at Nomah, being tried in
the great cattle case, that "cause celebre". To do him justice, he was
quite as cool and unconcerned there, and looked as if he was doing the
amateur casual business without ulterior liabilities.

Adieu! fare thee well, Starlight, bold Rover of the Waste; we feel
inclined to echo the lament of the ancient Lord Douglas--

"'Tis pity of him, too," he cried;
"Bold can he speak, and fairly ride;
I warrant him a warrior tried."

It is in the interests of justice, doubtless, that thou be hunted down,
and expiate by death-doom the crimes which thou and thy myrmidons have
committed against society in the sight of God and man. But we cannot,
for the life of us, take a keen interest in thy capture. We owe thee
much, Starlight; many a slashing leader, many a spicy paragraph, many a
stately reflection on contemporary morals hast thou furnished us with.
Shall we haste to the slaughter of the rarest bird--golden ovaried? We
trow not. Get thee to the wilderness, and repent thee of thy sins. Why
should we judge thee? Thou hast, if such dubious donation may avail, an
editor's blessing. Depart, and "stick up" no more.

Well done, the "Turon Star"!' says Starlight, after he read it all out.
'I call that very fair. There's a flavour of good feeling underneath
much of that nonsense, as well as of porter and oysters. It does a
fellow a deal more good than slanging him to believe that he's human
after all, and that men think so.'

'Do you reckon that chap was sober when he wrote that?' says father.
'Blest if I can make head or tail of it. Half what them fellows puts
down is regular rot. Why couldn't he have cut it a bit shorter, too?'

Chapter 44

'The "Banner" comes next,' says Starlight, tearing it open. 'We shall
have something short and sweet after the "Star". How's this?

STARLIGHT AGAIN.

This mercurial brigand, it would appear, has paid Turon another visit,
but, with the exception of what may be considered the legalised robbery
of the betting ring, has not levied contributions. Rather the other way,
indeed. A hasty note for Mr. Dawson, whom he had tricked into temporary
association by adopting one of the disguises he can so wonderfully
assume, requested that gentleman to receive the Handicap Stakes, won by
his horse, Darkie, alias Rainbow, and to hand them over to the treasurer
of the Turon Hospital, which was accordingly done.

Sir Ferd