him, why hadn't he sent the police, or at least
a 'summons'? As for going to prison, that only happened to thieves and
criminals. No man could be locked up for pulling a boat to and fro; the
notion was absurd on the face of it.

Two days later he sought out Mr. Benny, and showed him the documents.

"I wish you'd make head or tail of 'em for me. They're pretendin' somehow
that Queen Victoria herself is mixed up in it. God bless her! and me that
have never clapped eyes on her nor wished her aught but in health an'
wealth long to live, Amen."

"Oh, Nicky, Nicky!" Mr. Benny leapt up from his chair. "What have you
done! and what a criminal fool was I not to keep an eye on you!"

"From all I hear," said Nicky, "you've had enough to do lookin' after
yourself. Be it true, as I hear tell, that Rosewarne gave you the sack on
my account?"

"Never talk of that," commanded Mr. Benny. "Go you home now, lock up your
boat, get a night's rest, and expect me early to-morrow morning.
Between this and then I will see what can be done." But his heart sank as
he glanced again at the date on the document.

Indeed he was too late. After an ineffectual interview with Mr. Tulse,
the little man rushed off to the ferry, intent on facing Mr. Sam in his
den and pleading for mercy. But as he reached the slip the official
ferryboat came alongside, and in the sternsheets beside the town policeman
sat Nicky Vro, on his way to Bodmin gaol.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE INTERCEDERS.

"Clem!"

The blind child awoke at the touch of his sister's hand on his shoulder,
and turned drowsily in his bed.

"Eh? What's the matter?" A moment later he sat up in alarm and put out a
hand as if to feel the darkness. "It isn't morning yet!"

"No; but the ground is all covered with snow, and you can't think what
funny lights are dancing over it across the sky. I've been watching them
for minutes and minutes."

"What sort of lights?"

"I can't tell you, because I never saw the like of them. Sometimes
they're white, and sometimes they're violet, and then again green and
orange. They run right across the sky like ribbons waving, and once they
turned to red and lit up the snow as far as I could see."

"You've been catching your death of cold." Clem could hear her teeth
chattering.

"I'm not so very cold," Myra declared bravely. "I took off the
counterpane and wrapped it round me. You'll come, won't you, dear?"

Clem knew why he was summoned