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