u are well aware, there are some cowardly outrages
being perpetrated from time to time; and I want you to answer me at
once--do you either of you know anything whatever about the persons who
have done these things?"

"No," said Tom at once; and the squire turned to Dick.

"Now, my boy," he said, "why don't you speak?"

Dick felt as if he would choke, and with his morbid feeling increasing,
he said in a husky voice:

"No, father, I do not know anything either."

"On your honour, Dick?" said his father, gazing at him searchingly.

"On my honour, father."

"That will do," said the squire in a short decisive tone. "I must own
that I thought you two knew something of the matter. I suspected you
before that meddling, chattering idiot shared my ideas. But now there's
an end to it, and I shall go to work to find out who is fighting against
us, since I am sure that you two boys are quite innocent. That will
do."

"Father doesn't believe me," said Dick bitterly as soon as they were
alone.

"Nonsense!" cried Tom. "Why, he said he did."

"Yes, but I could see it in his eyes that he did not I know his looks so
well, and it does seem so hard."

As if to endorse Dick's fancy, the squire passed them an hour afterwards
in the garden and there was a heavy frown upon his countenance as he
glanced for a moment at his son, who was, of course, perfectly ignorant
of the fact that his father was so intent upon the troubles connected
with the drain, and the heavy loss which would ensue if the scheme
failed, that he did not even realise the presence of his boy.

It was enough, though, for Dick; and he turned to his companion.

"There," he said, "what did I tell you? Father doesn't believe me. But
I know what I'll do."

"What will you do--run away from home?" said Tom.

"Like a coward, and make him feel sure that I knew all this and told a
lie. No, I won't. I'll just show him."

"Show him what?"

"That I'm innocent."

"Yes, that's all very well; but how are you going to do it?"

"Find out the people and let him see."

"Yes, but how?" cried Tom eagerly, as he knocked an apple off one of the
trees and tried to take a bite, but it was so hard and green that he
jerked it away.

"I don't know yet; but someone does all these cowardly things, and I
mean to find it out before I've done."

"Oh, I am disappointed!" said Tom dolefully.

"Disappointed! Why? Won't you help me?"

"Yes, I will. But I thought we were g