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freys whistled; and a joyous bark from Julius assured the party that their game was safe. "You'd better let me go first," said Jeffreys to the inspector, who showed some anxiety to be foremost in the capture, "unless you want my dog to fly at you." The official fell back promptly, his native modesty getting the better of his zeal; and the party halted twenty yards from the shed while Jeffreys advanced to reconnoitre. He saw at a glance that things were not exactly as he had left them. Two out of the three prisoners remained securely bound, but the unlucky Corporal had slipped his feet from the cords, and paid dearly for his folly. Julius had him down on the ground, daring him to move a limb or even turn his head on pain of unheard-of laceration. The wretched fellow had cursed a thousand times his own artfulness. For three hours he had lain thus, not daring to stir a muscle; and if ever a night's experiences are enough to turn the hair grey, Corporal should not have a single black lock left that morning. "Come off, Julius, and let them alone," said Jeffreys. Julius obeyed somewhat reluctantly, though the pleasant task of welcoming his master's return reconciled him somewhat to the abandonment of his sovereignty. Jeffreys beckoned to the party to advance. "These are the three men, sir," said he to Mr Rimbolt. "Yes, sir, these are the parties," said the inspector (who had never set eyes on the men before), advancing towards Corporal as he slowly raised himself from the ground. Julius, greatly to the officers' alarm, made a last attempt to assert his property in the captives, and in Corporal in particular; and in so doing came very near doing a grievous injury to the arm of the law. But Jeffreys' authoritative order to him to come in and he down allowed the arrest to proceed without any further protest than a few discontented yaps as the cords were removed from the prisoners' legs, and they were led off by the force. "We had better go to Overstone, too," said Mr Rimbolt, "and see these ruffians safely quartered. The assizes are coming on in a week or two. Do you live anywhere near here?" "No," said Jeffreys. "Julius and I are on a walking tour at present." Mr Rimbolt looked at his companion, and for the first time took notice of his travel-stained, shabby appearance. "You mean," said he, guessing the truth, "you have no particular address at present?" "Quite so," replied Jeffreys, flushi
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