st actually be his prisoner, the youth to whom he put down all his
miseries. A snarl escaped him, and his fingers closed tighter on his
weapon. In less than a second he would have had it at Dick's head and
pulled the trigger had not the latter acted. He was satisfied now; he
was attacking an armed man who had due and proper warning. Dick struck
with the swiftness of lightning, the heavy stool hitting the half-caste
across forehead and face and knocking him senseless. But the matter was
not finished yet, and as the rascal fell, Dick was swift to follow up
his advantage. He clutched at the man and lowered him gently to the
floor. Then he took his revolver, and, throwing himself on his knees,
peered out at the sentry. The man had turned on his elbow and was
looking towards the hut, for he had heard the sound of the blow and he
was not quite satisfied.

"Fighting with his shadow," he growled at length. "It will be a good
thing for us when the fire-water kills him, or a British bullet settles
his account. But for him I should be sleeping in comfort, and not
sitting here, feeling as if I still had his fingers about my gullet.
Bah! Let him dreamt. Let him shoot himself if he wishes."

The fellow expressed little surprise when, some few minutes later, the
figure of the half-caste emerged from the hut and stood out in the open.
The native watched him through half-closed eyes, while one hand sought
for his musket.

"At the risk of my life I will shoot him if he lays a hand on me again,"
he said. "But it would lead to certain execution."

The figure stood lolling against the wall of the hut, with his hat drawn
down over his eyes, his collar turned up at his ears, while his hands
were sunk in his pockets. He was cold. He shivered and then stamped
his feet. A little later he began to pace backward and forward, and as
if a sudden thought had occurred to him, went to the door of the prison.
He threw it open, glanced in, and then shut and barred the door again
with every sign of satisfaction.

"Safe and sound," he said. "He will not escape the knife of the
executioner. You can go. You and your comrade. I cannot sleep, and
will keep watch myself."

Astonishment and delight were written on the features of the guard, but
he did not demur. The opportunity to be rid of a hated duty was too
good to be ignored, and at once, rousing his comrade, the two went off
down the street. And Dick watched them as he lolled th