manner
struck him as remarkably open and straightforward. "But you know it is
impossible to accept anyone's unsupported evidence in his own favour,
and I really wish that you could produce some one to corroborate your
rather unlikely story. Assuming for a moment that you were in the
company of poachers for a bit of fun last night, and that you saw
something of this affray, and being caught as you got home, were
frightened into accounting for your being out at so late an hour by this
story of going skating in the moonlight; I say, assuming all this, I
appeal to you to save yourself from serious consequences, and to forward
the ends of justice by telling anything you know which may put us on the
traces of the fellow who has injured my poor gamekeeper. A fellow who
would come behind and strike a cowardly blow like that, trying to murder
or maim a man who was simply doing his duty, does not deserve that you
should shield him. Come, will you not denounce him?"

"But how can I tell about things of which I have no knowledge whatever?"
cried Buller, who was getting vexed as well as bewildered. "What I have
said is the exact truth, and if it does not suit you I cannot help it.
Believe me or not, as you like, there is no good in my going on
repeating my words."

"I cannot accept the responsibility of taking your bare word in such a
matter," said Lord Woodruff, more stiffly, for Tom's tone had offended
him; "a magistrate may do so. Of course I shall not adjudicate in my
own case," he added, turning to Dr Jolliffe. "Mr Elliot is the next
nearest magistrate, and I shall apply for a warrant against this youth
to him."

Tom Buller experienced a rather sudden change of sensation in a short
period. A quarter of an hour ago he felt like a culprit, now his heart
swelled with the indignation of a hero and a martyr. To be accused of
poaching, and asked to betray a supposed accomplice in what might prove
a murder, just because he happened to be out after ten one night, was
rather too strong, and Tom's back was up.

"You had better go to your room, Buller, and wait there till you hear
further," said Dr Jolliffe, not unkindly.

To tell the truth the doctor was a good deal ruffled by this accusation,
brought, as it seemed to him, on very insufficient grounds, against some
member of the school. But he was determined to be as cool and quiet
about it as possible, and not to give any one a chance of saying that he
had obstructed th