r
Janet coming to meet him, looking very pale, but quite contented.

"I shall keep it a secret, Nic," she whispered. "I'm so glad, for all
that seemed so dreadful to me."

At that moment Mrs Braydon appeared at the door, she too looking pale,
but eager to welcome her son; and no allusion was made during breakfast
to the previous day's trouble.

But hardly had they finished when Nibbler burst into a deep-toned volley
of barking, which immediately started the two collies, and they rushed
round to the front.

"Some one coming," cried Hilda. "Oh,--they're bringing back poor
Leather!"

Nic sprang to the window, to see Mr Dillon, followed by five of his
men, three blacks, and seven or eight dogs, among which were three
gaunt, grey, rough-haired, Scottish deer-hounds.

The boy had expected that Mr Dillon would come, but his sister's words
staggered him and gave him a sharp pang.

The next moment, though, he saw that she was wrong; and turning from the
window, he exchanged glances with Janet, as he said quite coolly, "What
does he want so soon?" and made for the door, thinking that he knew well
enough that they were on a man-hunting expedition, but congratulated
himself on the convict's long start.

"Good morning, Mr Dominic," said the magistrate, riding up, while the
two collies ran on to investigate the strange dogs, and Nibbler tore
furiously at his chain.

"Good morning, sir," said Nic. "Here, Rumble--rumble! Come here, both
of you! Hi, Samson! Shut these two dogs up in one of the sheds."

"Yes," said the visitor, "or there'll be a fight." Then, as Sam came
running up and relieved Nic of his task of holding the pair by their
black frills, "Will you be good enough to walk a little way from the
house, young man? I want a word or two with you."

"He can't know I was there," thought Nic; and he walked beside the
visitor's horse till it was checked, and the rider looked down sharply
at the boy.

"Now, young gentleman," he said, "I don't want to quarrel with your
father's son, but I am a man who never allows himself to be played with.
You played me a pretty trick last night."

"I, sir? How?"

"Do you want telling?"

"Of course, sir."

Nic felt the magistrate's eyes piercing almost into his very thoughts;
but, at the same time, he saw those armed men and that pack of dogs
ready to hunt down the convict, and if he could avoid it he was
determined not to say all he knew.

"You came over to my place l