n a blow in the chest as he
came on unable to stop.

With a yell of rage the foreman lifted his pistol and brought it down
with a crash upon his opponent's head. In a grey heap the trespasser
dropped. Another match was struck, revealing Sir Charles Custance's
rubicund features, down which a slow trickle of blood wound its way.

"That's the 'olebloomin' bag, I take it," commented the victor grimly,
as he bundled the portly frame of the magistrate into the van, taking
every precaution against a possible rush for freedom on the part of the
other captives. He then addressed the interior at large.

"I'm a-watchin' outside, and if yer so much as cough or blow yer noses
I'll shoot through the sides with this 'ere ole blunderbuss. D' ye
'ear, cockies?"

With that he banged the doors to, barred and padlocked them, and sat on
the tail-board watching the greyness of the dawn steal through the
trees, as he struggled to keep awake.

He was so occupied when, at half-past seven, a distant rumble announced
the arrival of the expected pantechnicon from Lowestoft. As it slowly
lumbered up the drive the foreman grinned, and he grinned more broadly
when he saw Bindle slip from the tail-board, followed by Ginger and two
other men.

"Mornin', Bindle; mornin', Ginger," he called out politely. "Slep'
well?"

Bindle grinned, and Ginger grumbled something inaudible.

"Now, one o' you two go an' get my breakfast, and the other telephone
for the perlice."

The men stared at him.

"Ginger," he continued complacently, "you'll find two eggs and some
bacon in the 'all, an' a stove in the kitchen, an' a pot of coffee wot
only wants warmin' up. I'm 'ungry, Ginger--as 'ungry as 'ell is for
you, Ginger. Bindle, give my compliments to the perlice at Lowestoft,
and arst them to send a few peelers over 'ere at once to take charge o'
what I caught last night."

Bindle scratched his head, uncertain whether or no it was all a joke.

"Yes, Bindle," continued the foreman, "I've got 'em all--all in Black
Maria," and he jerked his thumb in the direction of the pantechnicon.
"All yer very dear ole pals, cockie. Like to see 'em?"

Bindle still looked puzzled; but when the foreman had explained his
grin transcended in its breadth and good-humour that of his superior.
Then the foreman changed the style of his idiom, and his subordinates
went their ways as he had intended and directed that they should.

The foreman was just finishing his break