g, till at last he
broke off with a shout of laughter, and sprang to his feet.

"There! That's the end of our soiree, and I'm not going to keep you up a
minute longer. I wonder if we're snowed up yet. We'll have some fun
to-morrow, if we are. I say, look at the time! Good-night! Good-night!"

He advanced towards her. She was standing facing him, with her back to
the fire. But something--something in her eyes--arrested him, sending his
own glancing backwards over his shoulder. She was looking, not at him,
but beyond him.

The next instant, with a sharp oath, Jerry had wheeled in his tracks. He,
too, stood facing the door, staring wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

There, at the head of the stairs, quite motionless, quite silent, facing
them both, stood Piet Cradock.

CHAPTER XI

Nan was the first to free herself from the nightmare paralysis that bound
her. Swiftly, as though in answer to a sudden inner urging, she moved
forward. She almost pushed past Jerry in her haste. She was white, white
to the lips with fear, but she never faltered till she stood between her
husband and the boy she had chosen to protect her. The first glimpse of
Piet had revealed to her in what mood he had come. In his right hand he
was gripping her father's heaviest hunting-crop.

He came slowly forward, ignoring her. His eyes were upon Jerry, who
glared back at him like a young panther. He did not appear to be aware
of Nan.

Suddenly he spoke, briefly, grimly every word clean as a pistol-shot.

"I suppose you are old enough to know what you are doing?"

"What do you mean?" demanded Jerry, in fierce response. "What are you
doing here? And how the devil did you get in? This place belongs to me!"

"I know." Piet's face was contemptuous. He seemed to speak through closed
lips. "That is why I came. I wanted you."

"What do you want me for?" flashed back Jerry, with clenched hands. "If
you have anything to say, you'd better say it downstairs."

"I have nothing whatever to say." There was a deep sound in Piet's voice
that was something more than a menace. Abruptly he squared his great
shoulders, and brought the weapon he carried into full view.

Jerry's eyes blazed at the action.

"You be damned!" he exclaimed loudly. "I'll fight you with pleasure, but
not before--"

"You will do nothing of the sort!" thundered Piet, striding forward.
"You will take a horse-whipping from me here and now, and in my wife's
presence. You have behaved like a