orn in this world of ours, it should
be the work of the highest order of creatures upon it to mar and
destroy, and contrive the horrors which disfigure it from time to time.

"And I've been one of the worst," he said to himself bitterly. "No: it
was to stop others from doing these things," he cried quickly. "Oh, if
we had not failed!"

He quickened his pace now, and, just as the sun rose high enough to
light up the vale with its morning glow, he came in sight of the opening
where Master Rayburn's cottage stood.

"I shall have to wake him up," said the lad, with a sigh; "and oh! what
a tale to tell!"

But he did not have to waken the old man, for as he drew nearer he
suddenly caught sight of his friend, standing with his back to him,
hands clasped and hanging in front, head bent and bare, and the
horizontal rays of the rising sun turning his silver locks to gold.

The lad gazed at him in surprise, but went on softly till he was quite
close up, when Master Rayburn turned suddenly, smiled, and said:

"Ah! Ralph Darley, my lad, that's how I say my prayers, but I'm a good
Christian all the same. Why, what brings--here, speak, boy," he cried
excitedly--"torn, covered with dirt--and what's this?--blood? Oh,
Ralph, boy, don't say that you and Mark Eden have been meeting again."

"Yes," said Ralph slowly; "we parted only a little while ago;" and he
told the old man what had taken place, while the latter eagerly examined
the speaker to seek for hurts.

"Then--then--you two lads--on the strength of what I said--attacked
those ruffians in their den?"

"Yes, Master Rayburn," said the lad bitterly; "and failed--miserably
failed. Do, pray, come up and see our poor fellows. One of them is
badly hurt, and the others have nearly all got wounds."

"But you--you, boy. I don't see the cause of all this blood."

"No," said Ralph wearily. "I'm not hurt. I suppose that came through
helping the men."

"Ah! and Mark Eden--is he hurt?"

"No: we two ought to have had the worst of it. He had a thrust on the
head, but his steel cap saved him, and he walked home."

"But Sir Morton? he did not know you were going?"

"No: we kept it to ourselves."

"He knows now, of course?"

"Nothing at all. We've only just got back."

"I'll come at once," said the old man; and hurrying into the cottage, he
took some linen and other necessaries, put on his hat, and rejoined the
lad, making him give a full account of the attack and fai