to the heart and that I would give my life to save her from trouble.
In a word, I told her I loved her, and in the excitement of the moment
she dropped a word or two that gave me an inkling of what Tom had said.
It was casting dirt at both her and myself. Then, as I came home, I met
Tom as I have told you."

The Senechal considered the matter for a moment. He did not for one
moment believe that Gard had had any hand in the killing of Tom Hamon.
But he could not but perceive the hostile feeling that was abroad, and
his desire was, if possible, to allay it.

"It is, I should think," he said gravely, "past any man's believing
that, after asking Tom's sister to marry you, you should go straight
away and kill Tom, even in the hottest of hot blood, though men at such
times do not always know what they are doing. But you, from what I have
seen and heard of you, are not such a man. I am going to ask you one
question in the hope that your answer may have the effect of setting you
right with all who hear it. Before God--had you any hand in the death of
this man?--have you any further knowledge of the matter whatever?"

"Before God," said Gard solemnly, his uplifted right hand as steady as
a rock, "I had no hand in his death. I know nothing more whatever about
the matter."

"I believe you," said the Senechal.

"And I," said the Doctor.

"And I," said the Vicar gravely, and with much emotion.

But from the spectators there rose a dissentient murmur which caused the
Vicar to survey his unruly flock with mild amazement and
disapproval--much as the shepherd might if his sheep had suddenly shed
their fleeces and become wolves.

And Julie Hamon sprang to her feet with blazing eyes, pointed a shaking
hand at Gard, and screamed:

"Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!"

CHAPTER XX

HOW SARK CRAVED BLOOD FOR BLOOD

Stephen Gard walked slowly down the road towards Plaisance in the lowest
of spirits.

This strange people amongst whom he had fallen, possessed, in
pre-eminent degree, what in these later times is known as the defects of
its qualities.

Black sheep there were, of course, as there are in every community, who
seemed all defects and possessed of no redeeming qualities whatever.
But, taken as a whole, the men of Sark were simple, honest according to
their lights, brave and hardy, very tenacious of their own ideas and
their island rights, somewhat stubborn and easier to lead than to drive,
and withal red-blooded, a