it was me doing when I'm not here."

"Die? Nonsense!"

"Oh no, it isn't, sor, and I've made a dhreadful mistake."

"Mistake? Failed?" cried Mr Braine, horrified.

"Sure no, sor, I haven't failed; I've succayded too much."

"But you said you had made a mistake, man."

"Yes, sor. I tuk wan of the cakes meself."

The announcement was received with a blank look of despair.

"Sure sor, don't stand looking at me loike that, please. Thin aren't ye
going to give me an anecdote?"

"No antidote would be available, my poor fellow. But how could you make
such a blunder? I showed you so carefully."

"Sure ye did, sor, but I was a bit flurried."

"You ate a cake?"

"Oh yes, sor," said Tim, dismally. "I ate wan, and I didn't taste the
shtuff till it was down."

"But you couldn't taste it, man."

"Sure, sor, but I did quite sthrong," groaned Tim, sinking on one of the
divans.

"But tell me, how do you feel?"

"Horrid bad, sor; shlapy, and it's creeping up me legs. Ye'll have to
carry me or lave me behind."

"Whatever can we do?" said Mr Braine.

"Perhaps exertion and the night air will revive him," said the doctor.
"I'll give him something too."

He hastily mixed a draught, which Tim drank gratefully, and then lay
back with Frank supporting his head.

"How long will it be before the potion acts on the men?" said Mr
Braine.

"Very few minutes before it begins, but of course not on all alike.
Some one must steal down and watch."

"I'll go," said Frank, and creeping down to the lower rooms--the sheds
used by the women and Tim--he stood close to the door, and then by
degrees from bush to bush, on and on, till in less than half an hour he
was back with the expectant group.

"They are all sleeping heavily," he said. "How is Tim?"

His father pointed to the divan, where the man lay apparently
insensible, with Mr Greig bathing his head.

"It is all over," said Braine, sadly; "we cannot leave the poor fellow."

"Oh!" cried Frank, dashing at the man and shaking him violently.

"All right. Moind me head, Masther Frank! I'm ready, sor."

"Can you walk?"

"Can I walk? Hark at him," said Tim, drowsily. "I'll show ye all."

"Here, we'll try," said Mr Braine. "Take these. Put the revolver in
his breast. Can you carry a gun, man?"

"For sartain," said Tim, stupidly.

"Then ready. Not a moment is to be lost," whispered Mr Braine. "Lead
the way, Frank, and if we by chance are separated, every o