's hearty voice was calling to her -not to fear, and the next moment she was safe in -his strong arms, clinging to him with all her -tiny might."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What a good thing he kept his promise and -didn't forget to watch!" exclaimed Julius. -"Supposing he'd been looking the other way -when the cow got out!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's my lesson," said Mrs. Power, -smiling. "To know that her father's eye was -following her all the time was the greatest comfort -she had. It is just the same with us in regard -to God. If we look on Him as our kind, loving -Father and Friend, ready to help and to save, -it will only give us joy to think of His watchful -eye upon us, noticing everything that happens -to us. It will make us more careful than ever -not to displease Him, but all the same it will -cause us to feel very safe and happy. It is a -perfectly different case to that of the poor prisoner -living in constant dread of the terrible eye of his jailor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think I'll paint the verse after all," -remarked Julius after a pause, in which the boys -had been silently considering the matter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd like to feel God was my Friend," he said -to himself as he walked home. "But all the -same there's a heap of things I wouldn't like Him -to see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field drove up in the motor as Julius -arrived at the door. A glance at his face showed -the boy that his father had not returned in the -best of tempers. His eyebrows were drawn -together in a nervous frown, and his voice, -as he gave some orders to the chauffeur, was -harsh and imperious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you see the earl?" asked Julius.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I didn't," was the abrupt reply. "Don't -come bothering me with questions, Julius. I -haven't time to listen to your chatter just now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The truth was that Mr. Field's visit to -Lanthorne Abbey had not turned out so successful -as he had expected it to be. The interview with -Judge Simmons had given him the opportunity -to call which he had so long and vainly sought, -and it was under pretext of seeing him once -more that he had set off that day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll be certain to find them all in on Sunday -afternoon," he meditated, as he made his plans, -"and as I know the judge is leaving to-morrow -early, it will only look neighbourly if I run over -to give him a few more tips about that mine -before he goes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was therefore a great disappointment to him -to find that the earl was not at home, it being his -invariable custom to walk over to tea with his -mother every week, at the Dower House about -two miles away, where she had resided ever -since his father's death. The countess too was -absent, so he was told, when he enquired for her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Only Judge Simmons was in, and his manner -towards his visitor was chilling, to say the least -of it. Mr. Field could not get rid of the -impression that the American was trying to read him -like some enigmatical book, of which the -title-page had given him a distaste. It was with -feelings of relief that he once more found himself -leaning back in his car, and speeding swiftly -down the long avenue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Queer fellow, that judge," he mused. "I -was rather an idiot to run my head against him -unnecessarily. I'd sooner have his room than his -company any day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not till Julius came to say good-night -that his father deigned to take notice of him -again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what have you been doing with yourself, -my boy?" he said. "I've hardly set eyes on -you since morning. Been up to any mischief, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish I had," answered Julius, "but I've -no such luck. It's awfully dull, father, playing -all alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nonsense!" said Mr. Field. "You've got -everything and more than any sensible fellow -can wish. I hope you've not been dangling -after that strange lad that I warned you against, -Julius?" he added sharply, eyeing the doleful -face before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," was the answer. "I haven't seen him again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good boy," said his father. "Keep yourself -to yourself till you find someone worthy of -you. That's sound advice. Go to bed and -sleep upon it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Julius lay that night restlessly tossing to -and fro, did the angels gaze in pity upon the -poor ignorant child?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know God saw, and God heard," he murmured -to himself. "I believe He's looking down -at me now. I want to shut out His eye, but I -can't. I know He can see even in the dark."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He covered his head with the bedclothes, but -to his excited imagination the eye seemed to -pierce right down into his very heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll ask Mrs. Power how I can make God -my Friend, so that I won't mind Him watching -me," he said at length. "I liked the story of -the little girl."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dwelling again in thought upon the simple -incident with its happy ending, the weary boy -finally dropped off to sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin had knelt that evening as usual at his -mother's knee, but when he had finished his -prayer, a dreamy look stole into his face, as if -he was thinking of some great and solemn thing. -Madelaine waited quietly, wondering what new -revelation had come to her little son.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother," he said earnestly, "I'm so glad -God can see </span><em class="italics">everything</em><span>, not only the good things, -but the bad too. I'm really </span><em class="italics">glad</em><span> he sees the bad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why is that, Robin?" enquired Madelaine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Because then I'm sure that He won't leave -one single sin behind when I ask Him to 'Wash -me, and I shall be whiter than snow,'" replied -the boy. "I can't recollect them all, but if He -has seen everything He will know when the very -last one is blotted out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from -all sin, little Robin," said his mother. "You -can trust Him to complete His gracious work, -for He is able to save to the uttermost them that -come unto God by Him."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-mysterious-packets"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">The Mysterious Packets</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was not till Tuesday evening that Benjamin -Green was in a fit condition to visit his father -again. He found the old man in bed, very feeble -and shaky, but determined as ever that no power -on earth should prevail on him to leave the homely -roof which had sheltered him for so long.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I daren't exactly carry him off as he is," -thought Ben, after he had tried every form of -persuasion and threat which occurred to him. -"If he died on my hands upon the way I'd get -into a pretty row, I suppose, taking him out of -his house against his will. They'd say I did it -only for the money. It's a pity I ever let on -that I wanted it so much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He leant back in his chair with his hands -thrust into his pockets, and allowed his eyes to -wander round the room. They lit upon his -father's desk, carefully laid out as the centre -ornament on the top of the high chest of drawers -at the foot of the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what he's got in there," the rascally -son said to himself. "I'll make a point of -having a good hunt through it before long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Father," he added aloud, "did Mr. Field put -his offer in writing when he promised you a -hundred pounds for the cottage and the land?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Maybe he did, and maybe he didn't," was -the ambiguous reply. "It matters not what he -said or how he said it. Here I be and here I -remain, same as I have done all my life long. -It's no use you or the squire trying to make me -change my mind, no manner of use, I tell you. -It's in this little room that I'll be when the call -comes to go up higher, and I'll bide here till it -reaches me, and not trouble nobody whiles I wait."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben shrugged his shoulders impatiently as he -rose to go. "I must see if I can't make -Mr. Field fork out the tin somehow," he muttered. -"If I wait till the house falls down, he may not -see the fun of paying so much for a field that -will sooner or later follow suit. It won't be -difficult to find out if the proposal's in black and -white, if only I can get to the inside of that desk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Ben issued from the door of the cottage -he caught sight of someone contemplating the -scene from the top of the wooden stair which -led to the beach. He drew back into the shelter -of the porch to watch the stranger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Seems to me as if that man's figure is familiar -to me," he said. "I wonder where I've seen him -before. He appears mighty interested in the -place, the way he's staring so hard at everything. -I wish I could get a better view of his face."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he spoke, the man apparently finished his -survey and commenced to descend the steps to -the shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A minute later, Jenkins, the Farncourt -footman, walked past the end of the garden with -some towels over his arm. Ben had struck up -an acquaintance with him during one of his not -infrequent visits to "The Bull," and he now -hailed him from the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's that fellow that's just gone down -there?" he asked, pointing his thumb in the -direction of the sea. "A thick-set man with a -jerky sort of walk, looking for all the world as -if the whole place belonged to him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jenkins peeped down over the edge of the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, that's my governor!" he remarked, -"old Tommy himself. As it happens, the whole -place does belong to him, barring your little -house here that he can't get."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Field!" exclaimed Ben, "Tommy, as -you so respectfully call him. Sounds very -natural to me somehow." Suddenly he slapped -his hand upon his thigh. "Tommy Field!" he -repeated. "Tommy Field! Of course I remember -now. Made his money in America, didn't he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Piles of it!" ejaculated the footman. "He's -called 'the Silver King,' he's so rich. But I -must be off, or I'll get a wigging. He's going to -bathe this evening, and I've got his majesty's -towels."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some time did Ben continue to lean over -the garden gate after Jenkins had left him. -Judging from his preoccupied face his meditations -appeared to be profound and perplexing. -And so indeed they were.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His thoughts were far away, dwelling upon a -scene very different to the homely English -landscape now before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A vivid picture was being conjured up in his -mind. The roar of a mountain torrent seemed -again to make subdued music in his ears, and he -could almost feel the night breeze which stirred -the pine branches, as they waved in the -moonlight over a little wooden house which stood -upon the bank of the stream. Within the hut -two men held converse by the glimmer of an oil -lamp suspended from the rough beams of the -ceiling. He seemed to be looking into the -cunning, bloodshot eyes of one of the speakers, as he -leant forward to emphasize some remark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben laughed grimly as he recalled the scene, -for the features were those of Field, and in -Field's companion he recognized himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's strange we've not met again since that -time," he soliloquized as he puffed away at his -pipe. "Never dreamt he'd get on in the world -like this. Mighty queer he was that night, I -remember, though his tongue was so glib. Rum -thing altogether, now I come to think of it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some minutes Ben appeared to be lost in -speculations too deep for words. At last he -gave a low chuckle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder now if I could work it?" he -continued. "Sure enough I've got precious little -to go upon, but if I'm on the right tack and play -my cards well, I may be able to put the screw -on somewhere. 'Conscience makes cowards -of us all,' and if there was anything fishy about -it, he'll know, even if I don't! At any rate it's -well worth trying."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Jenkins returned with the towels about -half an hour later, Ben walked back with him a -little way upon the road.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Seeing your master's so rich I suppose he's -pestered with letters of all sorts?" he said, -"begging, and such-like?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Crowds," replied the footman, "mostly -circulars though, enough to light a bonfire every -week."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Does he ever get threatening letters, do you -happen to know?" enquired Ben, "from socialists -for example, who hold it a sin to own more -than your neighbours do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not that I'm aware of," answered Jenkins, -"but he doesn't do me the honour of inviting -me to share his correspondence, so you see I've -no means of judging."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was two days after the above conversation -when Jenkins again joined Ben as he was having -his usual glass at the inn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's curious you should have asked me that -question about the socialists," he said, "for I do -believe old Field got a warning from one of them -only this morning. He turned green enough for -anything when he read the letter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What letter?" enquired Ben, carelessly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," replied the footman, "I suppose -strictly speaking it could hardly be called one. -I happened to be handing him something at the -table, and was standing just at his shoulder -when he opened the envelope, so of course I saw -right enough what was in it. It was only half -a sheet of ordinary foolscap, and on it was pinned -a piece of blue paper of rather an unusual shade. -There was nothing written on the blue bit, but -on the white was a sentence in large letters a -blind man could have read."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was it?" asked Ben. "Anything -about cross-bones and skulls? Generally they -begin that way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," answered Jenkins. "These were the -words, and very harmless they seemed to -me--just this plain question--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'WAS IT NOT WRITTEN ON PAPER OF THIS SHADE?'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was that all?" exclaimed Ben, "and yet -Field turned green as he read it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Green as a pea-pod," was the reply. "For -a minute he stared at the words as if he didn't -quite take in their meaning, and then he just -crumpled the paper up quick and tossed it right -into the fire. A good shot he made too, so I -didn't have the satisfaction of picking it out of -the grate afterwards. He looked up at me -sharp, as if wondering could I have seen -anything, but I was gazing straight before me at -the big picture on the opposite wall, like the -well-trained footman that I am--so of course I saw -nothing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Queer," remarked Ben. "I wonder why -he was so put out. It seems to me that the -words were simple enough."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All that day Mr. Field was visibly upset. The -mysterious missive of the morning had evidently -got upon his nerves, and he could settle down to -nothing. As the posts came in he scanned them -anxiously, taking good care to open his letters -in the privacy of his own room. It was, however, -not till the end of the week that something -else happened to disturb him still further.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"May I undo your parcels, dad?" asked Julius -as he sat at breakfast with his father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a special privilege accorded to the -boy, to investigate the numerous advertisement -samples which poured in upon the wealthy owner -of Farncourt. Now it was a bottle of horse-liniment, -or a dainty tin containing some new style -of food for pheasants--now a neat box of super-fine -cigarettes, or a packet of some special blend -of tea--all professing to be the very best and -cheapest of their kind ever yet put upon the -market. It was an exciting occupation to cut -the string and discover the contents, and Julius -never failed to find amusement in the process.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, yes," said his father impatiently, in -answer to the boy's question, as he gathered up -his letters and went off to the study with them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look what a very funny advertisement this -is," said Julius, a few minutes later, as he opened -the study door. "Neither Jenkins nor I can -understand what it's meant for."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He laid a narrow cardboard box before his -father, in which reposed, on cottonwool, a short -wooden penholder, the end of which had been -evidently burnt off, as the blackened stump -clearly testified.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was only a scrap of paper besides, with -one sentence on it," continued Julius, as he read -out the following words--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'WAS IT NOT WRITTEN WITH A PEN LIKE THIS?'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field started up and seized the slip from -the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some wretched joke," he said, but Julius -saw that his father's hand trembled as he spoke. -"I'll open my parcels for myself in the future. -It's scandalous that anyone should be subjected -to vulgar pranks like this. I'll inform the police -if it goes on, and you can tell Jenkins so, if it's -true what you said about his having seen this -silly hoax."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was only one very small parcel addressed -to Mr. Field next morning, which, being marked -"private," excited Jenkins' curiosity to the -uttermost.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This time no one but the owner saw the contents, -for the study door was locked when they -were brought into the light of day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Only an old match-box, with one dead bee -carefully enshrined, rewarded Mr. Field's research, -and he was apparently completely puzzled -as to the meaning of the strange consignment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see they've written 'to be continued in our -next' on the top of the box," he said, "so perhaps -the answer to the riddle will come to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His supposition was correct, for sure enough a -postcard which seemed to give the clue arrived -by the very first mail. In one corner was -scribbled the word "continued," and in large -capitals right across the card were printed the -four letters--</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>"WARE."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"A dead bee yesterday and a communication -with 'ware' on it to-day," meditated Mr. Field -as he scrutinized the handwriting, "that can -mean nothing but 'beware,' I suppose, seeing -that the two are intended to supplement one -another. The postmark is London, so there is -not much help in that. I might as well look for -a needle in a haystack, as try to track my -correspondent through the post. Who can he be, and -what does he know, I wonder? I'd give a good -deal to find out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His disquietude was not allayed by the receipt -a day or so afterwards of two more little -matchboxes, each containing the corpse of another -bee. Hour after hour he mused on the possible -explanation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely it can't be a warning of death," he -shuddered. "If so, why should bees be chosen -as a sign? It is more likely that they stand for -letters. Perhaps the initials of the man who -sent them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly he started as an inspiration seemed -to flash into his mind. "Why, yes, of course -that's it," he exclaimed. "I see it all now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His heart seemed to stand still for a moment, -and a cold perspiration broke out on his forehead. -He sank down in his armchair, and covered his -eyes with his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder how much he knows," he said to -himself. "If it's a question of wanting money -I shan't grudge it if only I can stop his mouth. -It won't be long, I expect, before I hear from -him again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A week passed by and the tension on Mr. Field's -nerves grew worse and worse as each day -brought no fresh light to bear upon the case. -Jenkins and the chauffeur had both given notice, -unable to endure the unreasonable behaviour of -the master of the house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Such tantrums as he goes into nowadays -I never did see," bewailed the footman to his -chosen cronies in the village. "No wages will -ever pay for what I've had to put up with lately. -You'd hardly believe it, but yesterday he actually -threw a plate at me and nearly cut my chin, and -all because there was a little spot of dust upon -the rim. Catch me staying to be murdered -because of the carelessness of the kitchenmaid! -Not if I know it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It seemed an unfortunate time for Ben Green -to select, when he sent up a note one evening -offering to remove his father from his cottage, -and to make arrangements for the sale of the -land, if the squire would kindly let him know in -writing the terms of the agreement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What impudence!" exclaimed Mr. Field, as -he read the demand, "as if I would bind myself -down on paper to anything of the kind. The old -man wouldn't budge when I made him the offer, -fair and square, nearly a year ago now, and I'm -not going to renew it to this scamp of a son, who -they tell me has just returned to idle about the -place like a vagabond. The next gale will take -the house down on to the beach, and the sea will -soon eat away the rest of their paltry field, so I'm -not likely to pay this ne'er-do-weel a hundred -pounds for sitting by to see it go. Once their -little bit of land has disappeared I'll be careful -to put breakwaters along the shore to prevent -the waves doing any further damage to my own -property, but the sooner that portion of the cliff -falls over the better for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Old Timothy's son says as he'll be much -obliged if you could see him for a few minutes," -said Jenkins, who had stood meekly by during -this tirade. "There's something rather special -he wants to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may send him up then," replied -Mr. Field grimly, "and I'll give him a piece of my -mind. I don't think he'll favour me with a -second call, once I've had my say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You'll have a gay old time in there," -whispered Jenkins as he ushered Ben into the room. -"I wouldn't be in your shoes for anything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The footman wondered at the strange smile -which stole over Ben's face at the words. "I -expect I'll get on all right," was the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Vainly did Jenkins apply his eye and ear to -the keyhole, hoping to catch something of the -interview within, but the apartment was a long -one, and the occupants were at the further end, -so he had to retire baffled to the hall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It would have edified him could he have seen -what was taking place inside. Mr. Field stood -with his back to the fire, ready to let loose the -fury of his wrath upon the intruder, but as Ben -advanced, the great man's countenance suddenly -changed. His jaw fell and his eyes glared like -some startled animal when an enemy is near. -Ben walked quietly up to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose I'd better introduce myself as you -don't seem exactly to remember me. At any -rate you don't give the warm sort of welcome -an old pal might expect. B. B., Blustering Ben, -alias Benjamin Green, at your service, sir."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="robin-hood-s-lair"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Robin Hood's Lair</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Contrary to Mr. Field's expectations, this -was not by any means Ben's last visit to -him. Sometimes he would be absent from the -village for a week at a time, but on his return -no long period would elapse before he presented -himself again at Farncourt, and to the surprise -of the household, never failed to gain admittance -to their master's presence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I knew him in past days," was Ben's -reply in answer to the many questions which -were addressed to him. "Why shouldn't a -fellow sometimes go up to have a chat with an -old friend?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's plain enough those conversations don't -agree with him then," was the universal opinion. -"He's getting so jumpy and nervous, not half -the man he was a little while ago."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was certainly something wrong with -the Silver King. His double chin was fast -disappearing, and his waistcoat hung in loose folds, -instead of presenting the smooth expanse which -had formerly been the wearer's pride. His -temper also did not improve as time went on, -but became shorter and shorter, until at last even -his own son grew afraid of him, and gave him -as little of his company as was possible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If only I had a better clue I'd drive the nail -in harder," said Ben to himself after one of his -periodical absences, "as it is, however, I'm -apparently on the right tack, and if only I can -get him to commit himself a little further by -letting out something more definite when he's -speaking to me, I may be able to bring him -altogether to his knees. I could of course make -more public enquiries, but unfortunately I've not -got quite a clean sheet myself, and I might -perhaps find that I'd made it hot for Number One as -well as for Mr. Thomas Algernon Field. Besides, -I shall probably squeeze a good deal more out of -him by working this little affair on my own hook -than by letting someone else poach on my -preserves. Whatever it is that he's done, he's in -a blue funk over it, and would give anything to -hush the matter up. I must just go cautiously -to work, and in the meanwhile it's extremely -convenient to have such a handy bank to draw -on whenever I choose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben jingled some money between his fingers as -he spoke, with evident satisfaction, and puffed -complacently at his cigar.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder why he was in such a hurry to get -me to sign the document that night," he mused. -"If I hadn't been half-seas over I'd have looked -at it closer, but as it is I haven't a notion -what it was about, though I remember well the -colour of the paper, and the burnt penholder. He -hints darkly that I have let myself in for something -that I'd be sorry for once I was found out, but -I can't help thinking that in that case he would be -in a worse position than me. Anyhow, if we're -both in the same boat it won't be to my advantage -if I sink the craft by peaching to the world. -I'd better go on as I'm doing for the present -and reap the harvest I'm enjoying in consequence -of his fears. I think I'll walk up to Farncourt -now, and give another twist to the screw. My -last week in town was a roaring one, and the -sovereigns flew. It's fine fun to live like a -millionaire every now and then.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's one other thing I can't understand," -he added, as he wended his way to the house of -his victim. "Why did he look so pleased that -same night when he found the letter in old Wattie's -coat as it was hanging on the wall? He didn't -know I was peeping at him when he took it out -and slipped it into his own pocket. I know it -was only a few lines the boss had written to his -daughter, for he'd read it over to me that very -afternoon, and I was to post it when I went off -next day. It surely couldn't have had anything -to do with the paper I signed? I wish I had -asked about it at the time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he passed the lodge gates he met Julius -hastening to the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The voice of conscience, awakened in the boy's -heart by the terrors of the hours of darkness and -the loneliness, had been stilled and silenced when -the morning light arose, and having once -overstepped the bounds of truth and obedience, it -was easy to continue along the path of wrong.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two months had passed since that Sunday's -talk. The new tutor from Oxford had come and -gone, peremptorily ordered out of the house by -Mr. Field, who could not brook the superior -intellect and independent manner of the young -graduate. Thus the lad was left once more to -his own devices, and few were the days when he -found it impossible to arrange a meeting with his -friend at Sea View Cottage. He had almost -ceased to look upon his disobedience as a sin, -his only fear being that his father would find him -out at last.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This morning he found Robin in a great state -of excitement, brimful of new ideas and plans. -To the unimaginative Julius these continual -surprises were an unmixed delight. He never -knew what new rôle he would be expected to take -up as he joined his comrade in his play. Sometimes -it was a knight in armour, going to rescue -a captive princess, represented perhaps by old -Mother Sheppard or Mrs. Power. These, being -supposed to be under the spell of a magician, -were naturally unwilling to accompany their -youthful deliverers to the shore. Sometimes he -had to represent a character in a favourite tale, -but more often it was Robin's history lesson which -afforded the framework for some entrancing game.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm so glad you've come, Julius," was the -welcoming cry now as he appeared at the door, -"but what a pity your coat is grey. It's -fortunate my old jersey is green, for if I pull it -down as low as I can, it almost covers my knickers, -and no one would naturally look at them first."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why shouldn't my coat be grey?" questioned -Julius. "It's a very good colour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Because it should be </span><em class="italics">green</em><span>--Lincoln green," -exclaimed Robin. "They all had it. It was their -sort of badge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What badge?" asked Julius, altogether -puzzled by the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I forgot you hadn't heard," was Robin's -rejoinder. "I've been reading to-day in my -history-book about Robin Hood. He was an -outlaw--a splendid one--who lived in the woods, -and he and his followers were always dressed in -green, and had bows and arrows and hunted the -king's deer. I'll be Robin Hood, because of -course it's my name, and will you be one of my -merry men, Julius?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think an outlaw is a nice kind of -man," was the reply. "They were generally -hanged, weren't they?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Robin Hood was a </span><em class="italics">good</em><span> outlaw," responded -Robin earnestly. "He used to do all sorts of -kind things to the poor, and they loved him and -would never tell where he was hid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My coat has a greenish lining," remarked -Julius. "Do you think if I turned it inside out -that it would do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps it would," answered Robin doubtfully. -"I'll ask mother to lend you her green -scarf to tie round your waist, and we'll pretend -it's all that colour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This weighty matter arranged, the two boys -sallied forth to the little wood which lay at the -back of the cottage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The first thing to do is to find a cave, or some -place to sleep in," was the leader's order, -"and then we'll have a look at the king's deer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sure there aren't any deer here," remarked -Julius, "and if there were, we'd get into -a jolly row if we killed them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are lots of rabbits, and they'll do just -as well," replied Robin cheerfully. "Of course -we won't kill them really, we'll only -make-believe they are dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before an ideal site was found -for the hiding-place of the merry men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A high bank had been dug into long ago to -obtain gravel, leaving a hollow of about six -feet square. Young saplings and briars had -sprung up all around making an arch of green -above the level floor. Robin gave a shout of -triumph when he discovered the spot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If we can drag some branches here to make a -roof, it will be just like a real house," he said. -"We might make a wall in front with these -stones which are lying about, and only leave one -little hole for the door, so that it will be nice and -warm inside, and nobody will be able to see us, -even if they pass quite near."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It took longer than he had calculated to carry -out the grand idea--indeed for a whole week the -king's deer were permitted to go unmolested, -Robin Hood and his follower being too busily -engaged in building operations to turn their -thoughts to the chase.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a proud day when Mrs. Power was -invited to inspect the result of the boys' labours. -True, the wall was of such an unstable nature that -their guest had to be well warned not to lean -even her hand against it, in case it should fall. -What did it matter that the stone part of it only -attained to about the height of Robin's elbow? -The rest of it was satisfactorily completed by a -dilapidated wooden gate perched on the top, -and interwoven with fern and twigs, so as to -form an impenetrable screen from the outer -world. An old rug had been suspended by its -corners across the top of the pit, making a grand -roof when supplemented by branches laid in thick -layers above. Moss had been laboriously -collected from all parts of the wood wherewith to -cover the floor, and ferns were ingeniously planted -in crannies in the sandy walls to make it look -more natural, Julius said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a glorious moment when the kettle at -length boiled upon the camp-fire kindled at the -entrance, and still more delightful when -Mrs. Power and the two boys all squeezed inside -the hut to enjoy smoked tea in enamelled mugs, -and regale themselves with ginger biscuits and -toffee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You told us to get what we liked with the -sixpence, mother," explained Robin, "so Julius -chose the toffee, and I took the biscuits."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is hardly what I should have selected -myself," answered Mrs. Power, "but if it's what -you like, I'm more than satisfied."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think we ought to call the -house?" asked Julius. "Robin says 'The -Outlaw's Castle' would be a good name, but I -think it's a very silly one, as we've no -battlements or dungeons, not even a drawbridge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Julius wanted to call it 'Farncourt Arbour,'" -said Robin contemptuously, "which would be -simply awful."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you say to 'Robin Hood's Lair'?" -suggested Mrs. Power. "I believe that was -really the name of one of his retreats."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's better than 'Farncourt Arbour,'" -responded Robin. "Let us call it that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish we had a cupboard for the mugs and -the kettle," remarked Julius, "but perhaps the -tramps might find them and take them away. -It does seem a pity we can't sleep here, for I'm -sure not a drop of rain would come through the -roof."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is just one thing I shall bring to leave -here always," said Robin, "and that's the text I -painted the first Sunday Julius was with us. If -you will lend me two of your long hat-pins, -mother, I shall stick it up on that smooth piece -of the wall, so that if anyone did happen to -come in he would see it at once. It will make the -inside of the house quite bright and cheerful and -much more home-like. And you know, mother," -he added shyly, "the words might do a poor -tramp good."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-tramp"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">The Tramp</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Julius," said Robin in an awestruck voice -a few days later, when they met as usual -at the entrance of the wood, "I do believe the -tramp has really come. You said you would be -here at ten o'clock punctually, but I waited and -waited and you never turned up, so I thought -you had forgotten all about it and that I had -better go on to the hut by myself. When I had -got quite close up to it I saw a boot sticking out -of the door, and it gave me such a fright, I simply -scooted back into the road again. I was jolly -glad to see you coming along, I can tell you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought you wanted a tramp to come," said -Julius rather scornfully. "The best thing we -can do is to tell the policeman, and he'll send the -fellow about his business pretty quick. I call it -cheek for a nasty dirty beggar to go and rest in -our nice house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looked quite a good boot," replied Robin, -"not all over holes like some of them have. -Perhaps he's only a poor clean wanderer who -wouldn't do any harm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us have another look," said Julius. -"We needn't go very near."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With much care and precaution the boys crept -silently through the undergrowth until they came -in sight of Robin Hood's Lair, taking the greatest -pains to avoid treading on dead sticks or twigs, -after the manner of Red Indians tracking their prey.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are two boots now," said Robin under -his breath, "and they're quite tidy, both of them. -Perhaps he's not a tramp after all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he spoke, there was a movement inside the -hut, and a man emerged into the open. The -youthful spies crouched low among the bracken -to watch the intruder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was a tall, well-knit figure, but with a droop -in his shoulders which told of ill-health and -fatigue. His face bore out the same story, for -it was white and drawn as if with long suffering, -and his somewhat weather-worn clothes only -emphasized the frailty of the form beneath. His -cap was off, and the sun glinted down upon his -fair hair and short well-trimmed beard, revealing -a shapely head and thoughtful brow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's the nicest tramp I ever saw," remarked -Julius, "but he looks awfully ill."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't believe he's a beggar," rejoined -Robin. "I expect he's just someone come to -stay at the village so as to get sea-air after having -been in a hospital. They often do that. He -must be very poor, however, for though he seems -quite respectable, his coat is all patched and -frayed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The intruder had turned and was contemplating -the architecture of the hut with an amused -countenance. He now replaced his cap and -walked away in an irresolute manner, as if he -did not know exactly in which direction to bend -his steps. To the boys' dismay he finally bore -down straight towards their hiding-place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Keep still, Julius," whispered Robin. -"That's the way wild animals do when danger -is near. If we run, we're sure to be seen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Alas for his hopes! Wild animals do not -usually wear clean white collars, and in this -instance two snowy spots gleamed clearly and -distinctly through the thick screen of fern. In -another moment Robin felt his arm suddenly -seized, and glanced hastily up into the face that -bent above him, anxious to read his fate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a reassuring sight, for the blue eyes -that looked down upon him were full of sparkle, -and a merry smile was stealing round the corners -of the mouth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm afraid I've been trespassing," was his -captor's remark, as he held the boy with a firm -but gentle grip, "and worse than trespassing--actually -taking possession of a man's house -during his absence and making use of it as if -it were my own."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius had bolted like a hare at the sight of his -comrade's capture, but seeing that a friendly -conference was evidently taking place, he gradually -drew nearer to hear what was being said, being -very careful, nevertheless, to keep well out of -harm's way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad you used our house, sir," answered -Robin, gaining confidence by the kindly tone. -"I hope you found it comfortable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Most luxurious," responded the stranger. -"Indeed I must confess to having spent most of -the night there. I fell asleep yesterday evening -on that delicious carpet of moss, and when I at -last awoke it was actually morning and broad -daylight."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Were you really there all night?" exclaimed -Robin delightedly, "just as if it was a proper -house! I rather wish it had rained a little -though."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm very glad it didn't," was the reply. -"I hardly think that is a charitable desire of -yours!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I only mean that it would have been so -jolly to hear the rain outside, and yet to know -you had such a good roof over your head -that it couldn't get through," explained Robin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad to learn that you had no worse -motive than that for your wish," laughed -the stranger. "Now, my little chap, can you -tell me which direction I must take to get to the -high-road, as I haven't had my breakfast yet -and I'm growing hungrier every moment. I don't -want to go back to the village, but to strike out -for the next hamlet, as I'm tramping to London -and don't want to spend more time than I can -help upon the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You </span><em class="italics">are</em><span> a tramp, then?" exclaimed Julius, -who was now standing near, "even though you -haven't got holes in your boots."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I suppose I am," was the reply. -"Perhaps it would sound better if you said I -was on a walking tour. It comes to much the -same thing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thought you were a poor man just arrived -at Sunbury to get sea-air after you had been ill," -remarked Robin. "You looked so frightfully thin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A regular scarecrow!" said the stranger. "I -congratulate you as well as your friend on -being right in your guesses. I </span><em class="italics">am</em><span> a poor man -and I </span><em class="italics">have</em><span> been ill, and I certainly had hoped to -stay in Sunbury for a few days to try and get -up my strength a little; but I heard something -at the Bull Inn yesterday afternoon on my -arrival which made me change my mind and -resolve to move on. I mustn't waste time -talking, though, for I'm getting quite faint for -want of food, and must ask the next good -woman I meet to make me a cup of tea in her -kitchen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His looks certainly corroborated his statement, -for a deadly pallor had overspread his countenance -and he almost fell as he staggered up -against a tree.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm weaker than I thought," he murmured. -"I wish I had gone on last night instead of -stopping here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you will wait a minute," said Robin -eagerly, "I'll fetch you a glass of milk and some -biscuits. Mother always gives them to me for -my lunch, but I'd much rather you had them -than me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's too bad to rob you of your lunch, my -boy," was the grateful answer, "but really I -should be very glad of a bite. It would just -help me to get along. By the way," he called -out as Robin was darting off, "could you manage -to bring the refreshments without letting -everyone know I'm here? I have particular reasons -for asking. I'll tell you why when you come back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It will be quite easy," asseverated Robin. -"I often eat my lunch in the wood, so nobody -will think it funny if I carry it away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Julius considered it wiser to accompany the -messenger rather than remain with the man, -and many were the conjectures of the two boys -as they went together upon their quest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think he is in hiding from someone," said -Robin, "and is afraid to risk going into the -village in case he is taken prisoner. I wish he -was a cavalier on some secret errand from the -king. How splendid it would be to help him in -some glorious adventure like one reads about in -books!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's much more likely to be a fugitive from -justice," replied the more matter-of-fact Julius. -"It's rather queer of him sleeping in Robin -Hood's Lair all night, and not wanting to go to -Sunbury again. I've half a mind to tell father -about him and get him to send one of the -game-keepers round."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you betray him I'll never play with you -again! Never!" exclaimed Robin indignantly. -"It would be mean after he's trusted us like -this. I wouldn't have a traitor for my friend -for anything, and that's what you would be if -you told!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the pair returned to the house in the -wood with a plentiful supply of the promised -food, they found the stranger almost in a state -of collapse.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With the greatest difficulty they got him to -swallow a little milk, which revived him -somewhat, so that with their assistance he was able -at length to regain the shelter of the hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll be all right soon," he said to them. -"It's only my silly old heart. I've let myself -run down rather too much, that's all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To the boys' relief, in about twenty minutes -he was able to sit up, and partake sparingly of -their provisions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm afraid I must ask you to let me lodge -another night in your mansion," he said. "I -don't think my legs would carry me far to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why don't you go to 'The Bull'?" asked -Julius. "You'd be much more comfortable -in a bed. I know there is lots of room now, for -the season is over, and all the visitors have -gone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was my intention to stay there when I -came to Sunbury," was the answer, "but I heard -that somebody was now living in the neighbourhood -whom I would rather not meet again, and -therefore as I did not wish him to recognize me I -thought it best to go away. I tried to take a -short cut through the wood which I remembered -of old, but happening to come across your -little hut, it looked so inviting that I just -stumbled in and went to sleep. I never woke -till you found me this morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must go home to dinner now," remarked -Robin, "and Julius won't be able to come again, -as he's got to go out with his father this -afternoon, but I'll look in later and see if I can bring -you some more food."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Keep my secret, then, like good boys," said -the stranger. "I won't harm anybody or anything, -and I shall be off to-morrow by the break -of day, and not trouble either of you any more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many a time it was on the tip of Julius' -tongue to let fall some remark about their strange -guest, but the fear of losing Robin's fellowship -held him back. It is not nice to be called a -"traitor," and the flash in his friend's eyes when -he said the word lingered unpleasantly in Julius' -memory. There was also the ever-haunting -terror that his father would discover the -deception which he so consistently practised in utter -disregard to the parental commands. It was no -feeling of honour that checked the sentences -as they rose to his lips, but dread of the -consequences which might perchance recoil upon -himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going to read to old Timothy this evening," -said Mrs. Power to her little son, "and may -be out rather late, as I shall stop at the Vicarage -on my way back. You can take your supper -when you like, as I shall not be home in time to -give it to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Never before or after was Robin known to have -such an abnormal appetite. Fully half the loaf -and the whole of the butter vanished as if by -magic from the table. He surprised Mother -Sheppard also by a polite request for cheese, and -to her astonishment the whole piece was finished -when she came to clear away after Robin had -left the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If that boy doesn't burst with the supper -he's took to-night, my name's not Jemima Ann," -she exclaimed, "and every drop of the milk -gone as I heated specially, expecting as there -would be a good cupful left for me when he'd -done. I'm blessed if the boy don't seem to have -swallowed the jug too. Anyhow it's disappeared -as well as the milk."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin in the meanwhile was curled up -contentedly in a corner of the hut, watching its -inmate ravenously devour the supplies which he -had so successfully secured. A thick rug had -also been obtained by the boy and carried up in -triumph to the Lair. The ground was still dry -after an exceptionally long hot summer, and the -little bower certainly made an excellent shelter -with its firm sandy walls and mossy floor. Many -another wayfarer has been less comfortably lodged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think you can be a wicked man," -remarked Robin, after a careful scrutiny of the -worn face before him, "but I wonder why you -are so anxious not to meet the other fellow you -told us of. Perhaps it's he who is the bad one, -and not you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," answered the stranger, with a sad -attempt at a smile which went to Robin's heart. -"I'm sorry to say that I'm the bad one, as you -put it, but I am thankful I needn't stop there. -The sinner has been forgiven by the grace of -God, though the consequences of his sin on earth -cannot be rubbed out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you're not afraid of that?" said -Robin, nodding his head towards the text on the -wall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I rejoice because of it," was the reply. "He -Who knows all can forgive all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The blue eyes gazed out into the tangle of -wood, where the sun was setting behind the -interwoven branches, brown now with the touch of -coming whiter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A great sinner needs a great Saviour," he -murmured half to himself. "Perhaps He can -even help me to put right some of the wrong -before the end comes."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-flash-of-lightning"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A Flash of Lightning</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When Robin awoke next morning he found -that the weather had completely changed -during the night. Gusts of wind howled round -the little cottage and rattled the casement, as if -angry foes sought admittance to his room. From -his bed he could hear the hollow boom of the -waves upon the shore, and the old apple-tree -outside his window creaked and groaned as it -was forced to bend its aged limbs before the gale.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His first thought was of the house in the wood -and its mysterious occupant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll run up at once and see how the man has -got on," he decided. "I don't think it looks as -if it had rained yet, and it's pretty sheltered in -the coppice, so I hope he has had a good night. -I wonder if he is still there, or if he went at break -of day as he said he would."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before he was peeping through -the doorway of the little hut, his hair blown like -an aureole about his forehead and his cheeks -flushed by the buffeting of the wind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of such is the kingdom of heaven," were the -words that rose spontaneously to the stranger's -lips as he glanced up at the fair vision before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm not gone yet, Robin," he said as he held -out his hand to the boy. "I am afraid I must -ask you to put up with me for a few hours -longer. I didn't feel quite up to an early start -this morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Robin flew to his side and took the thin fingers -in his.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course you may stay here as long as you -like," he replied. "I'm only afraid there's a -storm coming on, and if it's very bad the roof -might perhaps let in a little rain, supposing, you -know, it came down in torrents."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stranger smiled. "It's worth feeling ill -to get another glimpse of you, my boy," he said. -"I must confess that the longing for it rather -weighed with me when I debated about my -departure in the early dawn. I shall have to start -soon, however, so as to be sure to catch the -evening train to London, as it is hopeless to think -of getting there on foot after this attack. It is -six miles to the station, isn't it, Robin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Six and a quarter," answered the lad, "and -there are two hills on the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall be lucky if I arrive there before -midnight," was the reply, "but I'll have a try, -anyhow. Meanwhile, I've still got some of the bread -and butter you brought me last night, and a little -milk in the bottom of the jug, so I shall do very -well. Don't you bother about me, little chap. -I'm used to roughing it a bit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will bring you my lunch again at eleven -o'clock," said Robin, "but I do wish you would -let me tell mother about you, as she would know -so much better than I do what you ought to have. -I promise you, honour bright, that I wouldn't -tell anyone else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not even mother," answered the stranger, -"though I am sure she must be a true and good -woman who owns you as her son. God bless -you both--if a prayer from such as I can bring -you a benediction."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He watched the boy disappear among the -trees, and then, turning over with his face to the -earth, he groaned aloud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, my God!" he exclaimed. "What might -not have been! Truly the way of transgressors -is hard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were traces of tears in his eyes when he -at length rose and proceeded languidly to finish -the provisions lying beside him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Julius, I want you to come with me to -Westmarket to-day," said Mr. Field as he sat at -the breakfast-table that morning. "Be ready at -eleven o'clock sharp. A grand bazaar is being -held there in aid of the Town Hall, and no end of -swells are to be present. The Countess of -Monfort is taking a great interest in the cause, -and I must certainly put in an appearance, or -they might think it rude. Money is not a bad -thing, after all, and I have no doubt they will be -glad enough to see me, even though neither her -ladyship nor the earl have taken the trouble to -return my call."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't want to go," was the sulky reply. -"I hate bazaars, and swells, and countesses, -and it's beastly rot driving in the motor, with -nothing to do but to sit still."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't let me hear you speak like that again, -Julius," said his father sternly. "Those are my -orders and it is your part to obey."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Couldn't you go a little later?" pleaded the -boy. "Eleven o'clock is so very early."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It certainly was a little hard upon him, for he -had set his heart on going down to the wood -immediately after breakfast. The tramp, as he -still called him, fascinated the lad strangely and he -longed to find out more about the lonely stranger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The countess herself opens the bazaar at -noon," replied his father, "and we shall need all -our time to get there before the ceremony. -So not a moment later shall I start. If you are -not standing on the doorstep waiting for me, it -will be the worse for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Mr. Field left the apartment, Julius stamped -his foot in impotent anger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's too bad!" he exclaimed. "Why should -I have to dress up like a doll in my best clothes, -and waste the day like that, when Robin is -allowed to run about in the wood just as he likes. -I wonder if there would be time for me to slip -down before I have to get ready for the car. -There is just an hour. If I ran all the way I -think I could do it. I should like to see if the -man is still there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Eleven o'clock came, and the motor was at the -door. So was Mr. Field, but no Julius. For -five minutes there was ominous silence, as butler -and chauffeur stood motionless, awaiting their -master's pleasure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Drive on," said Mr. Field at length, as he -flung himself into the car, and the look on his -face was not agreeable as he passed out of sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sorry for the little fellow, even though he -is such a spoilt puppy," volunteered the footman -who had come in Jenkins' place. "I expect -he'll catch it hot before the day is out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was difficult for Mr. Field to regain his -composure before he arrived at the end of the -drive. To be openly defied by his son in the -presence of his servants was an offence not to be -lightly passed over. The unctuous smile which -illumined his features was forced and unnatural -as he officiously went up to the countess to -congratulate her on the success of her undertaking.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What an impossible man he is," she -remarked later to a friend. "He seems to have -'money' written all over him, and nothing else -apparently to recommend him to the world. I -really am honestly grateful to him for the way he -is showering sovereigns about, but it doesn't -make me any more anxious to have him as my -next-door neighbour. I shouldn't mind his -being uneducated or plain, some of the best of -nature's gentlemen are that--it's the -pretentious vulgarity of the man I can't stand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field fared no better with the earl. A few -cold words of welcome in response to the effusive -greeting bestowed upon him by the millionaire, -and Lord Monfort turned away to escort a -new-comer to his wife's stall. It was pleasant, -however, to feel that in spite of it all, he was -undoubtedly considered a person of importance -at the sale. Fair ladies crowded round to -persuade him to buy absolutely useless things at -utterly exorbitant prices, and his circuit of the -hall was a sort of triumphal progress, delightful -while it lasted, but leaving him somewhat -exhausted at the close.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had other business in Westmarket besides -his social duties, which detained him there some -hours, but he returned to the bazaar to have a -cup of tea before leaving the town. He was -resting comfortably in the refreshment marquee, -enjoying the band, when a sudden drop in the -music caused the voice of someone sitting at a -distant table to resound distinctly across the -room. Mr. Field would not have noticed his -companions, had he not happened to look up -hastily and so caught the eye of a young man, -one of the group, who was facing him. He -recognized him as the countess's nephew, and saw -him give a quick sign to his friend to cease -speaking, but not before a few isolated remarks had -reached the listener's ear. He could not follow -the whole sentence, but he was sure he heard -the name of Judge Simmons mentioned in -connection with a certain money affair. There was -no doubt about the concluding words--"distinctly -shady"--for the band stopped suddenly -as they were uttered, and there was nothing -to veil the unpleasant insinuation of the phrase.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What possible reason could that young -fellow have had in checking his companion -when he saw me, unless it was because I was -the subject of their conversation, and they did -not want me to hear?" So he mused as he -absently stirred his tea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The band struck up once more, but to Mr. Field -the music this time sounded intolerably -harsh and grating. The jingle of the tune set -his teeth on edge, and he felt he could endure it -no longer. It was a relief when the crowded hall -was left behind, and he felt the cool air again -upon his brow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was nearly four o'clock now and the day -was closing in. Heavy clouds were massed over -the sea, looking black and thundery, and the -dust blew in fitful eddies around.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think we're driving into a storm, sir," said -the chauffeur.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The simple words jarred strangely on Mr. Field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't speak till you're spoken to," he -snapped. "What you have got to do is to -attend to your business and not make remarks -about the weather."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment the motor reached a steep -part of the last hill, necessitating dropping into -a lower gear. The chauffeur, irritated by the -uncourteous taunt, plied pedal and lever with -quite uncalled-for vehemence. There was a -harsh grinding sound and the car stopped with a -sudden jerk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's no use, sir," he said, after a few moments -tinkering at the machinery. "The gears are -jambed and she won't move an inch. I'm afraid -I'll have to get her towed home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not here a fortnight, and you've broken the -car already," exclaimed Mr. Field, his fury rising -to boiling-point as he realized that he should -have to yield to the inevitable and walk -ignominiously back to Farncourt. "I give you -warning on the spot, and no character; so you -may leave when you choose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Discarding his fur coat as too heavy, he turned -his back on the damaged vehicle and set out -upon the way home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Driving into a storm!" he repeated to himself -as he plodded along the road. "I only hope -not. If I was superstitious I should call it a -horribly bad omen. Curious how nervous I feel -to-day! It surely must be something in the air. -But bad gales have been weathered before now, -and I think I'm pretty safe, considering all things. -I confess it was a nasty shock when Ben Green -first turned up, but he evidently knows very -little, or he would have had me in a hole long -ago. There is no one else I need fear. I fancied -Simmons had a queer look in his eye that day I -saw him at the Abbey, but he's powerless to do -any real harm. Even if he raked up unpleasant -questions about the papers, not a soul was -witness of what led up to it all. That is a secret -known to no one in the wide world but myself. -The past is too deeply buried by this time -for any spectres to rise from the grave now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he spoke, a peal of thunder reverberated -forth, so unexpectedly that it caused him to give -an involuntary start.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall take the short cut through the wood," -he said, "and I must be quick about it, for it's -looking rather bad all round."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sky was becoming more and more threatening -every moment, and darkness seemed to -descend almost at once upon the land. Mr. Field -shivered as the air grew chill, and regretted -the warm garment he had left behind in the car.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm feeling out of sorts," he added. "Those -silly remarks at the bazaar upset me a good deal, -though there is really no need for me to mind. I -wish, however, I hadn't come by the wood, -especially as I seem to have lost the right path, -and wandered rather out of my way. It is -eerie all by myself in the gloom, with such a -tempest brewing too. Bother! There's the -rain!" he exclaimed, as two or three big drops -splashed against his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A flash of lightning lit up the sky, revealing to -his anxious gaze the rough hut which the boys -had constructed with so much care, and which -stood only a few paces from the narrow track.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A woodman's shed, I suppose," he said. "I -may as well take refuge inside, for it looks as if -there was going to be a regular deluge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was right. Down came the rain, pattering -loudly on the crisp autumn leaves, first with a sort -of measured beat, then more rapidly, as if driven -fiercely by an ever-compelling force from behind. -Suddenly with a mighty rush, it seemed as though -the cloud had burst overhead, and hissing torrents -poured in straight unbroken lines from the clouds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The little house was empty, and Mr. Field -stood looking out of the door, while the lightning -played about the tops of the trees, illuminating -the depths of the dark copse as with the -brightness of day. His was not a brave nature at the -best, and the scene was terrific enough to strike -awe into the heart of a bolder man than he -claimed to be. He withdrew further into the -shed, as the thunder continued to roll above him -in long deafening crashes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is it says that thunder is the voice of -the Almighty?" he muttered. "It is in the -Bible, I believe. It sounds awful enough for anything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just then a flash of more than usually vivid -character lit up the interior of the shelter, and to -Mr. Field's consternation, words of fire appeared -to blaze out before his eyes. For a moment, to -his excited imagination it seemed like the writing -on the wall at Belshazzar's feast. Could this -be the Hand as well as the Voice of God?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was the text which Robin had pinned up -inside the hut--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY -PLACE, BEHOLDING THE EVIL AND THE GOOD."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It came like a message from an unseen Power, -an answer to the thoughts which had so lately -filled his mind, and the words burnt into his -very soul.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In every place--in every place. Beholding -the evil--beholding the evil."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sentence echoed through his brain until -he could bear it no longer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will that verse never cease to haunt me?" -he exclaimed. "Is there truly a Witness in -Heaven Who sees all--all--and Who can, -when He wills, bring even our hidden sins into the -light?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He made as though he would leave the hut, -when suddenly to his horrified gaze, a second -flash revealed a pale emaciated face peering in -through the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a loud cry, Mr. Field rushed at the -opening, and with superhuman strength hurled the -apparition from him as he dashed past.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A dark form fell heavily into the bushes, but -he stayed not to see. Scrambling, falling in the -inky blackness, he at last gained the edge of the -wood--how, he never knew. Drenched to the -skin and with his eyes staring wildly before him, -he reached his home. Speechless and trembling, -he passed his astonished butler on the stairs, -and paused not till he had locked himself into the -safety of his own room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There, at length, he was able to regain his -composure, and think more calmly of the events -of the preceding hour.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-treacherous-shore"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">The Treacherous Shore</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was about seven o'clock when a tap came -at Mr. Field's door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that you, Burns?" was the response from -within. "I am not feeling very well this -evening, so I shall not come downstairs to dinner. -You can bring me up something on a tray."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir," replied the butler, "but I -wanted to ask you about master Julius. He has -not been home all day, and we don't know where -he's gone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not been home all day," exclaimed Mr. Field, -unlocking the door. "Surely with a houseful of -servants you might have looked better after the -boy than that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Burns was relieved to find that his master -appeared more like himself than when he had -last encountered him, though still strangely -perturbed, as if he had recently undergone some -severe shock.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Master Julius never turned up all the -morning," answered Burns, "so we came to the -conclusion that you must have met him as you were -going down the drive, and taken him on with you -to Westmarket. The chauffeur has only now -returned with the car, and he says master Julius -never accompanied you at all, so we thought it -better to come and tell you at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Messengers were sent out to make enquiries -whether the lad had been seen by anyone during -the day, but neither garden, stables, nor farm -could contribute even the slightest clue to his -movements.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field was standing in the hall making -arrangements to send search-parties in other -directions, when there was a ring at the bell, -and a lady was ushered in. She was dripping -wet, and the light veil over her head clung -closely round her troubled and agitated face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must apologize for intruding in this -manner," she said, "but I am dreadfully anxious -about my little boy. He and your son left me -about two o'clock, and I have seen neither of -them since. I hoped he might have taken shelter -here from the storm, so I just came up to see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is Mrs. Power, sir, from Sea View Cottage," -explained the butler, in answer to Mr. Field's -mystified look. "I believe master Julius often -goes to play with the young gentleman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The impertinent rascal sets all my commands -at defiance, it appears," was the angry reply. -"It is directly against my wishes, madam, that -Julius has made your acquaintance, and I have -not the slightest notion where either of the -two lads have gone. Your son is certainly not -here, and neither is mine, for that matter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a dreadful night for anybody to be out," -said Mrs. Power. "I could scarcely battle against -the wind and rain as I came along. The lightning -has ceased, but there is a regular hurricane -blowing from the sea. Robin would not willingly keep -me in suspense, as he knows how disturbed I -should be, and I can't help fearing some accident -may have happened to them both."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All at once Mr. Field's heart seemed to well up -with a sudden rush of fatherly love, such as he -had not experienced for years. He had allowed -such a thick crust of ambition and avarice to -overgrow the softer qualities of his character, -that they had been well-nigh extinguished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What would all my wealth be without my -little lad?" was the thought that flashed across -him as Mrs. Power spoke, and an agony of -apprehension filled his mind. "We must rouse the -place at once," he said aloud, "and I will turn -out all my men. Surely it can't be long before -we discover the runaways."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wood was thoroughly searched first, but -with no result, and every cottage in the village -was applied to, but all in vain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly a sickening fear seized Mrs. Power. -"Was it possible that they could have gone upon -the beach?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A brawny fisherman shrugged his shoulders -hopelessly as he heard her question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We've thought of that before," he replied, -"but we didn't like to suggest it to you, m'am. -Some of us have been along the top of the cliff -already, to see if we could make out anything. -They're beyond help now if they went there, poor -little chaps."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us go to the shore," said Mrs. Power, but -the men shook their heads as they accompanied -her upon her fruitless errand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The long wall of cliff which extended for so -many miles towards the south came to an abrupt -termination near the hamlet, and a flat extent -of coast reached thence to the next headland. -A narrow lane at right angles to the sea, and -bordered by high hedges, led direct to the beach -at the point where the cliff ended. So long as -the search-party kept within the comparative -shelter of this lane, all went well, but when they -emerged from it, they were met by the full -strength of the gale.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rain was over now, though the wind still -raged with tempestuous force. A full moon -peeped out now and then through the rapidly -driving clouds, lighting up the wild expanse of -waters which heaved and surged in ceaseless -turmoil as far as eye could reach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Could the boys have been caught between -the cliff and the sea?" gasped Mrs. Power. -"Shall we go a little way along the shore in case -they may have taken refuge somewhere, and are -afraid to move on?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For answer one of the men pointed silently in -the direction she had indicated.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was enough--no words were needed to prove -the impossibility of the task.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The moon gave sufficient light to show up the -long dark line, at the foot of which the yellow -ribbon of sand was wont to lie. In its place now -tumbled a white mass of foaming waves. Here -and there great billows, lashed by the wind, would -hurl themselves half-way up the steep incline, -breaking with thunderous noise upon the -rampart which barred their way, and sending up -sheets of spray into the air, like the steam from -a boiling cauldron.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Power covered her face with her hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My boy!" she said. "Oh, my boy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Unresisting, she allowed herself to be led back -to the silent cottage, where all that long dreary -night she sat, a pale and broken-hearted watcher, -waiting with dread for the only tidings which it -seemed possible could reach her now.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To understand what had happened to the -boys, we must follow Julius as he ran off to the -wood on the morning of that long day. To do -him justice he had really meant to be back in time -to go with his father in the car; but an hour is -short in the days of youth, and the time went -all too rapidly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had just passed the lodge gates on his -return when he heard the motor approaching, -and quick as thought he had hidden himself -behind the laurels at the entrance of the drive. -His heart beat as he meditated on the -punishment which doubtless awaited him for his -disobedience, but a reckless feeling soon intervened. -"In for a penny, in for a pound." He knew his -father was not to return till dusk, for he had -heard him tell the butler so, therefore he might -as well have a jolly day before the reckoning came.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll go back to Robin," he said, "and see if -I can't do something specially nice, as I needn't -be home for ages."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was with rather forced merriment, however, -that he joined in the games, for an uncomfortable -feeling would obtrude itself even in the most -exciting moments, that something was hanging -over him which sooner or later must be faced.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Power had asked him to stay for lunch, -hearing that his father was away for the day, -and not knowing of the interdict which had been -laid upon the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us go for a walk, Robin," said Julius -afterwards, the restless mood increasing as the -day wore on. "The tide is coming in strong, -and I shouldn't wonder if we found some buckles -and things washed up on the beach. You know -the fishermen pick up lots of treasures along the -shore."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," answered Robin, "it is just like a fairy -tale to hear of that ancient city which once -stood where the ocean now rolls. Old Timothy -has been telling me all about it--how there were -churches, and streets, and battlements there in -the days of old, but the waves gradually ate away -the cliff, just as they are doing now, until one -after another the buildings fell into the sea, and -the whole town was buried beneath the water."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know a man who got quite a number of -things which had been washed up," remarked -Julius, "seals, with people's names on them, and -rings, and dear little bronze brooches, besides -crowds of coins. Couldn't we go and have a -hunt now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I simply ache to find something," said Robin, -"even if it is only an old pin, but I'm not sure -whether mother would like me to go without her, -as it is rather a dangerous beach when the tide -is coming in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're not babies," answered Julius, "surely -we can keep a look-out so as to get back in plenty -of time. Besides, we needn't go far. The man -told me that the best place to find the things is -just under the ruined church, and it won't take -us ten minutes to walk there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if we only go a very little way," said -Robin, "and come back when the waves get at -all near the cliff, I don't think there can be any -harm. Mother has never forbidden me to go, -and I should like awfully to find a brooch for her -to wear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Did no friendly eye watch the two young -figures as they wandered further and further -along the treacherous shore? Time and tide -were forgotten in the excitement of searching for -the spoil. When at length the gloom of the -coming storm caused them to look up, to their -distress, they saw that the white line of breakers -had almost closed the pathway of their return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Run, Julius," said Robin. "We may just -do it, but the wind seems to be driving the waves -in fast, and there is not a minute to lose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their feet sank in the loose pebbles and sand! -as they hurried along, impeding their progress -so that the inflowing tide gained upon them -every moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I didn't know we had come so far," panted -Julius. "I feel as if my legs were made of lead. -I don't think I can run any more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They glanced up at the cliff, hoping against -hope that some way might reveal itself by which -they could scramble up its face, out of the danger -zone below, but the sheer and crumbling -surface offered no foothold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time some of the foremost waves were -sweeping up in long cruel rushes right across their -track. It was only by waiting till they sank back -again and then making a dash before another -came up, that the boys were able to get on at -all. Even then they were overtaken again and -again by the relentless waters, and had to wade -as best they could through the surf, the strong -receding current threatening to carry them off -their feet into the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To add to their terror, the storm which had -surprised Mr. Field, now burst above their heads, -and the crash of thunder drowned even the roar -of the breakers upon the beach. It suddenly grew -so dark that they were unable to distinguish -anything more than a few yards away, and -the rain coming down in torrents soon -completed the drenching which the waves had begun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as they were about to give up in despair, -Robin caught sight of a feeble light glimmering -upon the cliff above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do believe it is Timothy's cottage," he -exclaimed, "and if so, we must be quite near -the stair. Yes, here it is, Julius, I am holding -the railing in my hand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In another moment two woebegone little -objects were standing before the old man's fire, -too exhausted and miserable even to explain -what had brought them there in such a plight.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="death-and-the-tide"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Death and the Tide</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The grey dawn was creeping in through the -windows of Sea View Cottage, eclipsing -the yellow glow of the lamp which had burned -all night in the little sitting-room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine rose from her chair and pulled up the -blind. The wind had abated somewhat, though -a stiff breeze still blew from the sea. Dead twigs -and fallen leaves were littered over the lawn, and -the plants in the border were bent and broken -from the effects of the late gale. A great sheaf -of white chrysanthemums lay prostrate on the -ground just in front of where she stood, the -pure blossoms all draggled and smirched.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How Robin admired those flowers yesterday," -she said to herself. "I think I can see him now -as he stood beside them, looking back at me -with his own bright, happy smile. Shall I never -see him run to meet me again--my precious little son!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she spoke, she heard the click of the garden -gate, and there, right before her on the path, was -Robin himself--a pale, rather dishevelled Robin, -it is true, but there was no doubt about the -reality of the sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine felt almost delirious with joy as -she held him in her arms, and showered kisses -upon his cheeks, his hands, his hair. She could -scarcely believe that the terrible dream of the -night had passed away, and that her treasure -had been restored to her again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mother," he said, looking anxiously up into -her face, "I wish you would go to Julius. I'm -sure he is very ill, he looks so funny, and he is -talking such nonsense too. I couldn't get him -even to sit up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is he, Robin, and what have you been -doing with yourselves all this time?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was afraid you'd be worrying about us," -answered the boy. "I wanted to come on to -you at once, after we had got rested a little in -the cottage, but the wind was so bad, I really -don't think I could have walked along the cliff -by myself, even if it had been daylight. Then -my clothes were so sopping wet, old Timothy made -me take them off and get into his bed. I was -dreadfully tired, mother, and I fell asleep in -about a minute, and didn't wake up until it was -morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Old Timothy!" repeated Mrs. Power. -"Have you been in his house all night, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Robin, "but I don't think it's -at all safe for him and Julius to be there now. A -great piece of the wall fell down just as it began -to get light. I rather fancy it was that which -woke me. There is only one end of the cottage -left, and a big hole came in the ceiling of the -kitchen just as I was going out at the door."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mrs. Power rose to her feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must go to the village at once and rouse the -men," she said. "The rest of the house may fall -at any minute. Oh, Robin my boy, to think -what you have escaped! It makes me shudder, -even to imagine it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was nothing to the awful time we had upon -the beach, before we got into shelter," answered -the child, "but I'll tell you all about it, mother, -after you come back. I do so want you to go -and look at Julius."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Leaving Robin to be fed and cared for by -Mrs. Sheppard, Madelaine Power sallied forth without -further delay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Only one or two were stirring in the hamlet at -that early hour, but among these she gladly -recognized Benjamin Green as he opportunely -issued from "The Bull." He had wakened that -morning with a strange feeling of guilt upon his -conscience. It seemed to lie like a heavy burden, -not to be easily shaken off. For a moment he was -unable to account for such an unwonted sensation, -when suddenly recollection returned to him, -and leaping up, he hastily put on his clothes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I ought to have gone last night," he said. -"Such a storm as it was, and poor old father all -alone up there in that dangerous place!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tardy thoughts of duty rose within his breast, -and faint pulses of filial affection, long passed -away, began once more to make themselves felt. -He willingly joined Mrs. Power as with rapid -steps she trod the narrow path which led along -the top of the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The storm had passed away, but the sea still -flung itself sullenly upon the shore. As they -neared the spot, Madelaine gave an exclamation -of distress.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look what a huge piece of the crag has gone!" -she said. "I thought Robin was exaggerating -when he told me half the cottage had fallen down, -but it is much worse than I expected."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a good thing the kitchen is at the landward -end," remarked Ben. "I see it is standing yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were soon at the little garden gate, but -though it was wide open, they found their way -barred. It now hung uselessly over a great -empty gap, its broken rails flapping drearily in -the wind. A long crack down the middle of -what remained of the house showed where the -next slip would probably come. The portion -next the cliff had already given way and the -rafters were even now overhanging the edge. -Some bricks from the chimney loosened as they -approached, and they heard them clatter down -the roof and fall with a dull thud on the beach -below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely father will not be against leaving the -place now!" said Ben. "If we get him out before -the whole thing goes down, we shall be lucky."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He vaulted over the low wall, and in a few -strides had crossed the garden plot. Mrs. Power -scrambled after him and reached the door almost -as soon as he did. In spite of the peril and the -ominous sounds of sliding and cracking which -surrounded them on every hand their steps were -arrested on the threshold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Old Timothy was lying asleep on his pillow as -they entered, his white hair scarcely whiter than -his face. No sign of fear was on it, and he -seemed breathing as peacefully as a child upon -its mother's arm. Beside him in the bed lay -Julius, flushed and feverish, moving his head -restlessly from side to side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they stood, the first rays of the rising sun -burst through the little latticed window and -shone full on the old man's face. He felt the -glow through his closed eyelids, and opened them -with a startled glance. Springing up in his bed, -he stretched out his arms to the light, apparently -dazzled with the sudden brightness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is the glory of God!" he cried--and to -Madelaine his homely features seemed transfigured -with a radiance that was divine. "It is -the blessed Angel of Death, and he has come to -bear me up to the city of gold."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Folding his hands as if in prayer, he closed his -eyes and reverently bowed his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm waiting, old friend," he said. "I'm -waiting, and I'm wholly ready to go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly the frail figure relaxed its tension -and fell back upon the pillow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's gone," whispered Ben.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine went forward and gently smoothed -his brow. "We can do no more for him now," -she said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"His poor body must not be left here," -remarked Ben. "I shall take it to some safer -resting-place than this. If I carried him, do you -think that you would be able to manage the boy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Easily," replied Madelaine, as she gathered -up the lad in her strong motherly arms. Ben -wrapped the still form of his father in a blanket -and followed her out of the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some fishermen had by this time arrived at the -cottage and were standing beside the garden -fence. Gladly they relieved Mrs. Power and her -companion of their burdens and bore them away -from the dangerous spot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They had not proceeded many yards, when a -low rumble, growing louder as they listened, -caused them to turn quickly round in the -direction whence the sound came.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All at once a noise like thunder smote upon their -ears, and to their horror they saw a long chasm -yawn between them and the cottage wall. It -widened as they gazed, until with a crash, a great -slice of the cliff suddenly disappeared from before -their eyes. Where the old house had so lately -stood, the edge of the cliff now cut straight across -the horizon--there was nothing to break the level -line where earth joined sky.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad father didn't see it go," said Ben. -"It would have fairly broken his heart. Queer -fancies he used to take about some things!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We need not mourn for him," replied -Mrs. Power. "His faith has been rewarded, and he -has now a more enduring dwelling-place above. -He was quite right about his friends. The Tide -has had its will in the end, but the Angel of -Death came for him first. Old Timothy has been -received into the eternal home, and has seen the -glorious face of Him he called 'The Best Friend -of all.' Truly we could not wish him back."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="near-death-s-door"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Near Death's Door</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Leaving Ben and his comrades to continue -their sad procession to the village, -Mrs. Power and one of the men made their way -straight to Farncourt, carrying little Julius with -them. The boy was evidently very ill, and quite -unconscious of what was passing around him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It grieved Madelaine sorely when she had to -give up her charge at the door of the large -comfortless house, where no mother awaited the child -to give him the gentle care he so much needed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course he will have the best doctors and -attendance in the kingdom, and everything that -money can provide," she said to herself as she -walked down the drive, "but something more is -wanted than that. I can't bear to think of that -poor little fellow with no loving woman's face -bending over him to draw him back into life again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Certainly, as Madelaine had surmised, nothing -was left untried which skill could suggest or riches -procure. A famous London physician was -summoned, regardless of cost, to the bedside of the -child, and trained nurses watched unceasingly day -and night, combating the fever that threatened -to sap the strength from out the feeble frame.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The horrors of that awful race against the tide, -combined with the drenching sustained both -from sea and rain, proved almost more than the -boy's body and mind could withstand. Again -and again he screamed aloud in his terror, calling -out that the waves had got hold of him, and -starting up in his bed, he would try to escape -from the clutches of the monsters he seemed -always to have before his eyes, ready to seize -him in their deadly grasp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When at length the frenzy passed away and -reason appeared to be returning once more to -the overwrought brain, the efforts of his attendants -were still baffled by a strange restlessness -which took possession of the little invalid and -which all their care could not dispel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is always repeating the same words," said -the nurse in charge, to Mr. Field, when he enquired -anxiously for the boy. "I wonder whether you -could give me a clue to what he means, so that -we might know how to quiet him. Often in an -illness of this sort the mind dwells on something -that took place immediately before the fever -came on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are the words?" asked Mr. Field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is continually saying 'I want to make him -my friend,'" answered the nurse. "All last night -he did nothing but moan out this one sentence. -It was quite pitiful to hear him, poor child."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field's heart smote him. "He was very -disobedient the day of the catastrophe," he said. -"Perhaps he is still thinking of it, and is afraid -of my anger--I know I have sometimes been -harsh with the boy. Do you suppose if I went -to him and told him it was all right, that the fear -would be allayed?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It may be that," replied the nurse, "at any -rate it is worth trying. There, do you hear -him?" she added, as they entered the darkened -room and advanced towards the small tossing -figure on the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Vainly did the poor father stand at his son's -side and assure him of his love and forgiveness. -The unnaturally bright eyes which were fixed -upon him softened with no answering light, and -to his distress, the weak voice took up once again -its monotonous refrain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whom can he mean?" pondered Mr. Field. -"I wonder if he wants the lad who was with him -that dreadful afternoon. I remember Burns told -me they had often played together. I forbade -Julius ever to speak to him, but if anyone could -do my boy good, I should welcome him, even if -he were a chimney sweep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A polite note was at once written to Mrs. Power, -requesting that Robin might be allowed -to come up to Farncourt, in the hope that his -little companion's presence might satisfy the -restless longings of the child.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A faint smile played over Julius' features as -Robin entered the room, and for a moment a -gleam of recognition leapt into his eyes, but it -soon faded away, and the pathetic moan -recommenced--the feverish limbs moving wearily to -and fro upon the couch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If he could only get some sleep he would do -well," remarked the nurse, "but I fear his -strength will not hold out if this goes on much -longer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We had hoped the sight of your little boy -would have soothed Julius, but it seems to have -done no good," said Mr. Field, as he led Robin back -to the drawing-room, where Mrs. Power awaited -his return. "We thought he missed his -playfellow, for he never ceases speaking of someone he -wants as his friend. If only we could find out -what he desires, we might manage to bring peace -to his mind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know what he means," replied Madelaine -with a sudden inspiration. "If you will let me -go up to him, I believe I shall be able to help."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gladly did the stricken father retrace his -steps to the sick chamber, and as Mrs. Power -followed, her heart was lifted up in prayer to God -that she might be given the right words to say. -Unhesitatingly she went up to the bed and knelt -beside the child. Taking his burning hands in hers, -she held them firmly as she looked into his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want to make him my friend," reiterated the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is God Whom you want to make your -Friend, is it not, little Julius?" asked Madelaine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A relieved expression flashed across the -sufferer's countenance as the question seemed to reach -him through the darkness of his delirium, and a -look of intelligence dawned in the poor anxious eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," he answered, "I want Him very much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is your Friend already, Julius," continued -Mrs. Power. "He loved us so much that He -sent His Son to die for us. He has been your -Friend all along, Julius. It is you who have -been running away from Him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean God really wanted to be my -Friend all along?" questioned the boy earnestly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Mrs. Power, "that is the comfort -of it. Just say to yourself, 'God loves me,' -and ask Him to wash away your sins, and to keep -you for Jesus Christ's sake. Only a Friend can -love, Julius, so you need not be afraid of Him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"God loves me," repeated the child. "God -loves me. He was my Friend all along, only I -didn't know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He closed his eyes contentedly, and nestled his -head into the pillow. Mrs. Power held his hands -in hers for a few minutes longer, and then gently -laid them down upon the bed. "I think he is -sleeping," she whispered, as she rose to her feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The nurse nodded silently with a pleased smile, -and Madelaine noiselessly left the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many an anxious hour was still to come as -Julius slowly struggled back to health and -strength, but as the doctor said, it was to that -sleep the child owed his life. There were no -more objections made by Mr. Field to the -intercourse between Farncourt and the dwellers in -Sea View Cottage. Every morning did Robin -and his mother walk up to enquire for the invalid, -and as often as not, one or both of them stayed -with him for the rest of the day. Mr. Field -indeed was not often present when Mrs. Power sat -with his son, but he would constantly join the -two boys as they played together, watching them -as they made endless scrapbooks out of old -illustrated papers, or constructed wonderful models -with bits of wood and an unlimited supply of glue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The great London physician came no longer -to look wisely over his gold-rimmed spectacles at -the now convalescent lad, but the village doctor -still made friendly visits, to the benefit of his -patient as well as of his own pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll soon have you flying about as lively as -ever," he said cheerily to Julius during one of -these calls. "You've got on quicker than the -other patient I was summoned to attend the -same day that you got bowled over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who was that?" asked Mrs. Power, who -was standing near. "I had not heard that any -of the villagers were ill just now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know how good you are in going to see the -sick ones," responded the doctor, "and I longed -to ask you to minister to this poor fellow, but -he's a queer self-contained mortal, and -apparently prefers to be left to himself. He is a -stranger here--arrived the night of the storm--and -appeared, sopping wet and utterly tired out -at Mrs. Potter's door, with no luggage but a -knapsack, being apparently upon some sort of walking -tour. She let him in out of pity, and he's been -laid up at her house ever since. It's the -Mrs. Potter who lives on the high road just beyond the -wood. She's a good soul, and has done all she -could for him, but it's been a close shave, his -getting through at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys exchanged glances.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I expect it's the tramp," whispered Julius. -"I'm glad he's got a real bed to sleep in, and -that he didn't have to stay in the hut while he -was ill."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Our nice house is all broken down now," -replied Robin. "The rain of that night beat it -to pieces. The roof fell in, and the wall gave -way, and the moss floor got into a nasty sloppy -mess. I looked for my text, but I couldn't find -it anywhere. I think it must have been -completely washed away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shouldn't be afraid of that text now," -remarked Julius. "I have told father all about -my going to make Peter's hutch, and our house -in the wood, and our games and everything. -He wasn't a bit angry, only sorry I had deceived -him so often. I'm not going to do sneaky things -again, but I'm jolly glad he doesn't mind me -playing with you now, Robin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the anguish of the first days of Julius' -illness, Mr. Field's thoughts were concentrated -wholly upon his suffering boy, but as the -tension became relaxed and the child regained -his vigour, the terrible time which he had spent -in the wood came back with full force and -vividness to his mind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Could I have been mad for the moment?" -he would ask himself again and again. "First -the words--and then the face! It was too awful. -People used to have visions in the old days--is -it possible that they sometimes come to men still?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had never believed in ghosts, but he felt -curiously nervous now as the dusk gathered -round, and to Burn's astonishment, gave orders -that the electric light was to be left on all night -in the passages and hall. It had never been his -custom to wander much alone even within the -borders of his own property, but since that -memorable evening he had taken exercise only -upon the terrace in front of the house, and when -obliged to go to Westmarket upon business, had -motored in with the hood up and the blinds drawn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have got bad neuralgia," he explained by -way of excuse, "and the glare hurts my eyes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder why he wants such an illumination -at night then?" remarked the butler. "I can't -tell what's come to him lately. It seems almost -as if he were going crazy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Do what he could, Mr. Field was unable to -banish the unpleasant adventure from his -thoughts. Night and day his mind was filled -with strange and terrifying questionings, which -he sought to meet by commonplace answers and -logical explanations, but all in vain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It must just have been some fellow seeking -shelter from the rain, as I was doing myself," he -would argue. "There is no doubt there was an -extraordinary likeness, but it cannot be anything -more. Probably if I had seen the same face in -broad daylight it would have had no effect -upon me, but that night my nerves were -completely unhinged by the storm. I wish I could -get the dreadful death-look of those eyes out of -my mind. There is only one other face that -would be worse to see again, and I think I should -go off my head altogether if that appeared to -me in the same manner as this one did. It is bad -enough to be obliged to meet it in my dreams."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once the thought crossed Mr. Field's brain that -the apparition was some prank of Ben's, another -practical joke, based upon some shrewd supposition, -and perpetrated in order to extort more -money out of the apparently bottomless coffers -of his prey. Some judicious questioning, -however, set his fears at rest in that quarter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If Ben did know all, it would be far too good -a lever not to make use of against me, and he -is not the man to hesitate to try it," Mr. Field -decided. "If he hasn't played his trump-card by -this time, I don't think he's got one in his hand -at all. It's my belief that there is more bluff -than anything else in what he says, and if so, -why should I knuckle under to him every time -he comes sponging on me as he does. I have -been far too weak with him in the past. I shall -see what effect a little firmness will have upon -my gentleman. I don't so much mind having to -pay for what he knows, but I do draw the line at -giving anything for threats in the dark."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="pin-pricks-and-pellets"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Pin-pricks and Pellets</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>This change of front did not at all suit -Benjamin Green, when he at last realized -that the worm had turned, and that his visits -to Farncourt did not produce the same golden -results which they had been wont to do in the -past. Afraid to press the blackmailing process -too far in case he should find he was involved in -unsuspected difficulties himself, his thoughts -reverted to what remained of his father's -property, and his ingenious mind set about devising -means by which Mr. Field's ambition could be -turned to account.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's a good piece of the land still left," -he said, as he contemplated the scene, "and it will -be many a long day till the waves claim it as -they did the old house. I'll see what can be -done in the meanwhile to squeeze out of the -squire that same hundred pounds which he -promised my father before he died."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a week or two after Timothy's cottage had -disappeared it had been unmitigated satisfaction -to Mr. Field to gaze upon the view from his -dining-room windows. True, a portion of the -coveted ground could still be discerned through -the gap in the little wood which intervened -between Farncourt and the shore--a gap which -no amount of planting would fill up for many -years to come--but at least the human habitation -was away which had been such a vexation -to the purse-proud man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was nothing now to rouse his ire as he -looked out upon the prospect before him. The -sky and sea were certainly beyond his reach, -but on earth, only the possessions of the master -of Farncourt could be seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His feelings of irritation and disgust therefore -can be imagined when, one fine morning, on -going as usual to the casement to enjoy the view, -he became aware of a tall flagstaff planted on the -edge of the cliff, just in the centre of the vista -which he desired so much to ignore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It literally glittered in the glory of the whitest -of white paint, and to add to its conspicuousness -a brilliant scarlet flag fluttered tauntingly from -it in the breeze.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose it's some maliciousness on the -part of that wretched Ben Green," he exclaimed. -"He threatened that he would get even with me -somehow, when I refused to give him what he -asked for last time he was here. This is even -worse than the cottage! That flaring red thing -catches your eye wherever you look. He's -hoisted it half-mast high too! I wonder what -he means by that? Sign of some misfortune of -course, but I don't see how he expects to bring it -about. I'd like to go to law, and take the fellow -down a peg, but I daren't threaten him too -much, or he might retaliate by stirring up things -I would rather let alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The evening post brought him a few lines from -Ben, coolly placing the alternative before him of -purchasing the land which he desired, but at -double the price originally offered to old Timothy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The value of the property has risen since my -father's death," wrote Ben, "as I am in treaty -with someone for whom I intend to erect business -premises thereon. This is absolutely the last -chance for you to secure it at this figure, for from -to-day the sum I shall ask must necessarily be -considerably higher."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ridiculous!" fumed Mr. Field. "I'm not -going to be coerced into doing things against -my will. Double the price, indeed! He may -whistle for the two hundred pounds, but he'll -not get them! As for the building scheme, of -course it's only a ruse to force me into giving -him the money. He can't bluff me into believing -for a minute that anyone really means to build -on that crumbling cliff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a distinct shock to the millionaire when, -a day or two later, he noticed bricks of a -particularly virulent hue being piled up beside the -flagstaff in full sight of his window. Apparently -Ben was in earnest this time, for almost before -Mr. Field could realize the full extent of the -calamity, foundations had been laid, and the -walls of a house rose as if by magic upon the edge -of the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such an erection too, as it was! Every -morning he woke to find it even more appalling than -he had dreamed of in the night. When it was -finished, an ugly square dwelling stared him in -the face. The bottom half was built of red -bricks, dotted here and there with yellow ones. -The top half consisted of yellow bricks, -variegated with red. A couple of long, unsightly -chimneys stood like rabbit's ears at each end of -the roof, while two curtainless windows seemed -to glare at him like bold, unblinking eyes from -either side of the gaudy emerald-green door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Could anything be worse?" he groaned, -as he went to bed one evening after a long and -dismal survey of the eyesore from the top of the -tower.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But worse was still to come.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the morrow when he rose as usual, and, -drawn by a strange fascination, went at once to -gaze upon the torturing sight, he almost choked -with the mortification and fury which filled his -breast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the long, sloping roof of shiny slates were -painted in huge white letters the words--</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>LAUNDRY -<br />WASHING DONE CHEAP</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was in vain for him to grind his teeth with -rage; before the day was out, lines of fluttering -garments stretched from side to side across the -field, waving mocking hands, so it appeared to -him as he gazed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As if this were not enough, a row of small -wooden sheds presently sprang up next the -fence which bounded Ben's property upon the -side nearest to Farncourt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is he going to set up a zoological garden?" -enquired Mr. Field indignantly, as he watched -while a pen of wire-netting was carefully erected -in front of each little hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir, it's pigs," answered the butler -solemnly. "A number of them are on their way -from Westmarket, I believe, and will arrive to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no doubt when the occupants of the -styes took possession of their new quarters. -For two mortal hours did Mr. Field sit in misery, -listening to the squeals of the rebellious porkers -as they were driven into the meadow and hustled -unceremoniously into their several dwellings. -Each squeak seemed to go through him like a -knife, and he shut himself up in his study, -dreading to detect a smile upon the faces of the -servants to whom he knew his humiliation must -be matter of amusement, instead of the anguish -which it certainly was to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anything come besides pigs?" he asked -Burns, when the butler entered the room to -enquire if there were letters for the post.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They do say as Benjamin Green has bought -the grocer's donkey, which he was parting with, -owing to it's being such a nuisance to his -neighbours, sir," replied Burns. "Never ceases -braying all night, so I was told. I don't know if -it's correct, but we'll soon find out for ourselves if -there's any truth in the story."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before the authenticity of the -report was confirmed. That very evening the -hours of darkness were made hideous by the -melancholy voice of the disconsolate ass, as he -poured forth his woes with discordant emphasis -in the ears of the sympathetic pigs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose Ben thinks he'll pile it on until he -makes me give in," said Mr. Field to himself, as -he paced up and down the terrace next morning. -"Rather than do that I'll sell Farncourt and take -another place. A good idea too! I wonder I -never thought of it before. There is no doubt -people about here have given me the cold -shoulder--those I should care to meet, I mean--and I'm -pretty well sick of it by this time. I shan't -be sorry to be rid of that ramrod of an earl and -his stuck-up friends. I saw there was a nice -estate in Gloucestershire advertised for sale the -other day. I'll take a run over and see what it's -like. Julius is getting on well now, and I suppose -I shall soon have to be thinking of sending him -to some good public school. It seems the right -thing to do, if he is to take his proper place in the -world. I should be glad of a pleasant neighbour -or two, when he is gone, who would join me in a -shoot now and then, or come in sometimes to -have a chat. It's rather monotonous always -going about by myself, and things are apt to get -on one's mind a bit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field took a few more turns and then threw -away his cigar. "I think I'll go and have a pot -at the pheasants before lunch," he said. "At -any rate, I'll get a little relief from the noise of -that abominable donkey. He seems to have a -throat of iron, the way he goes on making that -everlasting row!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went into the house and fetched his gun. -He was rather proud of his pheasants, having -introduced a rare and much-talked-of breed into -his coverts. The worst was, that at present the -birds were so tame they afforded little more -sport than would be enjoyed by shooting hens -in a farmyard. Accustomed as they were to the -careful feeding and supervision of the keepers, -they knew little as yet of the murderous power of -the gun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On his way to the plantations, Mr. Field -encountered his head man, whose countenance -wore an unwonted expression of gloom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo! What's the matter, Jones?" he -enquired. "You look as if you'd just swallowed -a dose of poison."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's not poison as is troubling me, sir," replied -the gamekeeper lugubriously. "It is nets as is -doing the deadly work, and seeing they make no -noise, and usually leave no traces, it's a difficult -job to lay hands on him who spreads 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean?" enquired his master. -"Is anything wrong with the new pheasants?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's just what it is, sir," was the reply. -"I was on my way to tell you about it now. -I've been noticing for some time past that they -were disappearing, mysterious like, only I put -it down to some of 'em having been enticed over -to the earl's preserves in yonder copse, seeing his -keeper is feeding his birds there too. But I found -a bit of a net yesterday, hanging on a bush, and -footsteps near by, what made me suspect there -might be poachers about, doing business on their -own account, when I'm out of the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have seen no one hanging about, have -you, Jones?" asked Mr. Field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir," replied the man, "but they'd -take good care to keep out of my sight. I expect -they scatter food in likely places in the woods, -and when the pheasants get to know where to -come for it, they catch 'em in nets, the silly -things being as tame as bantams. A good price -they'll get for them too, seeing they're all the -more valuable living than dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Jones, it's your duty to look after the -game, and if poachers can carry on their work -under your very nose like that, it shows you're -not worth your salt. Get more men if you need -them, to watch the place, but don't let me hear of -losses in this way again. I won't have my -property calmly stolen from me like this, so put -your best foot foremost and stop it at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you want me to come with you now, -sir?" asked the crestfallen man. "I see you've -got your gun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," replied Mr. Field, "if I shoot anything -I'll leave it behind the wall near the gate, and -you can send for it later. I'll probably only take -a look round this morning and see how things -are for myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Everyone seems to be conspiring against -me," he said to himself as he continued his -walk. "What's the use of so much money if I -can't even enjoy my own house and recreations -without being imposed upon and insulted by -any impudent fellow who happens to come along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meditating on his wrongs, Mr. Field entered -the little copse, and wandered aimlessly about for -a few minutes, hoping to find some clue to the -mysterious thefts. Suddenly a great grey cat -rushed across his path and disappeared in a thick -tangle of undergrowth, only three or four yards -away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's the poacher, if I'm not much mistaken!" -he exclaimed, as he raised his gun to his -shoulder and hastily fired straight into the bushes. -"Missed him!" he added, as he caught sight of -the grey form fleeing madly away in the direction -of the road. "Hope he got a little peppering -though, that will teach him not to come here -again in a hurry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before long Mr. Field also left the shelter of -the wood, and proceeded homewards, his mind -full of the Gloucestershire estate, to which he -inclined more and more as he pondered over its -advantages.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="alive-from-the-dead"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Alive from the Dead</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>That evening Mrs. Power was walking along -the road which bordered the Farncourt -preserves, when her attention was arrested by the -sound of groaning on the other side of the wall. -For a moment her heart stood still with fear, but -she was not naturally timid, and the thought that -someone was in trouble urged her to make closer -research.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She turned in the direction whence the moans -came, and peeped over into the plantation. To -her horror she saw a man lying on the ground, -only a few steps away from her, his face pale -as death and streaked with blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must go to him," she said to herself, "he -looks as if he were dying there, all alone in the -wood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Climbing over the low wall, she soon reached -his side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, it's Ben Green!" she exclaimed in -surprise. "How ever has he got into this -plight? I'm afraid he is badly hurt, poor fellow. -He seems quite unconscious, and I think his -arm must be broken, it hangs so limply from the -shoulder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She wetted her handkerchief in the rivulet -which ran through the coppice, and wiped the -stains from his face, then, binding the cool -bandage round his forehead, she rose to her feet -and started off towards the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The sooner I get help, the better," she -decided. "I can't do him any good by staying -with him here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before the wounded man was -carefully borne on a stretcher to his room at -"The Bull," and his injuries ascertained by the -doctor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He has been badly shot," was the report. -"It is a marvel he was not killed on the spot. -If one of the pellets had gone a quarter of an inch -more to one side, it would have penetrated the -brain. As it is, he is suffering from shock and -loss of blood, besides the injury to the arm, which -was evidently caused by a fall."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tongues were let loose that evening in the -little hamlet, as conjectures and suggestions -were freely bandied to and fro.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must say it looks queer," remarked Jones, -the keeper, as he discussed the situation with a -knot of men at the public-house door. "The -squire goes to that there wood in the morning with -his gun, and refuses to let me come with him, as -would only have been natural, for to pick up the -birds. Mrs. Power she finds a man shot in that -very wood a few hours later, and as all here -know, there was no one whom Mr. Field would -sooner see put out of the way than this same -identical victim. He was in a fine temper when -I met him, and it's my belief he has had more to -do with this affair than he would care to tell."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was in vain that Mr. Field disclaimed any -knowledge of the matter when the constable -went up to interview him next morning. The -story of the grey cat was scoffed at by the village -in general as being an entirely inadequate -explanation of the accident, and public feeling waxed -more and more indignant against him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The condition of the patient had improved -during the night, and a gradual return to -consciousness was apparent as the hours went by. -Mrs. Power had constituted herself his nurse for -the present, there being no one else available -who was competent to undertake such a task.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Mr. Field's sensations were not -enviable as he waited in feverish anxiety for -tidings from the sick man's room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If he dies, I'm done for," he said, "for there -are no witnesses, and I can't deny that -appearances are dead against me, however I may seek -to disclaim the deed. Even if he lives, how do I -know that he will speak the truth about it? -He's got an opportunity now of ruining me -altogether, if he chooses only to say the word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not till late afternoon that Mrs. Power, -on glancing up from her chair, noticed that the -invalid had opened his eyes, and was gazing at -her with a puzzled look. She went to him and -administered a few spoonfuls of the beef-tea -which she had ready on the hob.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just lie still and try to go to sleep," she -said. "You'll get on all right now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For an hour or more he lay silent, and the -watcher thought that he dozed, but she was -suddenly startled by a voice from the bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've been down to the very gates of death, -haven't I?" was the unexpected question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," she replied, "but they are not going -to open to you this time, I think. You have -turned the corner now, and we expect to have -you well again in no time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shouldn't have been ready to go through -if they had opened," said Ben, ignoring her -remark. "They would have been black gates to -me, not the golden ones my poor old father saw."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Afraid of exciting her patient, Mrs. Power did -not answer, hoping that sleep would come to -quiet the troubled brain, but after a few moments' -pause Ben began again--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When the doctor came this afternoon I know -you all thought I was unconscious, but I heard -him say, 'Field's got a bad case against him,' as -he left the room. I was jolly glad at first, for -I'd been wanting to have a handle against him -for a long time past. However, when a man's on -the brink of the grave, he's bound to think a bit, -so I feel I ought to speak up. It certainly was -Field who shot me, but he didn't know I was -there. I was putting down food for the pheasants, -the plantation being a grand place for poaching, -and I hid in the bushes as he came by. He fired -at a cat, but he got me instead. I was stunned -for a while, and then only managed to stagger to -the wall, hoping someone would find me as they -passed along the road. I thought I was done for -when I fell again in the wood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you want to make this known?" asked -Mrs. Power. "Suspicions have been very rife in -Mr. Field's direction, everyone knowing that he -had a grudge against you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," answered Ben slowly, "I want to make -it known. I've had a hard fight inside me this -last hour, when you believed I was asleep. I -felt I had him at my mercy, and at first I -determined that I wouldn't lift up my little finger to -help him, knowing that if I died he would probably -have to swing for me. It's a solemn thing, -though, to know for certain that God is just on -the other side of those gates, and that if they -open for you, you will have to face Him right -there by yourself, and that His holy eyes will -search you through and through. Well, -somehow things look different when it comes to that, -and if I should die I dare not meet Him with a -black thought like that in my heart. So I shall -be glad if you will tell them all that it was entirely -my fault and not Mr. Field's. I had no business -to be there at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the presence of the landlord, Mrs. Power -took down the statement, which, with much -difficulty, Ben managed to sign, after which he -sank back upon the pillow, wearied with the -exertion, and soon fell into a calm and restful sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the days which followed, many a long -talk had Ben with his kind and patient nurse. -The man's heart was softened by the danger -which he had so lately passed through, and his -ears were attentive as she sought to lead him -to the One his father had known and trusted so well.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should like to make my peace with God," -was his cry, "but I've sinned against Him all my -life and I'm ashamed to come to Him now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nevertheless you may be quite sure of a -welcome," replied Mrs. Power. "The wonder -is that it is </span><em class="italics">He</em><span> Who invites us to make peace -with Him--not we who have to wring forgiveness -from an unwilling God. He actually pleads -with us to come to Him. Listen to what -St. Paul says, Ben, 'Now then we are ambassadors -for Christ, as though God did beseech you by -us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye -reconciled to God.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To think of God beseeching us to come to -Him," said Ben, "when we have neglected Him -so long! It seems too good to be true!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is only through our Lord Jesus Christ -that we can come to Him," answered Mrs. Power. -"It is He Who has made it possible for God to -forgive. 'He hath made Him to be sin for us, -Who knew no sin, that we might be made the -righteousness of God in Him.' You remember -the old hymn--</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"I lay my sins on Jesus,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>The spotless Lamb of God;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>He bears them all, and frees us</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>From the accursed load."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"But the choice must be made," added Mrs. Power -solemnly. "If we keep our sins we lose -our souls."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would choose Christ," said Ben. "Isn't -there a verse that says, 'What shall it profit a -man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose -his own soul?' I see it all clear now, and I -thank Him for having opened up the way for me -to come to God. I should like to serve Him, -with His help, during what remains to me of my -life, if He'll spare me for a little while yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, -whose sin is covered,'" was Mrs. Power's -rejoinder. "There are no regrets for those who -enter the service of God."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was after this conversation, as Madelaine -was walking back to Sea View Cottage in the -evening light, that she began to turn her thoughts -to the prospects which lay before her and her -boy. She had not intended staying so long at -Sunbury, having purposed only to remain for -the autumn months. Julius' illness, however, -had delayed her for a few weeks, and Ben's -accident had caused her to postpone her departure -still further. Both invalids being now well -on the road to recovery, she felt the time had -come to bring the quiet country visit to a close.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If I could only get a few pupils and set up a -small school, I might be able to put aside -something towards Robin's future," she said. "He -ought to go eventually to some sort of college, -whatever profession he takes up, and where the -fees are to come from, I don't know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she walked up the garden path, she saw -that the lamp had been lit in the parlour, and that -Robin was already busily engaged at tea. The -blind had not been drawn down, so that she could -distinguish everything plainly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, he's got a visitor, the monkey!" she -exclaimed. "I wonder who it is that he has -invited to keep him company during my absence. -'When the cat's away, the mice do play,' I suppose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A man was sitting with his back to the window, -so that it was impossible for Mrs. Power to -recognize him from where she stood, but whoever -it was, she noticed that Robin was carrying on a -most animated conversation with his guest. It -appeared also of an amusing character, for -presently the stranger threw himself back in his -chair, and a merry laugh rang through the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine started and the posts of the porch -seemed to sway backwards and forwards in front -of her, as a film came suddenly before her eyes. -She pulled herself together and put up her hand -as if to thrust the dizzy feeling from her, then -with knees trembling and palpitating heart, she -walked into the little passage and threw open the -parlour door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The visitor rose with an embarrassed air, and -stood grasping the back of a chair as he turned -to meet her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's only a tramp I've made friends with, -mother," said Robin. "He has come to say -good-bye, and I knew you wouldn't mind me -asking him to stay to tea as you were out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Madelaine!--my own Madelaine!" -ejaculated the stranger with a dazed look upon his -pale face. "Is it possible--or am I dreaming?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gerald!--my husband!" was the answering -cry, as Madelaine threw herself into his -outstretched arms. "Oh, thank God that I have -got you again!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In mute astonishment Robin watched the -reunited pair, till the first ecstasy of the -unexpected meeting was past, and they could turn -to him with explanations of the strange scene.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come and welcome your father, Robin," was -Madelaine's joyful exclamation, as she put out -her hand to the boy. "This is indeed a wonderful -day for us. Our lost one has been given back -to us as from the dead. How, I do not know. It -is enough to feel that he is here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She raised her eyes, brimming with love and -tenderness, to feast her gaze once more upon her -husband's countenance, clinging closely to him -the while, as if she feared some unseen power -would spirit him away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was startled to see the spasm of pain which -passed over his features at her words, while a deep -groan escaped his lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gerald!" she exclaimed, "what is wrong? -You look so ill, and as if something dreadful had -happened. What can anything matter so long -as we are together again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My darling," said Gerald, with lips that -trembled in spite of the effort he made to obtain -command over himself, "how can I spoil the joy -of this blessed reunion by bringing fresh pain to -your dear true heart? And yet I must speak, -and tell you all. Madelaine, it had been better -for us if we had never met again. Far happier -for you would it be if I were really dead, for we -must part again, beloved, and that at once. I -must still remain to you as one whose name is -blotted out of the book of life. To recall me to the -world would only mean anguish untold both to -you and the boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you think I am going to let you go, -Gerald, now that I have got you again, you are -very much mistaken," said Madelaine resolutely. -"'Where thou goest I will go,' and no arguments -will ever shake my determination. Surely my -right place is at my husband's side?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were always braver than I, Madelaine," -replied Gerald, "but when you hear all, you -may not feel the same towards me as you once -did. Let the boy go while I make a clean breast -of the past, and then you will be more able to -judge of how you will behave in regard to me in -the future."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="for-conscience-sake"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">For Conscience' Sake</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>As Robin left the room, Gerald disengaged -himself from his wife's embrace, and stood -upon the hearthrug, his two hands extended -towards her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Madelaine," he said, and his voice sounded -harsh with pain as he spoke, "I shall not keep -you in suspense, but tell you the whole terrible -truth at once. Look at your husband's hands, -and then turn away if you will. They are not fit -to touch a hair of your head. The curse of Cain -is upon them, for they are guilty--stained with -the life-blood of a fellow-man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine gave a little gasp of horror.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It simply can't be true!" she exclaimed. -"Oh, Gerald, I can't believe it. You never -could have done such a thing. You, so good and -gentle! It must all be some ghastly mistake!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is true, Madelaine, sadly and woefully -true," replied Gerald. "I saw him lying there -with his poor eyes all glazed and dim. He was -an old man too, and had done me no harm. I -had no grudge against him, indeed I was his -guest at the time when I gave the fatal blow. -The awful fact remains that in a fit of drunken -rage,--for which God forgive me,--I killed old -Wattie, the miner, in his little shanty on the -banks of a Californian stream."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine covered her face with her hands -as if to shut out some dreadful sight, and sank -down on her knees beside the table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"O God, forgive him, for he knew not what he -did," she moaned. "Oh, lay not this sin to his charge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are right in saying that I did not know -how the dastardly deed was done," replied her -husband. "It was not till I came to my senses -again that I was told what the consequences of my -act had been. You remember, Madelaine, that -drink had never been my temptation, and it was -rarely that I joined with others even in a friendly -glass. I think the liquor I took in old Wattie's -hut must have been singularly fiery, for I have -never been overcome in the same way, either -before or since. Indeed from that day to this, -no drop of strong drink has passed my lips. I -don't say this to excuse myself, for I am fully -aware that there is no sort of palliation for my -sin. I would only have you know, Madelaine, -that it was unwittingly done, and gladly would -I have given my life to see vitality come back to -those powerless limbs again. I helped to carry -him into the little room behind, and laid him on -his bed. He looked so white and still, as we left -him there alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, my husband, why did you not tell me this -before," asked Madelaine. "Surely you might -have trusted me to understand? Why did you -leave me without a word, making me think that -you were dead?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Because I was a coward," answered Gerald. -"I dared not face the consequences of my rash -act. I could not have met you without telling -you all, and I thought it was the better way both -for you and me if I simply disappeared from your -sight, making no explanation or excuse. It -seemed to me that it would be easier for you to -hear the news of my death, than to carry the -burden of my crime. I pictured your grief, and -thought of the innocent babe who might be -branded all his days as the son of a common -felon. I tried to end my life that same dark -night in the river that flowed so swiftly only a few -paces from the door. God in His mercy had -other plans for me, unprepared as I was then for -coming into His presence, and frustrated the -deed which would only have added to the weight -of guilt which I already bore. I was cast up -on the bank some way down the stream, only to -submerge myself in the scarcely less terrible -depths of a friendless world, for I had not strength of -mind to repeat the attempt to take away my life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine's face was still buried in her hands -as she knelt on silently, but Gerald could see -that her frame was shaken by an agony of -weeping, while she listened to the sad and shameful -tale. It was only with a mighty effort that he -was able to continue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was another reason why I did not tell -you all this before. I feared to lose your love, -Madelaine, if you ever came to a knowledge of the -truth. I felt that I could bear anything rather -than your scorn and shrinking, and I knew only -too well how richly I deserved such treatment at -your hands. A friend who was witness when old -Wattie fell, promised to write and tell you how -I met my end. He was to say nothing of what -had gone before, only to give you to understand -that I had been drowned in some far-off river in -the west."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," sobbed Madelaine, "that is what I -heard. How could anyone be so cruel as to send -such false tidings to me, when you were still -alive?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He only told you what he believed to be -true," answered Gerald. "He saw me swept -away by the rushing current, and in a few -moments I was out of his sight, lost in the grey -gloom of the early dawn. He never imagined -that I escaped, and I took good care not to tell -him, desiring that all trace of me should be lost. -I feared that he might give information against -me if I turned up again, knowing as he well did -that death in some form was only my due. I am -glad however that he fulfilled his promise, so that -at least you were not kept in suspense as to what -had become of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Gerald, why did you not send for me -to join you, when you knew that you would have -after all to face life with this dreadful weight -upon you?" said Madelaine with a pained look -in her honest eyes, as she rose at last from her -knees and stood beside her husband. "Why -did you not at least give me the option of bearing -it with you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I could not ask you to share such a dark -future, dear one," replied Gerald. "My life -for the last ten years has been a hideous -nightmare, a constant dread of discovery and of the -punishment which would inevitably follow. You -were far better without me in your innocent -ignorance of what had come to pass. Now, -Madelaine, there is my confession. I have kept -nothing back. The best thing you can do is to -let me pass out of your life again, so that you and -Robin may continue your quiet way in peace and -honour. Even though it tear my heart out to -leave you, it is the least atonement I can make -for what I have done."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine stood for a moment looking up into -her husband's face, then putting both her hands -into his, she said softly--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'For better, for worse,' Gerald. I am your -wife, and nothing shall ever part us again. -Robin and I will go with you to begin over again -in some quiet corner, where we may yet be happy -together through the blessing of God."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The blessing of God?" questioned Gerald -with a sharp note of anguish in his tone, as he put -his arms round his wife, and fondly kissed her -cheek. "Before I can look for that, I have yet -to speak to you of the future, and I must put -your love to a still harder test. You are indeed -a faithful comrade and a brave, true soul, and you -must help me to be strong, for sorely do I need -courage. What I have now before me was bad -enough to contemplate yesterday, but it is -well-nigh unbearable since I have found you and my -little son again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What can be worse than that which you have -already told me?" asked Madelaine anxiously. -"Be quick and let me hear what it is, so that I -may know what I have still to face."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sit down beside me," said her husband, "and -listen as patiently as you can, for the sequel to my -crime is a long story and hard to tell."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was indeed a pitiful tale that Gerald Barker -unfolded in his wife's ears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Cut off though he had been by his own hand -from the old life, his heart yet hungered for news -of those he loved, and many a time had he sought -to gain tidings of them in the past. Hampered, -however, as he was by the continual fear of -detection, it was only under a feigned name -and by circuitous ways that he could prosecute -his search. He told Madelaine how, some months -after the tragedy, he had written to the -postmaster of the little Canadian town where last -their home had been, to find out if she and the -child were still in the same place where he had -said farewell to them in his departure upon the -ill-fated journey. The reply came that so far as -the official was aware, they had sailed for England -a short time before, leaving no address nor any -indication as to their final destination.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Believing that his wife would probably return -to her former haunts, he made further enquiries -in the secluded Hertfordshire village where her -father had so long practised as doctor to the -countryside. Once again came the disheartening -answer that information concerning her could -not be supplied, no one of the name of Barker -being resident in the neighbourhood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, of course not!" exclaimed Madelaine. -"The postmaster there was a new man, and had -only heard of me as Mrs. Power, so he would not -recognize me as the same person about whom -you were asking. I must tell you how the change -came about, for I have something to confess to -you, Gerald, something which I must ask you to -forgive. I do hope you will not think I did -wrong, but truly it was a difficult matter to decide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You did perfectly right, Madelaine," replied -her husband, when he had heard the story of the -generous friend who was raised up so opportunely -to care for the helpless ones he had himself -deserted in their need. "I am only thankful -that you did not suffer more from my selfish -cowardice. It has been misery to me to think -what you might be enduring, and I powerless to -make amends. During all my wanderings I -have tried to put by small sums from time to -time, hoping that one day I might find out your -retreat, and be able to make life easier for you, -anonymously at least, even if I were unable to -reveal myself as your rightful provider and guard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was in furtherance of this desire that Gerald -had at length taken the voyage to England, -trusting that the ten long years which had passed -had so effectually altered his appearance, that he -could safely revisit the scenes where he might -most probably hear news of those he had lost. -A morbid terror of recognition had by this time -fastened upon him, becoming a second nature, -so that he could not easily associate with other -men. Thus all his enquiries had ended in -disappointment and failure, being only addressed to -strangers who would naturally be unable to give -him the personal clue which he sought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I went as a last chance to Norwich," he said, -"knowing that you had a relative there who -might help, but I found that he was dead, and -his wife also, so that hope fell to the ground. -By this time I was quite worn out by privation -and anxiety, so that my heart got affected, and -I had such a bad attack that I was obliged to go -into hospital for some weeks. It was there that -the change came, and I saw my life in the light -of Heaven. I realized that I had sinned not -only against man but against God. As I lay -upon what might have been my death-bed, I -made a solemn vow that if I was spared I -would go back to California, and give myself up -to justice, so as to atone as far as I could for -what I had done so many years ago. I determined -to delay only long enough to get back -my strength, and it was for this reason I decided -to come to Sunbury, knowing the pureness of -its air, and remembering too the happy days -of our short honeymoon here, when we were -young and knew not what life held of bitterness -for us both."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine's face was strained and grey as she -sat listening silently, trying to take in what her -husband's words signified, and her parched lips -almost refused to utter the question which she -strove to ask.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean to say you are going to leave -me again, and to deliberately give yourself up -to trial and perhaps even death? After all this -time too? Oh, Gerald, is it really necessary? -It is more than I can possibly bear. Surely -there is some other way?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is the only way," replied Gerald, "there -is no other. I have not a shadow of doubt about -it. But, oh, my darling, it is a cruel blow to deal -you, and to know that it is I who have inflicted -this pain upon you is a worse punishment than -any that can possibly come to me from the -hands of the law."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine made no reply. She sat as if -stunned by the terrible future which had opened -out before her, following so closely upon the -sudden joy. Her hands were tightly clasped -together, and she gazed out of the window as -one who saw nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Madelaine!" exclaimed Gerald suddenly, "is -it too great a sacrifice that I am asking you to -share? Am I wrong in demanding it of you? -We are one, my wife, and you have a right to -speak on this matter which concerns us both so -intimately. I put it to you--shall I stay so long -as you need me, or do you agree that it is right -for me to go? Help me to decide, only remember -it must be a decision which is made in the -presence of God."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine gave a shiver as at length she turned -her eyes from the window, and fixed them -mournfully upon her husband's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is right for you to go, Gerald," she said -with a little choking sob. "I will not hold you -back. God have you in His keeping, and may -He in some way bring light into this black dark -night which has settled down upon us all."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="well-founded-fears"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Well-founded Fears</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One slight reprieve did Gerald and his wife -allow themselves, as they talked over -their future plans. It was decided that he should -not disclose his identity until he had reached the -district where the crime had been committed. -Until then they would make the most of each -other's companionship, Madelaine and Robin -going with him to California, so that they might -be together as long as possible before the final -separation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must find out about berths and the dates -of sailing," said Gerald, "and in the meanwhile, -we had better go to London or Liverpool, -where we can easily lose ourselves in the crowd."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why not remain here?" asked his wife. -"It is such a quiet little place, and people have -got accustomed to look upon you as an ordinary -lodger, who has been delayed by illness in -Mrs. Potter's rooms. No one here would ever dream -of associating you with what happened ten years -ago on the other side of the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gerald's brow clouded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sunbury is one of the most dangerous spots -on earth for me at the present time," he replied. -"Two men only were witnesses of my deed, and -one of them has lately come to live here. If he -should happen to come across me, there is -nothing to hinder him from handing me over at -once to the nearest magistrate, in which case the -few precious days that still remain to us would -be lost. I heard about him at the inn when I -first arrived, and it was because of this that I so -hastily decided to leave the place. I was on my -way to the station when I came upon Robin's -castle, and falling asleep there from sheer -exhaustion, was found by the boys next morning -when they came to play. If it had not been for -the illness brought on by exposure and drenching -on the night of the storm, I should have been -across the sea by this time, so as to place as many -miles as possible between him and me. When -I plead guilty at the bar, I wish to do so of my -own free will, not because force has been brought -to bear upon me from outside."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who can it be?" asked Madelaine anxiously. -"Surely no one would do you any harm after all -these years."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should be utterly helpless in his hands if -he chose to lodge an accusation against me," -answered Gerald. "His name is Thomas Field. -He was in Wattie's hut the night on which I -killed the old man, and he saw the whole thing. -He was with me when I took my mad plunge -into the river, and therefore imagines me to be -dead, but he would certainly recognize me if I -stayed on here. You told me he fulfilled his -promise of writing to tell you of my death. Did -he not give you his name when he wrote?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I got a short letter from a man who signed -himself, T.A.F.," said Madelaine. "He sent -back your watch and chain at the same time. -Why, of course those are Mr. Thomas Algernon -Field's initials! How strange that I never -connected them before! He gave me no address, -so I was never able to write and ask for further -details."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did he return nothing but the watch?" -enquired her husband. "There were some papers -I left for him to forward also."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He enclosed your diary," replied Madelaine, -"but he said your papers had been lost in the -river when you were drowned."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely I could not have been absent-minded -enough to put them into my pocket again!" -exclaimed Gerald. "I am certain that I handed -them over to him in the hut, but the truth is -that I was in such a state of mind at the time, -that I may have picked them up again without -knowing it. They were documents concerning -a piece of land that I had staked out away up in -the wilds as a sort of speculation, and I asked him -to advise you about it. It wasn't worth very -much, and probably would have turned out a -failure as most of my ventures have done, but I -wanted you to know it was there, in case you -might have made a few pounds on it. I should -like to ask Field about it, only that I dare not -face him again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Gerald," rejoined Madelaine, "I would -not trust that man! He looks as if he could be -cruel as well as hard. Do not run the risk of -putting your life into his power. Let us fly -while we can, for you are liable to meet him at -any moment, and you might be snatched from -me almost before our little time together is begun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To tell you the truth, I have met him -already," said her husband, "but he evidently -took me for a spirit, believing that I had done -away with myself so long before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gerald proceeded to give his wife an account of -the unexpected meeting at the entrance of the -little house in the wood, when the flash of -lightning had suddenly revealed the two old -acquaintances to each other, and Field had dashed the -supposed apparition to the ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was barely able to crawl to good -Mrs. Potter's," he continued, "but she took me in, -and there I have been until to-day, when I -ventured out for the first time, longing for -another glimpse of the little angel-messenger -who had tended me so lovingly in his leafy bower. -No wonder that I loved the lad, seeing he was -my own son!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was late according to the primitive habits of -Sunbury when Gerald at last rose to leave.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must go back now to my worthy landlady," -he remarked, "or she will wonder what -has become of me. I will come over early in the -morning, and we can make arrangements to -leave for London to-morrow afternoon. Please -God, Madelaine, we shall have some blessed days -together, before we need to part again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall be thankful when we are off," said -his trembling wife. "Do be careful, Gerald, and -keep out of Mr. Field's way. I don't like to -think of you showing your face at all while you -are here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll take good care, dearest," he replied, "so -don't you worry. Now I must just run up and -take a peep at little Robin before I go. Oh, -Madelaine, if you only knew how I have hungered -for a sight of you and the child! I can't think -how it was that my instinct did not tell me who -he was, when he came to me in the wood. It was -the name that put me off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I could not call him 'Gerald,' even though -we christened him so," explained Madelaine, as -she stood beside her husband, looking down at the -sleeping boy. "It was too precious a word to -be used for anyone but you, and I got to speak -of him as 'Robin' that first winter after we came -to England, because of his bright eyes and rosy -cheeks, and the name has stuck to him ever since."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The interview next morning was satisfactorily -concluded, and Gerald was on his way back to -Mrs. Potter's house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His heart was lighter than it had been for -many a long day, as he walked through the -wood. Although a terribly dark cloud loomed -ahead, a rainbow seemed to have thrown itself -across the grey and troubled sky, and rays of love -and hope shone all around.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was still early, not yet nine o'clock, and he -was congratulating himself on having encountered -no one either on his way to or from Sea -View Cottage. One more bend in the woodland -path, and Mrs. Potter's chimneys would be in sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He swung round the turn, and almost collided -with a man who was walking briskly in the -opposite direction to which he was himself going.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Words of apology rose to his lips, but they -died away in dismay before they were uttered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was face to face with Thomas Field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So it was you after all, and no ghost!" -exclaimed the squire. "How is it that you -have turned up here, Barker? What do you -want with me, dogging my footsteps like this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To Gerald's surprise Field's countenance had -assumed an expression of the utmost fear and -dislike, as he suddenly realized who it was that -had thus encountered him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must have given him an uncommonly bad -shock that night when I came upon him during -the storm," thought Gerald, as his mind took a -rapid survey of the past. "He looks perfectly -terrified at the mere sight of me, though it is I -who have cause to be frightened of him, not -he of me. I suppose it's because he has so -long accustomed himself to think of me as dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were my friend once, Field," he added -aloud, "and I must throw myself on your mercy -again. I have no wish to intrude my presence -upon you. Let me disappear, as you did before, -to be lost in the waters of oblivion. I ask no -more than to be left to go my way unquestioned and alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A look of relief overspread the millionaire's -features, and his aggressively domineering -manner reasserted itself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Barker," he said roughly, "many a -time have I wondered if I was right in letting you -slip through the fingers of justice as I did that -night. Death by drowning was too easy a way of -escape for a man who had murdered another in -the cold-blooded fashion in which you finished off -old Wattie. My duty, no doubt, is to report you, -now that I know you are again at large."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gerald winced at the coarse cruelty of the -words, and his thoughts flew to Madelaine and -the boy. Would the cup be dashed from his lips, -just when he was about to taste the sweetness of -life for the last time?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have long ago repented of my sin," he -replied humbly, "and strong drink has been put -far from me since that day. It brought misery -enough then to make me shun it for ever. I -have suffered, Field, and I know I have been -forgiven by my God. I can but ask man to have -pity likewise."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't deserve it," was the harsh reply, -"but I suppose I can't hit a fellow when he's -down, so I'll give you one more chance. I shall -not hand you over to the law this time, but I tell -you plainly if I find you loafing about here again, -you'll have to pay for it. My conscience will not -permit me to let you off so easily a third time, -so you had better keep out of my way. I'll give -you a friendly tip, though, before you go. You -have more occasion perhaps than you know to -avoid Sunbury. I'm not the only man here who -holds the key to your past. Probably you have -your own reasons for banishing from your mind -the fact that you were ever acquainted with -Blustering Ben, the hunter, but he will not so quickly -forget you. He was a chum of old Wattie's too, -so he would not be so lenient as I am, supposing -he caught sight of you here. You know what -he saw last time you met, so take my advice and -don't run your neck into the noose sooner than -is necessary. The faster you make yourself -scarce the better for everyone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you," said Gerald, though his spirit -chafed at the insulting speech. "I had no idea -Ben was in Sunbury. I have certainly no wish -to meet him again."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="judge-simmons-again"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Judge Simmons Again</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Mr. Field turned to go, but he was -arrested by a question from Gerald, -which made him pause once more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is one thing I should like to ask before -we part," he said. "Did I not leave some papers -with you that dreadful night? I remember -speaking to you about them before I went down -to the river."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You babbled to me about some claim which -you had patented," answered Mr. Field, "and -told me what you meant to do with it, but I can't -say your head was exactly clear that evening; -and all papers, if there were any, went the same -way as yourself, plump into the water. You left -nothing with me. I took the trouble, however, -to ask some fellows who came from that part of -the country, and they told me you had been -regularly taken in about it--the whole property -was not worth a cent. So you need not cry over -spilt milk. By the way, they know all about old -Wattie up there, so it would be wiser not to make -too many enquiries in that quarter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was on the tip of Gerald's tongue to ask why -Mr. Field had not even mentioned the matter to -Madelaine when he wrote, but he checked himself -in time. If the land was really of no value, it -was not worth bringing his wife's name into the -conversation. Better to let the matter drop, -and leave well alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have no wish to rake up old stories," he -said. "Only I thought there was no harm in -asking you about the papers, seeing I had -mentioned them to you before. I pass now out of -your life for ever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So saying he turned abruptly and continued -his interrupted course towards the edge of the -wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field watched him until he disappeared -behind the trees, then, with knit brow and a -preoccupied look he slowly made his way back to -Farncourt. He was met by Julius at the lodge -gates.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are late for breakfast, father," said the -boy. "Why did you go out before you had had -anything to eat?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I could not sleep last night," was the answer, -"and I thought half an hour's stroll might give -me an appetite, as I am not feeling very fit. I -was longer than I meant to be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It seems a day for early walks," said Julius. -"Robin has been up to see me already. Oh, -father, isn't it dreadful? He and Mrs. Power -are going away this afternoon by the four o'clock -train. He said they had to meet someone in -London, I think it was, so they were leaving -a few days sooner than they meant to do. I shall -miss them awfully, especially Robin. It will be -just horrid without him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy's lips quivered as he spoke, and he -tried manfully to keep back the tears which -would well up in his eyes. The last month or -two had been the happiest that the lonely child -had ever spent, in the companionship of his cheery -little friend and the protecting tenderness with -which Madelaine had welcomed him into her large -and loving heart. Even in the midst of his own -conflicting thoughts, Mr. Field felt touched by -the lad's evident distress, and endeavoured to -comfort him as best he could.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind, Julius," he said. "I'm going -to make some changes before long, so perhaps -you won't miss Robin so much as you think. -This place doesn't seem to suit me very well. I -believe it is too near the sea, so I am going to try -how I get on further inland. I have seen a very -good estate advertised for sale about which I -intend to enquire, and you may find other friends -there who may make up to you for your loss. -Besides, I have quite made up my mind that it -is full time to send you to school. I can't stand -any more tutors, and it is not good for you going -moping about here by yourself. How would -you like to go to Eton or Harrow, or some other -first-class place like that? I'll see that you don't -want for pocket-money, my boy, so that you can -foot it with the best of them, and lord it over the -lords if so you will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field chuckled over his joke, but though -for a moment a gleam of comfort lightened the -gloomy horizon of the lad, the thought of losing -Robin settled again upon him like a cloud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It would be simply ripping to go to school if -only Robin could come too," he said. "I wish -Mrs. Power would send him with me, but I'm -afraid they're rather poor, so perhaps they -couldn't afford it. They asked me to spend the -morning with them at Sea View Cottage, father, -that's why Robin came up so soon, in case I -should be going out in the motor, and they -would not be able to say good-bye."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may certainly go, Julius," replied Mr. Field. -"Mrs. Power has been a good friend to us, -and contrary to my custom I shall call on her -myself to thank her for all her kindness to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Robin is going to give Peter his liberty before -he goes," remarked Julius. "You know he was -only a baby wild rabbit that old Timothy caught -in his garden, so he will be quite pleased to live -a free life again. We are first going to give -him a feast of everything that he likes best, and -then we shall take him to our hut in the wood and -let him loose there. Robin says that if we tunnel -out a little hole in the wall, Peter may perhaps -believe it is a real rabbit's burrow and make a -home there. Of course the roof is all tumbled in -now, so it is no use as a house for us, but it makes -it all the better for Peter, as he can hide so easily -under the fallen branches. Robin does think of -such delightful things!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Breakfast was over and Mr. Field had gone into -his study to write some letters. He had not been -there many minutes when the footman entered -and informed him that two gentlemen were -waiting to see him in the drawing-room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who are they?" he asked impatiently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir," replied the man. "They -did not give any names."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As Julius said, this seems a day on which -people are early astir," muttered Mr. Field to -himself. "I wish callers would not come bothering -round at this time of day. I wonder who they -can be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The visitors were admiring the view from the -window when he entered the room, and he was -almost at their side before they realized he was -there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Judge Simmons and Elihu Pratt!" he -exclaimed as they turned towards him. "Whatever -brings you here together at this hour?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We should be glad of a little conversation -with you, Mr. Field," replied the judge. "There -is a certain matter about which my friend and I -have been making enquiries, and we believe that -you may be able to throw some light upon it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is the subject under consideration?" -asked Mr. Field, nervously requesting his guests -to be seated. "Is it your young ward's -speculations in Mexico? I remember you were -doubtful as regards his ventures in the silver -line last time you were here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am glad to say he is doing well," replied -Judge Simmons, "but it is not about him that -we came. You may not perhaps have heard -that Mr. Elihu Pratt has lately been appointed -District Attorney for the locality in which the -Good Hope mine lies. He is now engaged in -investigating the titles of the various mining -claims about there, and he finds some difficulty -in connection with the deeds to your property. -It so chanced that I was interesting myself -concerning the bit of land acquired by my former -acquaintance, Gerald Barker, and not being able -to reconcile several conflicting facts, we -determined to call upon you together, both of us -happening to be over in England just now. No -doubt you will be able to make it clear, but we -shall be much obliged if you will kindly do so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field moistened his lips before he spoke, -and hastily mopped his forehead with his handkerchief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have my title deeds all right," he said. "I -can show them to you if you like, but there is -nothing conflicting about them, so far as I know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You remember, sir," continued the judge, -"that when I called upon you before, you were at -some pains to convince me that Gerald Barker's -claim was in quite another valley to yours--a -valley possessing the same strange geological -features as that in which your mine is -situated--although your little boy gave contrary evidence, -much to your displeasure. Now, Mr. Field, I -was with Barker when he staked his claim, and I -have just returned from a visit to the 'Good Hope.'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what of that?" was the blunt rejoinder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are one and the self-same place," -answered Judge Simmons gravely, casting a -penetrating glance upon the man before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never said they were not," snapped Mr. Field. -"I only told you there were lots of cliffs -of that formation about there. It was simply -my boy's rude way of contradicting that made -me so angry with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is no rock anywhere in the countryside -similar to that which overlooks the Good -Hope mine," broke in Mr. Pratt, speaking for -the first time. "I find, moreover, that the land -on which you, as reputed owner, pay taxes, is -identical with the claim patented some ten years -back by Gerald Barker. The Registrar's books -fail to record any transfer of the property. -How did it happen to come into your possession?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Barker sold it to me, if you want to know," -answered Mr. Field, indignantly. "It is really -intolerable to be cross-questioned in this fashion. -If you were not a government official I would -kick you out of the house for daring to insult -me by your dastardly insinuations. You may -examine the patent for yourself, if that will -satisfy you, and also the transfer which Barker -signed with his own hand, in which he gave up -all his rights to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should like to see them," was Mr. Pratt's -only reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The millionaire hesitated for a moment and the -colour fled from his cheeks, but recovering himself -quickly he invited them to accompany him into -the study, where he proceeded to unlock his safe -and spread out some documents before them on the table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is no doubt that this is Barker's -patent," remarked Mr. Pratt. "Now for the -transfer. I see we have here the signatures of -two witnesses, Benjamin Green and Walter -Long, as well as that of Gerald Barker. It is also -signed by Caleb Denham, who describes himself -as a Notary Public, and whose seal, according to -custom, is appended here. Have you any idea -where the witnesses are now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Benjamin Green is a rolling stone, always -knocking about the world," was the reply, "and -old Walter or Wattie, as he was called, is dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Pratt glanced across at Judge Simmons.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This transfer is dated the day after that on -which Barker was drowned," he said quietly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How do you know so exactly when that took -place?" questioned Mr. Field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"His wife has supplied us with the information," -answered the judge. "I have here a copy -of your own letter to her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ass that I was!" muttered Mr. Field under -his breath. Aloud he added, "It is easy to make -a mistake like that in the backwoods, where -every day is alike."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"These little mistakes sometimes need to be -enquired into," rejoined Judge Simmons. "We -shall have to look up this same Benjamin Green -and find out what he has to say about it. It is -fortunate that we have an independent witness -in this case, although it is unusual to have other -names besides that of a lawyer subscribed to a -similar deed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Field bit his lip with vexation. "I have -over-reached myself there," was the thought -which passed rapidly through his mind. "I -believed it would make it all the safer if I had -those two signatures as well as Caleb's, but they -may prove my undoing. All the same, I don't -think I could have got the old shyster to put his -seal to it if their names hadn't been there, so -they served my turn after all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In an injured voice he next addressed the judge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely," he exclaimed, "you can rely on the -statement of a Notary Public without having to -get proofs of his veracity."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I happen to know that this particular Caleb -Denham has just been convicted as an unprincipled -and dishonest scoundrel," answered Judge -Simmons. "He is now undergoing a well-merited -term in jail because of his illicit -practices. I would not give a button for his word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the way," he added, turning again to the -letter before him, "when I saw you last you gave -me to understand that it was only a report of -Barker's death which had reached you, but it -is mentioned here that you yourself saw him -swept away by the river. These statements -seem rather conflicting. Was anyone else there -at the time?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," replied Mr. Field. "We were quite -alone when the accident happened."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you prepared to swear that you have -given a strictly accurate account of the whole -incident?" asked the judge, his keen eyes fixed -on Mr. Field's agitated face. "I cannot deny -that appearances are very much against you. It -is a queer thing that Barker should have -disappeared in this mysterious manner just at the -very time that you became possessed of his -papers. When we questioned Mrs. Power about -it this morning, I thought she seemed rather to -hesitate when I asked her if she had any reason -to doubt the truth of your report."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. Power!" ejaculated Mr. Field. "Whatever -has she got to do with it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are evidently ignorant of the fact that -she is Gerald Barker's widow, she having changed -her name on account of some stipulation in a -will," replied Judge Simmons. "We traced her -by the information given to us by a servant of the -old gentleman who left her the money. Finding -that she was at present staying in Sunbury, we -had an interview with her this morning before -we came on to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is apparent that Mrs. Power has not let -out to them that Barker is alive," was the thought -that flashed across Mr. Field's mind. "She has -evidently been in touch with her husband all -along, but is terrified at the idea of him being -taken up for the crime. I never should have -believed that she could be so cunning as to -hoodwink me like this. I suppose she has set these -men to catch me out. I'll be even with her -though, and with Barker too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here," he said in a bullying tone, -"this Mrs. Power, or Barker, or whatever she -chooses to call herself--does she mean to make -a fuss about these papers which there is no doubt -her husband signed? Because, if so, will you -please go back to her with a message. Tell her -from me that silence is the price of silence. If -she wants me to hold my tongue she had better -not provoke me too far. I put myself -unreservedly into her hands. If after giving her -this message she still wants you to take up the -cudgels for her, I confess I shall be surprised. -She is more likely to go down on her knees, -begging me not to disclose her secret to the world. -You think perhaps you are doing her a service, -but she may end by crying, 'Save me from my -friends!'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is a most extraordinary threat!" -exclaimed the judge. "You had better explain -yourself more fully."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall have great pleasure in doing so," -answered Mr. Field. "Doubtless you are not -aware that her husband's last public act was to -kill a defenceless old man in cold blood--this -very same Walter Long whose signature is on -this paper. It was a false report which got -about concerning Barker's death. True he tried -to drown himself in despair when he realized -what he had done--I saw him leap into the river -with my own eyes, and honestly believed him to -have perished that day--but it seems he managed -to reach the bank again some way further down -the stream. He has been a fugitive from justice -ever since. It was only this morning that I -learnt he was still alive. I happen, moreover, to -know where he is hiding at the present moment, -and you may tell Mrs. Power that if she pesters -me with questions about the property which I -honourably came by, I shall know well enough -how to be avenged!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="revelations"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Revelations</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was with feelings of perplexity and -foreboding that Madelaine had received her two -visitors that morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Her heart died within her when Judge Simmons -introduced himself as an acquaintance of -her husband, with whom he had travelled during -that momentous journey to the west. She -wondered how much of the terrible past lay open -to his gaze, and what new peril the future might -have in store.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a relief when the strangers' conversation -turned at once to the subject of the tract of land -acquired by Gerald so many years before, the -title deeds to which they told her they were -desirous of investigating. What was the value -of a few acres in the wilds of America compared -with the well-being of the one she loved? True, -he had spoken regretfully of it to her, but he had -also mentioned it in connection with Mr. Field, -the man of all others whom he sought to avoid, -and she had no wish to stir up dangerous enquiries -by seeking to establish a claim to that which -had so long passed out of their hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Afraid of implicating her husband or doing -anything of which he would not approve, she -committed herself to nothing, merely assuring her -callers that she would gladly give up all idea of -the recovery of the property rather than involve -herself in legal or other toils. Much against her -will, she at length permitted Elihu Pratt to make -a copy of the letter written to her by Mr. Field, -which she produced at their request, comforting -herself that it only afforded additional proof of -Gerald's supposed death, and might thus be of -advantage to him than otherwise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am thankful to be leaving Sunbury to-day," -she thought, "and that I shall be able to talk -it over with my husband this evening. By -to-morrow I trust we shall be lost to the world in -the great whirlpool of London."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was one thing only which Madelaine -desired to do before she left. She could not -depart without bidding farewell to the man whom -she had so recently nursed back to life from the -very borders of the grave.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish you would run up to the village and -ask Benjamin Green to come and see me, Robin," -she said after the two visitors had left the house. -"Tell him we are going away this afternoon, and -that I want to say good-bye to him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not long before Ben appeared, his arm -still in a sling, but otherwise almost recovered -from the effects of his late accident.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a few moments' chat Madelaine excused -herself, saying she must finish her packing, as the -fly was coming for them soon after lunch. She -shook hands cordially with her former patient, -but Ben still lingered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mrs. Power," he began, but words seemed to -fail him, as he shuffled his feet awkwardly on the -carpet, and half turned away his head. All at -once he hastily put his hand into his coat pocket -and took out a small parcel which he placed -upon the table before her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is yours," he said. "It was lying just -there when I took it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What can it be?" asked Madelaine in -surprise as she opened the packet. "My -husband's watch!" she exclaimed in delight. "How -did you get hold of it? I am truly pleased to -have it back again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With shame and contrition did Ben confess his -misdeeds, telling how on the night of his first -return to Sunbury, he had been tempted by the -open window as he prowled round the house -after his raid on Robin's ducks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've got Mother Sheppard's bag of coin here -also," he said, "and the three and ninepence -that was for the missionaries, though I'm sorry -the box is gone. It would be mighty kind of you -if you would let me hand it all over to you, so -that you might give it back to them as rightly -owns it. I've got the promise of two nice fowls -for you, which I'll just run over and fetch before -you leave, if you won't mind taking them instead -of the other birds that I pinched."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is very brave of you, Ben, and of course -right to tell me this," remarked Madelaine, "for -I had no suspicion of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's no use saying a fellow wants to be a -Christian if he don't act like one," replied Ben. -"If Christ is my Master, I must see to it that I -don't do the Devil's bidding. It's the least I -can do to give back what isn't mine, even if it -lands me in the lock-up, where I ought of rights -to be, if I got my deserts."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who am I that I should accuse him?" -said Madelaine to herself as she listened to his -confession. "Surely I of all others should deal -mercifully with those who have gone astray, and -who desire to return, remembering all my Gerald -has gone through."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With gentle words she assured Ben of her -forgiveness, and told him she would answer also -for Mrs. Sheppard and Robin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have begun well," she said at length, -"for this has been a hard thing to do. May God -help you to persevere."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Would you mind me asking you one thing -before I go?" said Ben. "There was some -writing inside the watch, saying as it belonged -to a Gerald Barker. I came across someone of -that name out west about ten years ago, but he -disappeared rather sudden, and the report got -about that he was drowned. When you cried -out just now, saying it was your husband's watch, -I wondered could he have been the same Barker -I'd known then. If so be as it was, I suppose -you've married again, seeing you're Mrs. Power now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Madelaine wished she had bitten her tongue -out before she uttered the exclamation -with which she greeted the sight of the watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have never married again," she faltered. -"It was owing to a legacy that I was obliged to -change my name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben looked at her narrowly, surprised at the -sudden alteration in her voice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was Barker not drowned then, after all?" -he asked. "It is very queer, but I could almost -swear that I caught a glimpse of his face last -night as I went back to the inn. I was rather -late coming home from a friend's and someone -was lighting his pipe at the corner of this road -as I passed. The match flared up for a second, -and I thought to myself at the time, 'How like -Jerry,' as we used to call him. I sang out, 'Who -goes there?' but the man had vanished before I -got to the turn. If so be that your husband is -still living as you give me to understand, I guess -it was really he that I met, and that he's staying -here with you now. By the way, I remember -Barker used to be a chum of Field's. The last -time we three were together was in Wattie Long's -house in the backwoods. It's a night I couldn't -well forget. It would be odd if we met again -here in Sunbury after so many years."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, please don't say anything to Mr. Field -about it!" cried Madelaine piteously. "Ben, I -must throw myself on your mercy, as I believe -you wish to be my friend. You must know all, -if you were in the hut that night, so I need not -hide anything from you. The kindest deed you -can do both to my husband and me is to say -nothing about this unexpected meeting. Gerald -is dead to all intents and purposes, and you can -do no good to anyone by publishing his existence -to the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may be sure I wouldn't lift a finger to -hurt you or any of yours, Mrs. Power," answered -Ben earnestly. "I have too much cause to bless -you for all you did for me. If Barker wants to -lie low, I'm not the one to give him away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I trust you," replied Madelaine, "and I am -sure you will not mention to anyone that you -have seen him here. Only I would just like you -to understand, Ben, before I leave, that my dear -husband was not conscious of what he did that -fatal night when you last met. It was from -Mr. Field's lips that he learnt the consequences of his -hasty blow. He must have been maddened by -the strong liquor which had flowed so freely -among you, for he had no spite against poor -Mr. Long, and can recollect nothing of the quarrel -which laid the old man dead at his feet. As you -know, he tried to drown himself in despair, after -he realized what he had done, but God in His -mercy saved him and gave him another chance. -Sorely has the terrible crime blighted both his -life and mine, but he has sincerely repented, and -indeed is now going to make amends, if he can, -for his sin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment Ben stood as if meditating upon -her words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And has Gerald Barker been in hiding all -these years because of this?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," replied Madelaine, "and I am in -mortal dread lest Mr. Field should hear of him -being in England, and give information which -might lead to his immediate conviction. Until -yesterday, I myself believed him to have perished -in the waters, and we have only just been restored -to one another again. Like yourself, Ben, he has -lately come to see things differently, and has -made up his mind to return to California at once, -so as to give himself up voluntarily before a -magistrate. I am counting more than I can say -on the few precious days that remain for us to be -together on the voyage, and I think I should break -my heart if he was snatched away from me now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never you fear," was the answer, as Ben -took his departure. "I'm your friend to the -backbone, Mrs. Power, and sorry should I be to -harm you either by word or deed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It would, however, have disturbed Madelaine -greatly had she known that Green's first act on -leaving her was to walk straight to the Vicarage, -where he requested a few moments' conversation -with the clergyman, who was also a Justice of the -Peace. She would have been still more anxious -had she seen the two men set out almost at once -in the direction of Farncourt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are the American gentlemen still with Mr. Field?" -asked Ben, as the butler opened the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's lucky," he remarked to the vicar, on -receiving an answer in the affirmative. "I -thought I recognized Elihu Pratt as he motored -past. He was pointed out to me one day in New -York as one of the rising men. I'm glad he's still -here, for he may be useful to us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus it was, that as Mr. Field uttered the -words recorded in the last chapter, the door of -the study opened, and the vicar and Benjamin -Green entered the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, here is the very man we wanted," said -Judge Simmons, as the servant announced the -new-comers. "He may be able to throw light -not only on the document before us, but on the -astounding statement which Mr. Field has just -made. Mr. Green, would you first kindly tell us -whether you can identify this signature as yours?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, that is my handwriting," replied Ben, -as he laid down the paper, "and I see the other -witness is Walter Long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Field has just informed us that this same -Walter Long was murdered by Gerald Barker, the -man in whose name the deed is made out, and -that Barker threw himself into the river in -dismay at having committed such a crime," -continued the judge. "Discrepancies, however, -seem to multiply as we proceed further. The -document, which purports to be a transfer of -Barker's land to Thomas Algernon Field, is dated -the day after that which Field himself gave to -Barker's wife as the one on which her husband -was drowned. If Gerald Barker killed Walter -Long, how then is his victim's signature found -here also?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is no great wonder that I made an error in -writing to Mrs. Barker," blurted out Mr. Field -impatiently, "but Ben acknowledges himself -that he signed the transfer all right, so why -should you keep on harping about it like this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he spoke, the harassed man sought to catch -Ben's eye, in a desperate endeavour to convey -some signal of warning or appeal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never knew what the paper contained till -this moment," exclaimed Ben, ignoring the look. -"It clears up a good deal that was difficult to -understand. You remember, Field, you would -not let me read it, being as you said, your own -private will, and you told me to be sharp about -it, as you were in such a hurry to be off. I know -now what it was, and why you sat up writing half -the night when you believed I was asleep. You -considered it a good opportunity to get hold of -Barker's claim, and, seeing he had already done -away with himself, I suppose you thought you were safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You dare to accuse me in this manner?" -shouted Mr. Field, crimsoning with fury. "I -challenge you to prove the truth of your words."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I now also know why you wanted Wattie's -letter," continued Ben, taking no notice of the -interruption. "I saw you steal it out of the -old man's coat. It was a rare chance for you to -copy his name also, he lying powerless in the next -room and unable to testify that it was forged."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can you tell us exactly under what circumstances -this interview between you and Mr. Field -took place?" asked Judge Simmons.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When I put my name there, in Wattie's own -hut in the backwoods," replied Ben, "he had -already been felled by the cowardly blow, and -Barker had been gone some hours."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you see Barker knock the old man -down?" questioned Mr. Pratt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Barker never lifted a finger against anyone," -answered Ben bluntly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why then, who struck him?" exclaimed -Judge Simmons in surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There stands the man who did it!" said Ben, -dramatically pointing with his finger at Mr. Field, -as he stood livid and trembling before his accuser. -"He evidently thought I was too drunk to notice -it, but I had still enough sense to know what -happened. Field and Wattie had been playing -cards, and no doubt Field lost, for all of a sudden -he got up in a towering rage, shouting out -something about a cheat. I myself saw Field dash -Wattie to the ground with his fist. The poor -chap fell against a corner of the table, gashing his -head horribly upon the edge. I watched Field go -to him and bind up the wound, but the old man -never spoke or moved. Field then carried him -to the inner room where there was a bed, and -shut the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What had Barker to do with it then?" -enquired Judge Simons.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gerald had no hand in it at all," answered -Ben. "He was lying on the floor all the time, -sleeping off his bout. Field had been egging him -on to drink the whole evening, and he had had -more than enough, being a tender-foot and not -used to our liquor."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What followed?" asked Mr. Pratt, as he -jotted down something in his note-book.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I went to sleep too after a time," continued -Ben, "and when I woke, Barker was gone, and -Field was sitting at the table writing for all he -was worth. It was then I saw him steal old -Wattie's letter. He got me to sign something -when I was coming round, but I was too mixed -to know what it was. That's the very paper -you have there, with my signature at the foot. -Next morning Field hurried me off with him at -dawn, we having arranged beforehand to travel -together to the south. I thought Wattie was -still resting after the blow, and Field persuaded -me not to disturb him, as he was asleep. We -separated as soon as we reached the nearest -station, and I never met him again until I found -him here in Sunbury on my return home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You lie!" thundered Mr. Field. "Every -statement you have made is false! You confess -that you were drunk, so how can you give any -reliable account of what took place? Surely -Barker's deliberate attempt at suicide is enough -to prove his acknowledgment of the crime. It -is preposterous to try to lay it at my door. What -witness can you bring to prove your accusation? -It is only one man's word against another, and I -have as good a right as you to be believed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is a witness whom I can bring," -answered Ben calmly, "and one whose evidence -will be conclusive too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is it, pray?" asked Mr. Field with a -mocking laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Old Wattie himself," was Ben's reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he said the words, Mr. Field suddenly threw -up his hands, and staggering to a chair, fell back -unconscious upon the cushions.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="good-hope"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">Good Hope</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>All was commotion and confusion at -Farncourt as servants hurried hither and -thither, and a message was sent off to the doctor -to come without delay to the assistance of the -master of the big house, who meanwhile lay so -helpless within its walls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was a stroke," said Ben to Mrs. Power, as -he stood in her little parlour giving an account of -the sudden seizure. "They say he may regain -consciousness towards the end, but there is no -hope that he can recover."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did it come on?" asked Madelaine. -"He seemed quite well when I saw him yesterday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The two American gentlemen are coming to -explain," answered Ben, "as it has something to -do with you, Mrs. Power. They will be here in a -few minutes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Something to do with me!" repeated Madelaine -in astonishment. "I don't understand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A motor drew up to the gate as she spoke, -and she was soon listening to the strange tale. -Clearly and concisely did Judge Simmons lay -the whole case before her, dwelling as gently as -he could upon the sick man's guilt, but demonstrating -to her in no uncertain terms the cruel -deception which had been practised upon her -husband, blighting his life for so long.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you mean to say that Gerald is entirely -innocent?" she asked, hardly able to take in the -wonderful news. "Am I right in believing that -he did not even strike old Mr. Long--much less -kill him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is absolutely nothing against him," -replied the judge. "He is free to hold up his head -with any man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chauffeur had by this time been sent off in -the car to Mrs. Potter's, with instructions to bring -Mr. Barker back with him at once to Sea View -Cottage. Gerald had already started on his -six-mile walk to the railway, but it was not long -before the motor had overtaken the traveller, -and a note from Madelaine put into her husband's -hands, bidding him come to her without delay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a joyful reunion when at length Gerald -made his appearance at the cottage, and the glad -tidings were broken to the exiled man. Again -and again he had to be told the details of the -marvellous story, while he listened hungrily, his -eyes glittering with new hope and his cheeks -flushed with the emotion which he did not seek -to hide.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is it indeed true that I can live out the rest -of my life openly before all?" he said at last, -"with no haunting spectre dogging my steps or -barring the way to rest and happiness? What -these past years have been to me in their utter -misery, no one will ever know. I feel as if a -crushing burden had been suddenly lifted off, and -my heart is light once more. Oh, Madelaine, we -need talk no more of separation. It is as if -the sunshine had all at once flooded our future. -Please God it may be a very happy one both for -us and our little son. As long as I live, I can -never praise Him enough for what He has done!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For some time did the little company remain, -talking over the many eventful circumstances -of the past.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never could make out why Mr. Field always -seemed to be in such a fright, as if something was -hanging over him," said Ben. "The worst thing -I laid to his charge was some sort of forgery, to -which I had unwittingly put my hand. The -suspicion of a crime did not enter my head, as I -had no idea there had been any talk of Wattie's -death. Many a time have I seen the old man -and talked with him since the day when all this -coil began. I had no cause to question what -Field told me, and believed he was merely sleeping -off the double effects of the drink and the blow -when we went off that morning, and never -imagined there had ever been any serious danger -at all. He was very indignant with us for deserting -him as we did, and no wonder, for he was only -just breathing when some lumber-men happened -to come in, and looked after him like good -Samaritans for a day or two till he got better. He was -afraid of being left alone in the hut after that, -and soon went off to a married daughter in -Toronto, where he has been ever since. I suppose that -is why Mr. Field did not come across him again, -and so never doubted that he was actually dead, as -might well have been the case had he been left -to our tender mercies."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you realize now what your position is -in regard to your little property in California?" -asked Mr. Pratt at last. He turned to Gerald -and looked at him with an amused smile as he -put the question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I seem to care for nothing except that the -intolerable weight has gone, which has crushed -me down for ten interminable years," was the -reply, "but I expect I shall take the first -opportunity of getting rid of anything that is mine in -Wild Goat Gully. I never want to see the place again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You won't have many offers," said Mr. Pratt, -with a knowing nod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not worth anything, I suppose," answered -Gerald. "Well, I thought as much, only I -don't seem to care."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are not a dozen men in the world who -could bid for it," returned Mr. Pratt. "Do you -understand, Mr. Barker, that you are now the -Silver King?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was indeed with feelings of astonishment -that Gerald and Madelaine listened to the account -of the Good Hope mine, with that tell-tale orange -streak across its rocky wall, and learned that its -rich treasures were indisputably their own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not till a week later were they able to grasp -the reality of what it all meant, when they -were called to the dying bed of the man who -had robbed them not only of their heritage but of -their peace. Broken and penitent, Thomas Field -made full confession of his sin, praying those he -had injured to forgive him for the wrong which -he had done.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Gerald Barker who supported the sick -man's head in that last dread struggle for breath, -and Madelaine who closed his eyes as he passed -away from the world he had so much misused.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You promised you would be good to my -boy," he gasped a few minutes before the end. -"He is blameless, though he must suffer for his -father's evil deeds, poor little chap."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is going to be our boy now," answered -Madelaine, putting her arm round the sobbing -child. "Robin and he will be brothers in everything, -and Julius shall share with him both our -home and our love."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To the utmost did Gerald and his wife fulfil -their promise to the erring parent, and brighter -days dawned for little Julius than he had ever -experienced before. To a stranger's eyes, no -difference could be seen in their loving care for -the two lads.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They shall share and share alike," said -Gerald. "It was Julius' father who first -exploited the mine, and his enterprise that carried -it on, so it is only fair that his son should reap -some of the reward. I hold this wealth as a trust -from God. I am but a steward of His to see that -it is spent as He would desire, and my wish is that -the boys may be brought up to use rightly what -will one day be theirs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As for Benjamin Green, who helped so largely -in bringing the truth at length to light, his -energies could not long be confined to quiet Sunbury. -When Mr. Barker offered him an important -position in connection with the "Good Hope" -he accepted gladly, and for many years proved -himself not only a capable servant, but a faithful -friend.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is as bright Harrow boys, home for the -holidays, that we must take our last glimpse of Robin -and Julius, as they sit talking with Gerald and -Madelaine round the drawing-room fire at Farncourt. -Robin's fair curly head is laid against his -mother's knee, and Julius' dark one is not far -off, both lads lounging contentedly upon the -hearthrug, which they share with a fine -deerhound and Pat the terrier.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You should have seen Julius win the hundred -yards' race, father," said Robin. "It was simply -splendid. All the other fellows were bigger than -he was, but he led from start to finish."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's nothing to Robin at the high jump," -put in Julius. "The people just roared when -he cleared the bar time after time. He broke the -record for boys under twelve, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you like school," remarked Gerald, "and -have had a good term on the whole?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Rather!" replied both boys simultaneously. -"Though it's jolly to be home again," added -Julius, as he looked up trustfully into Madelaine's -face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, mother, you have actually got that -old text of mine framed!" exclaimed Robin -suddenly, as he sat up and looked at the table -opposite. "I thought it was washed away the -night of the storm, when our hut was destroyed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must apologize to you, Robin," said his -father, "for having so coolly walked off with -your property. I went back on purpose to take -it that night when the tempest broke, and I -got so ill. Your mother found a nice corner -for it beside her writing materials, so we put -it up there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It reminds me of so many things," said -Madelaine. "I like to look at it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've often thought of it at school," remarked -Robin, "when things weren't going quite straight. -It somehow seems to put them right. You see -if 'the eyes of the LORD are in every place, -beholding the evil and the good,' it's bound to make -one more careful."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," said Julius, "and if one is down or -sorry, it's a help to think of it too--that is, of -course, after you've found out that He's the best -Friend of all."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">Butler & Tanner, Frome and London.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold medium">UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">EVERY BOY'S BOOKSHELF</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>The Captain's Bunk. By M. B. Manwell. -<br />Sir Roland Preederoy. By F. C. Britten, M.A. -<br />Roy of Daisydale. By L. Reid. -<br />Philip Compton's Will. By M. Harding Kelly. -<br />The Black Cockatoo. By Bessie Marchant. -<br />A Trooper of the Finns. By Tom Bevan. -<br />For Crown and Covenant. By Cyril Grey. -<br />The Brigands' Prey. By A. M. Jackson. -<br />All for Number One. By Henry Johnson. -<br />For the Sake of a Crown. By Mrs. F. West. -<br />Skylark: His Deeds and Adventures. By M. Geneste. -<br />Cave Perilous. By L. T. Meade. -<br />The Turquoise Ring. By Ida Lemon. -<br />Old Schoolfellows and What Became of Them. -<br />Tom Wallis. By Louis Becke. -<br />The Shell-Hunters. By Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N. -<br />The Fiery Totem. By Argyll Saxby, M.A., F.R.G.S. -<br />His by Right. By Kate Mellersh. -<br />Sir Guyon, the Interloper. By M. S. Madden. -<br />Tom Kenyon, Schoolboy. By M. Harding Kelly. -<br />True to the Colours! By Maud Maddick. -<br />The Doctor's Experiment. By H. Frederick Charles. -<br />The Black Pearl of Peihoo. By S. P. Hyatt.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><em class="italics">For Complete List see Catalogue.</em></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span>LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>TARNISHED SILVER</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43318"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43318</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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