lowly off, while the window was once more thrown
open, and the voice the boy had recognised as the magistrate's cried
sharply:

"What is it there, boys?" the dogs barking wildly in reply.

Just then a shrill whistle rang out, and directly after a man shouted.

"All right, sir, here!"

"What's the matter with the dogs, Belton?"

"Dunno, sir. Dingo, perhaps."

"Or something else. Here: go and see if that scoundrel's all right."

"He's all right, sir. I've been twice. Just come from there now."

"Humph! That's right, my lad. But they seem very uneasy."

"Well, yes, sir, they do," said the man; "but they often have a fit like
this. Lie down, will yer!"

There was a general rattling of chains at this, while every word had
come distinctly to Nic's ears in the soft silence.

"Good night."

"Good night, sir."

There was shutting of the window, and then the man said slowly:

"I'll bring a whip round to some on yer directly. Hold yer row!"

One dog barked as if protesting.

"Quiet, will yer!" cried the man. "Think nobody wants to sleep?"

Then silence, an uneasy rattle of a chain, the banging of a door, and
Nic wiped the perspiration from his brow.

The case seemed hopeless, but he would not give up. Twice over he tried
to get round to the back of the house, but the dogs were on the alert;
and the last time, just as he drew rein closer than he had been before,
the window was opened, two flashes of light cut the darkness, and there
came the double report of a gun, making Sorrel bound and nearly unseat
his rider.

"See any one, sir?" cried the man, hurrying out.

"No; but I'm sure there's some one about. Get your gun. I'll be down
directly, and we'll keep watch."

The window closed, and Nic heard the man growl at the dogs:

"You've done it now. Keep watch, eh? But I'll pay some on yer
to-morrow."

The dogs burst out barking again, for Nic was guiding his horse away in
despair, feeling that he could not accomplish his task; then he waited
till he was a few hundred yards distant, and cantered on, feeling that
in all probability some of the dogs would be loosened and come after
him.

As he rode he listened, and there was the yelping as of a pack, making
him urge Sorrel into a gallop; but the sounds died out, and at the end
of a mile he drew rein, for there was no suggestion of pursuit.

Nic walked his horse beneath one of the great trees, and sat there like
a statue, thinking, and trying h