s is varra scarce."

"Then I don't see why you ran the risk of stealing Langrigg pheasants
when there are plenty in Red Bank woods."

Shanks was silent for a moment or two, and then replied, as if
Mordaunt's carelessness had banished his doubts: "Mr. Dearham put us
oot o' dabbin and blew 't up."

"It's possible he'll put you out of Bank-end cottage soon."

"Do you ken that?" Shanks asked with a start.

"I heard something of the kind. Dearham meant to let your father have
the cottage, but said nothing about your getting it, and he's tired of
you both. You are letting Bank-end go to ruin and people complain
about your poaching."

Shanks's sullen look changed to a savage frown.

"If he puts us oot, there's nea place we'll can gan."

Mordaunt hesitated. He imagined Shanks had had something to do with
the accident to Jim's car, and it was obvious that the fellow was
bitterly revengeful. At the beginning, Mordaunt had not meant to work
upon his vindictive feelings; he had done so half-consciously, but now
he meant to go on.

"Nobody in the neighborhood would let you have a cottage. You might
get a laborer's job in the town, but you would have to work hard, and I
don't know about your father. He's rheumatic and old. None of the
farmers would engage you."

"T'oad man wouldn't could live away from marsh, and I'm none for takin'
a job in town; I'd sicken among t'hooses," Shanks replied.

Mordaunt thought the fellow did not exaggerate. Shanks and his father
would find no place in organized industry. They belonged to the open
spaces, the wide marsh and the wet sands.

"Then it's lucky I and not the gamekeeper caught you to-night," he
said. "Mr. Dearham is waiting for an excuse to turn you out. I
Imagine you will soon give him one."

Shanks did not reply. Seizing the top of the gate, he jumped over and
vanished in the wood. For a few moments all was quiet, and then
Mordaunt heard steps in the road. He left the gate and when he had
gone a few yards met Dick Halliday, who stopped and looked at him with
surprise.

"I thought I saw two people," Dick remarked.

"You did see two," Mordaunt agreed. "It's curious the other fellow
didn't hear you farther off, because I imagine his ears are very good.
Were you trying to get near us?"

"Not at first. They're mending the road up the hill and I walked on
the grass. When I saw you at the gate I suspected poachers and came on
quietly. Who was the other fellow