r had been kneeling by the fallen convict, roughly bandaging a
bullet wound when, as he turned to rise, Frank Mayne struck him aside,
and flung himself upon the wounded man.

The doctor turned fiercely upon Mayne, but the next moment he grasped
the truth, just as a blow from the butt end of a musket struck the
ruffian back; for as soon as the wound had been bandaged, the man had
waited an opportunity to draw a knife and strike at him who had tried to
assuage his pain.

In a short time the party was on its way back, the wounded convict borne
upon a roughly made stretcher, and Frank Mayne walking with the warder,
to Brookes's great disgust, for the doctor had said that he would answer
for his not attempting to escape.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day the police rode off with their prisoners, taking with them
a light waggon, in which the wounded convict was laid, Dr Braydon
having said that he was in no danger. But Frank Mayne was not of the
party, for Sir John had heard the simple tale.

"And that man was your fellow-clerk in the government office? Yes, I
remember something about his coming out in the same ship as my wife. I
remember the case, because he was the second man charged with
embezzlement at this government office; and I remember, too, saying that
matters must be badly managed there."

"Yes, he was my fellow-clerk, Sir John," said Mayne. "He was found out
at last, but the time has seemed very long."

"And you say you were unjustly sentenced?"

"In Heaven's name, Sir John, I do. I was faithful to my trust."

"I believe you, Mayne," said the governor, looking at him keenly; "and
there shall be a thorough investigation of your case. In the meantime,
what I can do I will. You hear, Nic, for your sake as well as his,
Mayne is free to go anywhere in the colony, and I will see that justice
is done him in every way."

"Thank you, Sir John," said Mayne hoarsely; "it is more than I could
expect on my bare assertion."

"Some bare assertions are better than oaths, eh, Braydon?" said Sir
John. "What do you say?"

"I say that I have much forgiveness to ask of Mr Mayne: I ask it now of
the man who saved my life."

There was silence for a few moments; for the doctor had held out his
hand to Mayne, who stood looking at it with his lips quivering.

"I am only your assigned servant, sir," he said at last.

"Not now," said the doctor. "I was offering