ing his foot now on the
prisoner's chest.

"What! of you?" cried Ralph.

"Yes: I might make you my lackey, to wait upon me. That is what the
Darleys should do for the Edens."

"You coward!" said Ralph, with his pale face flushing now.

"What!" cried Mark. "Oh yes, call names like a girl. Come: beg for
your life."

Ralph's answer was a fierce and scornful look, which told of what he
would do if his hands were free. Then for a few moments he struggled,
and Mark laughed.

"No good," he said; "our men can tie knots fast enough to hold a
Darley."

The men, who stood at a little distance, laughed together in their
satisfaction as they eagerly waited to see what was to come. Mark did
not keep them long in suspense, for his hand went to the hilt of his
sword, which he half drew.

"Now," he said, "beg for your life, Darley."

"Coward!" cried Ralph, in a hoarse whisper.

"Very well," said Mark. "I gave you the chance. You were caught by our
men stealing on our land, and you ought to have begged. The Darleys
always were beggars and thieves; but you will not. I gave you the
opportunity."

He thrust the sword back in its sheath, and let his right hand fall to
his side, where a strong knife-like dagger hung by a short chain from
his belt, and whipped it out of its case.

"Does for a hunting-knife," he said, with a curious laugh. "My father
has killed many a stag with it. Now, are you going to beg for your
life?"

There was no reply, and the men took a step or two forward.

"Go back!" cried Mark fiercely; and the men obeyed.

Mark bent over the prisoner, with the mocking laugh intensifying.

"Too much of a coward to beg for your life," he said: "well, I'm too
much of a coward to make you see it taken. There!"

With a quick movement, he turned Ralph over upon his face, thrust the
point of the dagger beneath the line where the cut would tell best, and
the prisoner's wrists were free; another quick cut divided the rope
which drew his elbows together, and then the knees and ankles followed,
the strained hemp easily parting at the touch of the keen blade, and
Ralph Darley was free.

"Why, Master Mark," cried the chief man of the party in astonishment,
"what you doing of?"

"Can't you see, idiot?" cried Mark, with a fierce snap.

"But what's the good of our ketching and tying on him?" cried the man
addressed as Tom, in an ill-used tone.

"Say another word, you brute, and I'll have you tied as you tie