all be sent somewhere else, old man. I shall be marked as
dangerous now, and not fit to be at a station where there are ladies.
But you'll tell young Mr Nic the whole truth?--you know what I've had
to bear."

"Ay, my lad, I do know."

"Thank you, Samson. You've always been a good fellow to me. Good-bye."

He passed the axe into his left hand and held out his right, but quickly
placed the axe back and stood up firmly, as a heavily built,
florid-looking man, mounted upon a fiery horse covered with foam,
cantered up, followed by four more men, three of whom, like their
leader, bore guns, while the fourth was Brookes with his head tied up,
his face swollen, distorted, and still smeared with dried blood--
altogether a horrible-looking object--but he sat his horse firmly
enough.

As the leader rode up he lowered the gun he carried and spurred his
hesitating horse close up to the convict, as if fully prepared to drive
in the spurs and ride him down.

"Surrender!" he shouted. "Down with that axe, quickly, or I'll send a
charge of buckshot through you."

Leather looked him straight in the eyes and threw down the axe.

"Here, Belton: handcuffs."

One of his men dismounted, handed his gun and rein to a companion, took
a pair of heavy handcuffs from the strap which held his blanket to the
saddle, and advanced to where the convict stood with folded arms.

These were dragged roughly apart, and _click_!--one iron was about a
wrist. Then the other arm was seized, dragged downward, and _click_!
the convict's wrists were secured behind his back, just as Mrs Braydon
and her two daughters came hurrying out; and seeing what had taken
place, Janet uttered a low cry, and would have fallen but for her
sister's arm.

The convict saw it, and his lips quivered for a few moments. Then he
stood up with his head erect, gazing straight before him.

"Mr Dillon!" cried Mrs Braydon.

"Your servant, my dear madam," said the new arrival, raising his hat as
he rode forward. "Young ladies, yours. Don't be alarmed, Miss Braydon:
there is no danger now. I am very sorry that this outrage has taken
place in the doctor's absence. Your poor man rode over, and I came
instantly.--Too glad to have been of service."

Mrs Braydon's lips moved, but no word was heard.

"Where is the young squire?" continued the visitor.

"My brother has gone out on a round, I suppose, Mr Dillon," said Hilda
quickly. "But--but what are you going to do?"

"