slowly. "I cannot say. I only think I
know."

"Then who was it?"

No answer.

"Dick, I command you to speak," cried Mr Marston, catching his arm and
holding him tightly.

"I don't know," said Dick.

"You do know, cried Mr Marston angrily, and I will have an answer. No
man's life is safe, and these proceedings must be stopped."

For answer Dick wrested himself free.

"I don't know for certain," he said determinedly, "and I'm not going to
say who it is I suspect, when I may be wrong."

"But if the person suspected is innocent, he can very well prove it.
Ah, here is Tom Tallington! Come, Tom, my lad, you can help me here
with your old companion."

"No," cried Dick angrily, "don't ask him."

"I shall ask him," said Mr Marston firmly. "Look here, Tom; our friend
Dick here either knows or suspects who it was that fired that shot; and
if he knows that, he can tell who fired the other shots, and perhaps did
all the other mischief."

"Do you know, Dick?" cried Tom excitedly.

"I don't know for certain, I only suspect," said Dick sadly.

"And I want him to speak out, my lad, while he persists in trying to
hide it."

"He won't," said Tom. "He thinks it is being a bit of a coward to tell
tales; but he knows it is right to tell, don't you, Dick?"

"No," said the latter sternly.

"You do, now," said Tom. "Come, I say, let's know who it was. Here,
shall I call father?"

"No, no," cried Dick excitedly, "and I won't say a word. I cannot. It
is impossible."

"You are a strange lad, Dick Winthorpe," said the engineer, looking at
them curiously.

"Oh, but he will speak, Mr Marston! I can get him to," cried Tom.
"Come, Dick, say who it was."

Dick stared at him wildly, for there was something so horrible to him in
this boy trying now to make him state what would result in his father's
imprisonment and death, that Tom seemed for the moment in his eyes quite
an unnatural young monster at whose presence he was ready to shudder.

"How can you be so obstinate!" cried Tom. "You shall tell. Who was
it?"

Dick turned from him in horror, and would have hurried away, but Mr
Marston caught his arm.

"Stop a moment, Dick Winthorpe," he said. "I must have a few words with
you before we part. It is plain enough that all these outrages are
directed against the persons who are connected with the drainage scheme,
and that their lives are in danger. Now I am one of these persons, and
to gratify the petty reve