ge assault
upon the captain. Why, my good fellow, many a man has gone into penal
servitude for less than that."

"Yes, sir, I know I hit him; but they was all again' me."

"I cannot go into that," said the Colonel.

"Give him a trial, father," said Gwyn, in answer to Joe's appealing
look.

"Do, sir. I've been out o' work a long time, and it's precious hard."

"Go right away, and try somewhere else, my lad."

"I have, sir," said Dinass, imploringly. "I served you well, sir, and I
will again."

"I have no fault to find with your working, my man, but I cannot
re-engage you."

"Do, sir; it's for your good. Do take me on, sir. I want to do what's
right. It is for your good, sir, indeed."

The Colonel shook his head.

"No; I cannot alter my decision, my man," said the Colonel. "Do as I
said: go right away and get work; but I know it is hard upon a man to be
out of work and penniless. You are a good hand, and ought not to be
without a job for long, so in remembrance of what you did--"

"You'll take me on, sir? I tell you it's for your good."

"No," said the Colonel, sternly. "Gwyn, give this man a sovereign for
his present necessities, and for the next few weeks, while he is seeking
work, he can apply here for help, and you can pay him a pound a week.
That will do."

"Better do what I said, sir," said Dinass, with a grim look, "I warn
you."

"I said that will do, sir," cried the Colonel, firmly. "Gwyn, my boy,
pay him and let him go."

Joe's chin dropped upon his chest, and he rested his hand upon the back
of the nearest chair.

Then he started and looked at the door wonderingly, for, scowling
savagely, Tom Dinass stuck on his hat very much sidewise, and, without
pausing to receive the money, strode out of the place and went right
away.

"Specimen of sturdy British independence," said the Colonel, sternly.
"I'm sorry, but he is not a man to have about the place. He is
dangerous; and when it comes to covert threats of what he would do if
not engaged, one feels that help is out of the question. Be the better
for me if I engage him--means all the worse for me if I do not. There,
it is not worth troubling about; but if he comes back for the money,
when he has cooled down, let him have it."

"Yes, father," said Gwyn, and he went on with his letters, but somehow,
from time to time the thought of the man's fierce manner came back to
him, and he could not help thinking how unpleasant a man Dinass