uns; so don't you come and meddle,
my lad, for I shouldn't like to zee you hurt."

The next minute the man had disappeared among the trees, leaving Nic to
stand staring after him, thinking of what would be the result if the
salmon-poachers met their match.

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE CAPTAIN CANNOT LET IT REST.

"Hullo, Nic, my boy; been overboard?"

The young man started, for he had been thinking a good deal on his way
back to the house. His anger had cooled down as much as his body from
the evaporation going on. For, after all, he thought he could not find
much fault with Pete Burge. It would seem only natural to such a rough
fellow to serve his assailant as he had himself been served.

"And he did save my life afterwards, instead of letting me drown,"
thought Nic, who decided not to try to get Pete punished.

"I'll give him one more chance," he said; and he had just arrived at
this point as he was walking sharply through the trees by the combe,
with the intention of slipping in unseen, when he came suddenly upon his
father seated upon a stone, and was saluted with the above question as
to having been overboard.

"Yes, father," he said, glancing down at his drenched garments, "I've
been in."

"Bah! you go blundering about looking inside instead of where you're
steering," cried the Captain. "Aren't drowned, I suppose?"

Nic laughed.

"Well, slip in and get on some dry things. Look alive."

Nic did not want to enter into the business through which he had passed,
so he hurried indoors, glad to change his clothes.

Then, as the time went on he felt less and less disposed to speak about
his adventure, for it seemed hard work to make an effort to punish the
man who had, after all, saved his life.

About a fortnight had passed, when one morning, upon going down, he
encountered his father's old sailor-servant, who answered his salute
with a grin.

"What are you laughing at, Bill?" asked Nic.

"They've been at it again, sir."

"What! those scoundrels after the salmon?"

"Yes, sir; in the night. Didn't you hear 'em?"

"Of course not. Did you?"

"Oh yes, I heerd 'em and seed 'em too; leastwise, I seed their lights.
So did Tom Gardener."

"Then why didn't you call me up?" cried Nic angrily.

"'Cause you'd ha' woke the Captain, and he'd have had us all out for a
fight."

"Of course he would."

"And he was a deal better in his bed. You know what he is, Master Nic.
I put it to you, now. He's go