solent
grin. 'There's nobody here to lay down laws. I do as I thinks right, and
I am sure that my Lady Coke will say so too. Now, if you come with me
quiet, it will be all the better for everybody. If you don't, why it
will be all the worse, for I mean to take you along with me. It's me as
will restore you to your sorrowing family. Now, are you coming quietly,
or not?'

'No!' said Estelle, her lips quivering, but her head held high.

Julien repeated the word after her more determinedly still. He did not
know what was being said, but he meant to support his _petite amie_ in
whatever she did. Throwing back his head and squaring his shoulders, he
placed himself in an attitude of defence. Thomas, however, put him aside
with ease. The boy was no match for him. Lifting Estelle in his arms in
spite of her struggles and cries, he began striding across the cave
towards the Rift. But though Julien was unable to fight with so big an
opponent, he did not lose heart. Thomas found he was not able to dispose
of him as comfortably as he had imagined. The sobs of his little friend
went to the boy's brave heart. A red flush mounted into his sallow
cheeks, and his eyes sparkled with fury at Thomas's action. With a bound
like that of an angry tiger, he flung himself upon the ex-gardener,
clinging to him with legs and arms in such a manner that Thomas felt as
if a snake had hold of him. In vain he tried to shake the boy off.
Julien gripped on him with all his might, straining every nerve to throw
Thomas down. Hampered by the struggles of Estelle, the man could
scarcely keep his feet; he could not get rid of his tormentor.

(_Continued on page 314._)

[Illustration: "'Are you coming quietly, or not?'"]

[Illustration: "It was Julien he held in his arms."]

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 311._)

Just at the critical moment another terror appeared on the scene. The
sea, having reached the level of the beach, now entered the caves, and
flowed smoothly but swiftly over the flat flooring of rock. In the
excitement of conflict neither of the three struggling in the Mermaid's
Cave had heard the sweep of the water in the outer caverns. It was not
till it was swirling round their feet that they became aware of the
danger.

Julien dropped to the ground at the exclamation of Thomas, while Estelle
cried out in despair. They knew of no way out of the cave except through
the Rift, and that was cut off by the dee