Dillon,"
pleaded Mrs Braydon, as she saw her elder daughter's agonised look.

"My dear madam, I must study your husband and the commonweal of this
colony," said the magistrate firmly. "Good morning."

"But--you wish refreshments?" faltered Mrs Braydon.

"Some other time, madam. My visit now must be very painful to you all."

He raised his hat, spurred his horse, and galloped off after his men;
while, as Mrs Braydon stood gazing after him, Janet uttered a low wail,
flung her arms about her sister's neck, and whispered, "Take me in,
dear. I cannot bear it, take me in."

"Janet, my child!" cried Mrs Braydon; and in an agony of suffering she
helped to lead the agitated girl into the house, while old Sam trotted
off into the stable, and came back with a halter in his hand to where
Brookes stood, shading his swollen-up eyes with one hand, holding the
rein of his horse with the other.

"Thank ye, mate," he said, as he saw the halter, "but I dunno as I want
it. Take the horse in for me; I want a wash. Don't s'pose Mr
Leatherhead'll hit at me again."

"Yes," said old Sam in a husky voice, "I'll take the poor horse. Here,
ketch hold. How are you a-going to face Master Nic when, he comes
back?"

"Face him!" cried Brookes savagely: "I'll face him and show him what his
fav'rite has done. He shall see my face, and then he may go and look at
his convict's back and see how he likes that."

"Here, ketch hold," cried old Sam, shaking the rope.

"Tell you I don't want it," cried Brookes savagely.

"And I tell you you do," said the old man fiercely. "Take it and go
right off to the first big green bough in the bush."

"What for?" cried Brookes, with his swollen eyelids opening wide.

"To use it--on yourself; for such a man as you ain't fit to live."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

AND ALL IN VAIN.

"Cooey--cooey!" shouted Nic, as he came cantering up over the soft, fine
grass a couple of hours later toward the house; but no one was in sight,
and he turned off toward the stables just as Brookes came out of the
wool-shed.

"Why, hullo! What's the matter? Had a fall?"

"Had a fall!" cried the man savagely. "Look here." But old Sam had
been watching for his young master's return, and he hurried up.

"Won't you listen to me, Master Nic?" he cried. "Let me tell the tale."

"Nic! Nic! come here quick!" cried Hilda, running from the house.

The boy looked wildly from one to the other, threw the rein to old Sam,