this dog deserves to be
shot himself," exclaimed Dick, looking boldly up.

"I shot the dog; it deserved to be killed for chasing hares on my
father's property," answered the young lord. "You yourself must have
set him on to drive the hares towards you. You are a poacher; we must
have you up before the magistrates and punish you accordingly."

"I did not set him on," answered Dick, rising to his feet, "and I had no
intention of killing any hares on the Elverston property. These rabbits
I shot on my father's farm, and I had a perfect right to kill them. The
dog belongs to my blind sister. As she is ill, I took the poor brute
out for a run."

"A very likely story!" exclaimed Lord Reginald. "You have a gun in your
hand and rabbits over your shoulder, and you had sent your dog
scampering over the fields in search of more. I know your name, and
shall report you to my father, so you may expect to take up your
quarters in prison before many days are over."

"The lad speaks the truth, my lord, about the dog," observed the keeper,
who had stepped forward and examined poor Faithful. "I have seen it
many a time leading Farmer Hargrave's blind daughter about, though
whether he shot the rabbits on his father's farm or not is another
matter. We have never found him poaching before, so that part of the
story may be true also."

"I am sorry to have shot the dog, if it was useful to his blind sister,"
said Lord Reginald; "and, I say, Jackson, I wish you'd look out for
another to give the poor girl, instead of this one; she'll not find out
the difference."

"I wouldn't let her receive it if you should give her one!" exclaimed
Dick, his anger in no way pacified by the young lord's expressions of
regret. "No dog could be found to equal Faithful; but I myself will
look after a dog to take its place."

"Really, my dear Oswald, I cannot stand by to see you thus insulted by
this ungrateful young ruffian," said Voules. "He has threatened to
shoot you, and he looks like a fellow capable of doing what he says.
The sooner he is taken up and sent to prison the better."

"I have not been poaching! If you lay hands on me it will be the worse
for you," said Dick, grasping his gun.

"Come, come, Master Dick, do you go to your home, and do not be so
foolish as to threaten mischief. It is dangerous to use such words, and
you'll be sorry for them by-and-by," said the keeper, wisely interposing
between the exasperated young men. "I