"I may have ruined everything. Any
one but a fool would have asked him what he meant when he hit out like
that instead of flying into a rage and hitting back the way I did. Most
likely it was some mistake when he said he knew who I was and what I
wanted--at least if it wasn't--I hope I haven't killed him, anyhow."

Secure in the protection the dark night afforded him, he remained
sufficiently near at hand to be able to assure himself soon that his
overthrown adversary was certainly not killed, for now he began to
express himself somewhat emphatically concerning the manner in which the
two new-comers were ministering to him.

Presently he got to his feet and, with one of them supporting him on
each side, began to limp away, and Dunn followed them, though cautiously
and at a distance, for he was still greatly exhausted and in neither the
mood nor the condition for running unnecessary risks.

The big man, Mr. John, as the others called him, seemed little inclined
for speech, but the others talked a good deal, subsiding sometimes when
he told them gruffly to be quiet but invariably soon beginning again
their expressions of sympathy and vows of vengeance against his unknown
assailant.

"How many of them do you think there were, Mr. John, sir?" one asked
presently. "I'll lay you marked a fair sight of the villains."

"There was only one man," Mr. John answered briefly.

"Only one?" the other repeated in great surprise. "For the Lord's sake,
Mr. John--only one? Why, there ain't any one man between here and Lunnon
town could stand up to you, sir, in a fair tussle."

"Well, he did," Mr. John answered. "He had the advantage, he took me by
surprise, but I never felt such a grip in my life."

"Lor', now, think of that," said the other in tones in which surprise
seemed mingled with a certain incredulity. "It don't seem possible, but
for sure, then, he don't come from these here parts, that I'll stand
to."

"I knew that much before," retorted Mr. John. "I said all the time
they were outsiders, a London gang very likely. You'll have to get Dr.
Rawson, Bates. I don't know what's up, but I've a beast of a pain in my
side. I can hardly breathe."

Bates murmured respectful sympathy as they came out of the shelter
of the trees, and crossing some open ground, reached a road along the
further side of which ran a high brick wall.

In this, nearly opposite the spot where they emerged on the road, was a
small door which one of the