e Eldest Statesman, inflexibly.

"Then I won't!" exclaimed Christian; "I--I couldn't! The river giddys
me so awfully when I stand still on the stones--"

"Prisoner!" returned Richard, "once the law is uttered, it can't be
unuttered! Off you go!"

"Well then, and I _will_ go!" said Christian, with a wriggle so
fierce and sudden that it loosed the grip of her guards. It is even
possible that the ensuing lightning dart for freedom might have
succeeded, but for the unfortunate fidelity of her allies, Rinka and
Tashpy. The one sprang at her brief skirt and caught it, the other got
between her legs. She fell, and was delivered again into the hands of
the enemy.

Richard was not a bully, but Mrs. Sarah Battle was not more scrupulous
than he in observing the rigour of the game. Christian was manacled
with the belt of her own overall, and was hauled along the golden, but
despised, gravel of the river strand, to the spot whence the
stepping-stones started.

"I'll do this much for you," said the Eldest Statesman, relaxing a
little, "I'll go first and carry the bucket."

He dragged Christian on to the first of the big, flat, old
stepping-stones, Judith assisting from the rear, and, with increasing
difficulty, two more stones were achieved. Then they paused for
breath, and a sudden whirlwind of passion came upon the captive. She
began to struggle and dance upon the flat stone, madly endeavouring to
free her hands, while she shrieked to the dastard Twins to come to her
rescue.

"Cowards! Cowards! I hate you all--"

"Better let her go," whispered Judith, who knew better than her Chief
what Christian's storms meant.

Richard hesitated, and, as in a mediaeval romance, at this moment a
champion materialised.

Not the Twins, lying like leopards along the higher boughs of a
neighbouring alder, deeply enjoying the spectacle, but a boy, smaller
than Richard, who came crashing through the bushes on the Coppinger's
Court side of the Ownashee. Arrived, at the ford, he stayed neither
his pace nor his stride, and before the Eldest Statesman, much
hampered by his prisoner and the bucket, could put up any sort of
defence, the unknown rescuer had sprung across the stepping-stones,
and, catching him by the shoulders, had, by sheer force of speed and
surprise, hurled him into the river.

Thus did Larry Coppinger, informally but effectively, introduce
himself to his second-cousins, the Talbot-Lowrys.

CHAPTER IV

A fortnight