reached the combe, to find Pete, now a fine sturdy-looking Devon man
in brown velveteen jacket and leather gaiters, counting the salmon in
the pool.

Pete turned sharply directly he heard Nic approach, and the serious look
in the man's face told that something unusual had occurred.

"Morn', Master Nic, zir."

"What is it, Pete? Surely you don't mean that we've had poachers
again?"

"Poachers it be, zir," said the man mysteriously; "but they won't come
here again. Master Nic, there's three on 'em come back, and I've zeen
'em."

"What! From the plantation?"

"Yes, zir; after a long spell of it they managed to give the dogs zome
poison stuff they got out of the woods. The blacks told 'em of it.
Manshy something it was."

"Manchioneel! I know," said Nic.

"That's it, zir, and it killed 'em. They got away in a boat--a new un,
I s'pose."

"I'm glad they escaped, poor fellows," said Nic; "but is that scoundrel
Dee with them?"

Pete was silent.

"Dead, Pete?"

"Yes, zir, 'fore we'd been gone two months," said the man gravely. "He
went at Zaunders one day with his hoe, and nearly killed him; but the
dogs heard the fight, and rushed down."

"Ah! the dogs!" cried Nic.

"Yes, zir, and what with their worrying and a shot he'd had from
Zaunders, it meant a couple o' the blacks with spades, and a grave in
the woods."

"Horrible!" ejaculated Nic.

"Yes, zir, horrible. Humpy allus hated me, and I s'pose I never liked
him; but if I'd been there, zir, I'd ha' helped him fight for his life
agen them zavage dogs."

"I know you would, Pete," cried Nic warmly. "But what about these men--
are they going to stay in the neighbourhood?"

"Not they, zir. They belong to the crew of a ship in Plymouth harbour;
and zomehow they got to know that I was here. They walked all the way
o' purpose to wish me luck and zhake hands and zay they hadn't aught
agen me, for they'd found out how it was they was took. It was poor
Humpy as made 'em believe it was me. They went back lars night."

"Poor Humpy!" said Nic wonderingly.

"Well, yes, zir. You zee, he waren't like other men," said Pete simply.
"He was born all crooked and out o' shape and ugly, and got teased and
kicked about when he was a boy; and I zuppose it made him zour and
evil-tempered. Then he grew up stronger than other men, and he got to
love getting the better of them as had knocked him about. I dunno, but
it allus zeemed zo to me. Well, poor chap, he