er said. "What did I want to interfere for, and stop the
pony? It was looked upon as an insult, I suppose. I don't like the
Edens, and I never shall."

Ralph's adventures for that day were not ended. A quarter of a mile
farther on he heard footsteps in front. Some one was running, and at a
turn of the track a lad came into sight, whom he recognised as Dummy
Rugg, one of the mine lads. The pair came closer quickly, and Ralph saw
that he was recognised, and that the boy was scowling at him, passing
him with rather an evil look, but stopping the next minute, and running
back after him. As soon as he heard the steps returning, Ralph faced
round, his left hand seeking the sheath of his sword, to bring it round
in case he should want to draw. But the next minute he saw that the lad
had no evil intent.

"Look here," cried Dummy, "did you see a young lady on a pony?"

"Yes."

"Was it going fast?"

"As fast as it could go," said Ralph haughtily.

"Not running away wi' her?"

"Yes," said Ralph, rather enjoying the boy's anxiety, in his ruffled
state.

"I knowed it would: I knowed it would!" cried the boy wildly; "and she
would have it out. Here! gone right on?"

"Yes."

"Ah! And you never tried to stop it. Oh, wait till I see you again!"

Ralph did not feel in the humour to stop and explain to one who had
threatened him so offensively, and he would have felt less so still if
he had known that Dummy Rugg had followed him that night through the
dark woods, till he met his father.

"Let him find out for himself," he muttered. "I have nothing to do with
the Edens, and we can none of us ever be friends."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

DUMMY TURNS STUNT.

Dummy Rugg caught the pony, after seeing that his young mistress was
unhurt at Master Rayburn's cottage; and, perfectly calm now, the girl
insisted upon remounting, the old man opposing her, until Dummy gave him
a curious look or two, and a nod of the head.

"And there is no need whatever for you to go up home with me, Master
Rayburn," she said. "It is all uphill now, and the pony will not run
away again."

"Very well, Mistress Obstinacy," said the old man, smiling and patting
her cheek, before helping her on the pony; "but I feel as if I ought to
see you home safely."

"There is no need, indeed," cried the girl. "Goodbye, and thank you.
I'm afraid I frightened you."

"You did, my child, terribly. More than you frightened yourself. I was
afraid tha