had accustomed me to danger.
During the two years I sailed in the pirate ship I had often been
within the jaws of death, for as all the world knows pirates are not
dealt leniently with. I had been mixing with men of all nationalities,
and had been engaged in all kinds of fray. Thus, I was never
unprepared for a struggle. To be ready to meet danger was second
nature with me.

Almost instinctively I settled on my plan of attack. They were two to
one, so stratagem was required as well as strength. Noiselessly as
possible, and with no parleying, I seized Wilfred, mastered him, and
bound him, before he was capable of resisting. No sooner had I done
this than I saw Jake Blackburn coming towards me, as if wondering what
was the matter, but seeing a man almost twice as big as himself
confronting him he took to his heels.

The struggle was so soon over that Ruth scarcely realised what was
done. Wilfred, however, understood only too well.

"Jake, Jake," he shrieked, "help!"

"Jake is gone, Wilfred," I answered. "He will not help you."

"Roger, Roger," cried Ruth, "is that you?"

"It is Roger," I said, as calmly as I could, "but danger is not over
yet. Will you lead the way to the high road, and then on to the Hall
as quickly as you can?"

The servant came up just then. She had contrived to free herself, and
now ran to assist her mistress.

Wilfred writhed and struggled, but I held him fast. This I had little
difficulty in doing, as his hands were firmly tied behind him.
Meanwhile Ruth, as if in a dream, led the way home. Silently, yet
swiftly, we went on, I wondering all the time, not whether Jake
Blackburn would return with his accomplices, if he had any, to carry
out Wilfred's design, but whether Ruth still loved me.

I dared not speak to her. My tongue seemed tied, while she moved on
like one in a trance.

Presently we came to the churchyard gates, and as we did so I could
scarcely help shuddering. Like lightning the events of a year before
flashed through my mind. Vividly I remembered going down the
churchyard path and opening the old church door, in order to gaze on
the face of the dead. But Ruth seemed perfectly unconscious of that
which haunted me. A look of expectancy was on her face, and by and by
she gave a glad exclamation as we heard the sound of wheels. In a
minute more a carriage drove up and stopped at our side. I still held
Wilfred by the arm, and he, doubtless feeling that resista