d, taking a turning that led in another direction. "Oh! this is
unbearable."

For a moment he stood irresolute, hesitating as to whether he should
hurry after them; but he was, to use his own words, too much taken
aback, and ended by following a narrow pathway into the woods, down
which he had not gone half a dozen yards before he became aware that
there had been another spectator to his interview with Polly, and that
no less a person than Humphrey.

"What the devil are you doing there, sir?" roared Trevor, who was half
beside himself with a rage which grew hotter as the bluff young
Cornishman stood leaning on his gun, and said, sturdily--

"Watching you, sir."

"Watching me?"

"Yes, sir. I did not mean to, but I was obliged when I saw what I did."

"Then you saw me talking to that girl?"

"Yes, sir, I did; and you had no right to do so."

"How dare you speak to me like that, sir?" roared Trevor; and thoroughly
roused now, he caught the young keeper by the throat, and for a few
moments the ferns were trampled under foot as they wrestled together,
till the veins stood up in knots in Humphrey's white forehead, as his
hat fell off, and, grinding his teeth together, he put out his strength,
and, with all the skill of a Cornish wrestler, threw Trevor heavily on
his back.

"You would have it," said the keeper, hoarsely. "You made me forget my
place; so don't blame me for it. Have I hurt you, sir?"

The rage had departed as quickly as it came, and the young man went down
on one knee by Trevor, who was half-stunned, but recovered himself
quickly, and got up.

"No. I'm not much hurt," he said, hoarsely.

"You made me do it, sir," said Humphrey, pitifully. "You shouldn't have
laid hands on me, sir--it made me mad."

"Made you mad!" said Trevor, angrily. "This is a pretty way to serve
your master."

"You're no master of mine, sir, from now," cried Humphrey. "I can't
stand to serve you no more. I'd have stuck to you, sir, through thick
and thin, if you'd been a gentleman to me, but--"

"Do you dare to say I've not been a gentleman to you, you scoundrel?"
cried Trevor, menacingly, as he clenched his fists.

"Now, don't 'ee, sir," cried Humphrey, appealingly. "I don't want to
hurt you, and if you drive me to it I shall do you a mischief."

"You thick-headed, jealous dolt!" cried Trevor, restraining himself with
difficulty. "How can you be such an ass?"

"I don't blame you, sir," cried Humphrey, "not