de!"

"Are you speaking about your men or Sir Edward Eden's?" said the old man
drily.

"Eden's, of course," cried Sir Morton angrily.

"Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other," said the old man; "and all
due to the evil teaching of their masters, my dear old friend. Come,
Darley, it's of no use to cry over spilt milk; the boys have set their
fathers a splendid example, and driven in the thin end of the wedge.
The sooner you and Eden send it home the better."

"I must try again."

"Of course. I don't ask you to make friends. It would be absurd; but
you must stir now, and I shall tell Eden the same, and that he cannot
for very shame leave the work undone that his son has begun. Ralph,
lad, you go to bed, and sleep all day. I am doctor enough to insist to
your father that you are not to be disturbed. I must go up to the Black
Tor at once, for I suppose I am badly wanted there."

The old man hurried away with the remainder of his bandages, and Sir
Morton signed to his son, who followed him to the room into which
Captain Purlrose had been ushered.

"Now, Ralph," began Sir Morton, but his son interrupted him:

"Guilty, father," he cried dismally, "and I have failed."

"There, do as Master Rayburn said," cried Sir Morton, "and--well--I'll
talk to you another time--I'm--er--I'm not very angry, my boy, but--
there, be off. It was very brave, and like a soldier's son."

"I wonder what Mark Eden's father has said to him," thought Ralph as he
threw himself wearily upon his bed.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A CURE FOR THE HEADACHE.

Master Rayburn was anxiously expected at the Black Tor, Mark's first act
having been to send Dummy Rugg down to his cottage to ask him to come
up; and not finding him there, the boy had very bravely followed him to
Cliff Castle, in the full belief that he would be there, and on learning
that he was, he sent a message in, and then hurried away.

Matters went on in a very similar way at the Tor, even to Sir Edward
accidentally finding that something was wrong, and going to the building
at the entrance to the mine, where the wounded men were being attended.
But he did not take matters in the same spirit as his inimical
neighbour, but attacked his old friend furiously, vowed that he would
never forgive him, and threatened his son with the severest punishment,
though he did not say what.

Master Rayburn said nothing, but went on dressing the men's wounds,
till, regularly worked up int