ur families."

"I have always thought so," replied Ralph.

"I say, I'm glad you're not a coward, though. They say that all the
Darleys have been cowards."

"Yes; and all the Edens too."

"It's a lie--an abominable lie," cried Mark hotly. "Do you mean to say
I'm a coward?"

"How could I, after the way you helped me to fight those ruffians this
evening? I thought you very brave," said Ralph gravely.

"Thank ye. That's what I thought about you. But I think it's a pity
you are a Darley."

"Don't say that. I am very proud to be one, but I say--"

"Yes?"

"Don't you think, instead of paying compliments to one another, we ought
to go and get our wounds properly seen to?"

"Yes, it would be more sensible. You'll turn off, and go round by the
cliff?"

"Yes, where the path comes up from the river," replied Ralph.

"And we'll finish that fight as soon as ever we can," said Mark.

"Very well. I suppose we must see who's best man."

"Of course.--Hallo! who's this?"

A figure was dimly-seen coming up through the bushes, along the track
just mentioned, and directly after, it became fully visible as Master
Rayburn with his fish-creel on his back, and rod on shoulder; and they
saw the old man stop short and cry:

"Shade of good Queen Bess! What's the meaning of this?"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

MASTER RAYBURN BEGINS TO THINK.

Neither of the lads answered, for a feeling of confusion which troubled
them. They felt abashed at being seen in each other's company; but they
had to stop, for the old man planted himself right in the middle of the
narrow track, where it passed between two blocks of stone, and as soon
as the cob reached him, it began to sniff at his breast and creel, and
stood still. "The wolf and the lamb together," said the old man drily,
and in the most serious manner; "but which is wolf, and which is lamb?"
Then, without waiting for a reply, he caught sight of something in the
dimming light beneath the trees, and said; "What's this? Surely, my
dear lads, you two have not been fighting? You have--and with swords."

Mark's cheeks flushed, and his eyes fell for a moment before the old
man's piercing eyes; but he recovered himself directly, before Ralph
could speak, and said:

"Yes, we've had a desperate fight coming home. Set upon by about a
dozen ruffians, and if it had not been for young Darley here--"

"You did as much as I did, or more," cried Ralph.

"Oh, never mind who did most. We