dog, a happy thought flashed into his mind.
His face brightened, and there was a half-smile upon it, as, turning to
Evil-Eye, who scarce dared to breathe lest those great black jaws, so
close to his throat, would close tight upon it, he said,--

"Look here, Evil-Eye. I'll take the dog off on one condition. Will
you agree?"

"What is that?" groaned Evil-Eye.

"Why, I've taken a fancy to this lad and his dog, and want to keep them
for a while, anyway. Now, if you'll promise me that you'll let them
alone so long as I want them, I'll get the dog off; but if you won't,
I'll just let you have it out with him."

Evil-Eye did not answer at once. Twisting his head, he looked around
to see if any other of his companions were near; but there was not a
soul in sight, and the storm was still raging.

"All right, Ben, I'll promise," he said sulkily; and then a crafty
gleam came into his baleful eye as he added, "And say, Ben, will you
give me half your share of this take if I stand by you for the boy?
They'll be wanting him finished off, maybe."

Ben was about to say something bitter in reply, but checked himself as
though second thoughts were best. Yet he could not entirely conceal
his contempt in his tone as he replied,--

"As you like. These two are what I want most this time. But, mind
you, Evil-Eye, if any harm comes to either of them through your doing,
your own blood shall pay for it, so sure as my name's Ben Harden."
Then, turning to Eric, he said,--

"Here, boy, you can call off your dog now."

Eric obeyed the directions at once. "Come here, Prince!" he commanded.
"Come to me, sir!"

Prince wagged his tail to indicate that he heard the order, but was
evidently in some doubt as to the wisdom of obeying it. According to
his way of thinking, the best place for Evil-Eye was just where he had
him, and he would like to keep him there a while longer, anyway.

But Eric insisted, and at length the dog obeyed, and came over to him,
turning, however, to glance back at Evil-Eye, as though he was just
itching to tumble him over again.

Looking very much out of humour, Evil-Eye pulled himself together, and
put his hand to his throat in order to make sure that Prince's teeth
had done him no injury. Fortunately for him, the high collar of the
greatcoat he wore had been turned up all around to keep out the rain,
and it had done him still better service by keeping out the mastiff's
teeth. So he was really none the wo