What a neighbour should, my dear young lady. What your father would do
for me or any of our friends. See that wives and daughters are
protected in every way."

Then, turning quickly, he rode back a few yards.

"Go on, my lads," he said to his followers. "I'll overtake you
directly."

The man who had handcuffed Leather loosened one end of a hide rope from
his saddle-bow, and secured it to the irons on the convict's wrists.

"Say, Mr Dillon, sir," said old Sam, who had been dividing his time
between scowling at Brookes and watching what was going on. "That there
poor chap can't walk ten mile over to your place. He's only just come
out of a swound."

"Indeed!" said the visitor, with a laugh. "We shall see. Now forward!"

The little procession moved off; Belton first, with his prisoner, and
the two others with their guns across their saddle-bows following.

Then Mr Dillon rode back to the ladies.

"I am very sorry, Mrs Braydon. I wish you had kept away from this
painful scene."

"Yes, it is very terrible," said the trembling woman. "But--it was in a
fit of passion, I suppose, Mr Dillon. You will not be very severe?"

"I have a duty as a magistrate to perform, ladies, and I must be just.
Your man has been barbarously attacked; and living as we do with these
convict servants about, more in number in places than we are ourselves,
any hesitation would be stamped by them as weakness, and our very
existence would be at stake."

"But he has always been a good, hard-working man, Mr Dillon," pleaded
Janet.

"And so long as he behaved, my dear Miss Braydon, the government said,
`You can have almost your freedom.' He and other assigned servants know
the bargain with the government. Good behaviour--liberty; bad
behaviour--punishment."

"But till my husband returns," faltered Mrs Braydon, "you will wait?"

"These things cannot wait, madam. The law here must be administered
firmly and sharply."

"But you will investigate the case?"

"It has been investigated, Mrs Braydon," said Mr Dillon stiffly.
"Your man came to me, with witnesses who cannot lie, branded upon his
face. Ladies, I respect your gentle, merciful feelings; but if you had
the governance here, in a short time the Crown Colony would be a
pandemonium, ruled over by a president too vile to live."

"Hear him!" growled Brookes.

"D'yer want me to kick yer?" whispered old Samson savagely.

"But you will wait? Keep him a prisoner for a time, Mr