ut."

"Ah well, ah well," said Mr John Dempster, "never mind about that now.
Mayne, my dear boy, do wash your face, and let's have a long talk. I am
sorry my dear wife saw you like this, for she has been talking so much
about you. I am very sorry."

"Sorry, sir!" I cried passionately; "it is horrible."

"Yes, it is unfortunate, but an accident," he said smilingly, as he laid
his hand upon my shoulder. "You have not fought much since I saw you
last?"

"Fought? No," I said, unable to keep back a smile at his question.

"Ah! you laugh, but I have one memory of your prowess in that way.
There, remove those marks."

"That's better," he said, a few minutes later. "Now I want to know all
about your adventures."

"And I about yours, sir," I said eagerly, for we were alone, Esau having
passed out of the strangers' quarters with his mother. "Tell me about
Mrs John. Is she better?"

"Ah, you did not see," he said, with a smile that was quite womanly
lighting up his face. "For a time she frightened me, but once we were
at sea she began to mend, and for months now the change has been
wonderful."

"I am glad," I cried.

"Yes, wonderful," he continued. "My brother Raydon was right; but had I
known, enthusiastic as I am, what a terribly long, slow, tedious journey
it was across those vast plains, I should never have dared to venture."

"But she has borne it well?"

"Borne it! My dear boy, she is no longer the same. The delightful air,
the freedom from all restraint, the grandeur of the scenery we have come
through, everything has seemed to be giving her back her lost strength,
and it is a new life she is beginning to live."

"I am thankful," I said.

"But tell me, Mayne," he said; "there is some coolness between you and
my brother. He did not tell me what it was. Have you not been happy
with him?"

"Yes," I said, "till now."

And then I told him everything, from the discovery of the gold to the
moment of his arrival. He stood looking thoughtful for a few moments,
and then said--

"And young Dean believes it too?"

"Yes," I said; "and that caused the struggle that you saw."

"Of course--of course. I see."

"But, Mr John, indeed, indeed I kept my word. I did not--I would not
tell a soul; and I have carefully avoided going to the place."

He stood with his brows knit in silence, looking straight away.

"You do not believe me?" I said, piteously.

"Believe you? Why not?" he said, rousing hi