n his captor's hand,
and his skull-cracker in a handy place. Several times, shamming
insensibility, the prince of tricksters endeavoured to throw his
solitary warder off his guard, but the party reached Bridesdale without
his succeeding in loosening a single thong. There was great
consternation when Timotheus drove up to the gate. The children had been
at their old game of the handkerchief, and Miss Carmichael was actually
chasing Orther Lom, to their great glee, and to Coristine's intense
disgust. Of course, they stopped when they saw the waggon and the
Squire's pale face. The colonel, who had been smoking his morning cigar
on the verandah, came forward rapidly, and, with Mr. Terry, helped the
master of Bridesdale to alight. Then, his wife and sister took the
wounded man in charge, and led him into the house, for he was thoroughly
dazed and incapable of attending to any business. "If you will allow me,
colonel," said the lawyer, "I will take charge of legal matters in this
case," to which Colonel Morton answered, "Most cehtainly, my deah suh,
no one moah competent."

Maguffin had come round to see if his services would be required, and
was appointed to mount guard over the prisoner in company with
Timotheus. To Mr. Terry the lawyer gave the heavy cash box, with orders
to put it in a safe place in the Squire's office. Then, Coristine went
up-stairs, washed and brushed away the traces of conflict, and knocked
at Wilkinson's door. A lady's voice told him to enter, and, on his
complying with the invitation, he beheld Miss Du Plessis sitting by the
bedside of his friend, with a book, which was not Wordsworth, in her
hand. "Please to pardon my intrusion, Miss Du Plessis; the Squire is
hurt, and we have captured Grinstuns, who was not burnt up after all. I
must see the prisoner safely caged, and have other business to attend
to, so that I have come to say good-bye. I am sure that you will take
every care of my dear friend here." After this little speech, hard to
utter, the lawyer shook his friend by the well hand, saying: "Good-bye,
Wilks, old boy, and keep up your heart; any messages for town?" Before
he had time to receive any such commissions, he shook hands warmly with
the lady, and vanished. Replacing Maguffin over Rawdon, he told him to
saddle a horse, and bring it round. His orders to Mr. Terry and
Timotheus were to secure their prisoner between them in some lighter
vehicle, and bring him with all speed to Collingwood,