coundrels."

As he spoke he made us rise, and forced us before him--neither of us
speaking--through the bushes and on to the path, a little point of light
appearing above me, and puffs of pungent smoke from a cigar striking my
face.

"I've got t'other one," said a rough voice that I also recognised, and I
cried out involuntarily:

"Ike--Ike!"

"That's me, lad. I've got him fast."

"You let me go. You hurt me," cried Philip out of the darkness.

"Hurt yer? I should think I do hurt you. Traps always does hurt, my
fine fellow. Who are you? What's your name?"

"Bring him here," cried Sir Francis; and as Ike half carried, half
dragged Philip out from among the trees on to the broad green walk, Sir
Francis cried fiercely:

"Now, then! What's the meaning of all this!"

I heard Philip give a gasp as I opened my lips to speak, but before I
could say a word Courtenay cried out quickly:

"Phil and I heard them stealing the pears, and we came down to stop
them--didn't we, Phil?"

"Yes: they pounced upon us in the dark."

"I am knocked about," cried Courtenay.

"What a wicked lie!" I exclaimed, as soon as I could get my breath.

"Lie, sir, lie!" cried Sir Francis fiercely, as he tightened his grasp
upon my collar. "Why, I saw you come creeping along with that dark
lantern, and watched you. You had no business down here, and yet I find
you along with this fellow, who has no right to be in the garden now,
assaulting my sons."

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

"Now, sir," cried Sir Francis angrily, "have the goodness to explain
what you were doing there."

This was to Ike, who seemed stupid and confused. The excitement of the
fight had roused him up for a few minutes; but as soon as that was over
he yawned very loudly, and when Sir Francis turned fiercely upon him and
asked him that question he said aloud:

"Eh?"

"Answer me, you scoundrel!" cried Sir Francis. "You heard what I said."

"Eh? Hah, yes. What had I been a-doing--heigh--ho--hum! Oh, how
sleepy I am! What had I been a-doing here? What I been doing, Mars
Grant?"

"You were asleep," I said on being appealed to; and I spoke angrily, for
I was smarting under the accusation and suspicion of being a thief.

"Asleep!" cried Ike. "To be sure. That's it. Asleep I was under the
bushes there. Dropped right off."

"You repeat your lesson well," said Sir Francis. "Pray, go up to the
house--to the library, you boys--