shly; "it doesn't matter. We got
'em--somehow."

"How was it, Ralph Darley?" said the old man sternly.

"He overtook me, and we quarrelled, and fought," said the lad quietly.

"Ah!"

"And just in the middle of it we found that these men had surrounded
us."

"Yes, yes, yes; don't make such a fuss about it, Master Rayburn," cried
Mark hastily. "And then we had to join and whip the beggars, and we did
whip 'em at last; and my leg hurts horribly, and you stand there
talking, instead of coming home to doctor it."

"Yes," said the old man, looking at the lad curiously, and then at
Ralph. "Come along, boy. You, Darley, you had better come up to the
Black Tor, and be attended to there."

"No, thank you, Master Rayburn; I must make haste back. Come and see to
my arm when you have done his."

Ralph turned upon his heel as he spoke, and hurried away through the
bushes; while, feeling puzzled, and yet pleased and hopeful, Master
Rayburn gave the cob its head, and walked on and up the steep zigzag
beside his young friend, carefully avoiding all allusion to the lads'
duel, and discussing the possibility of an expedition to drive the
marauders out of their stronghold.

"I'm not a man of war, Mark," he said; "but I shall have to carry a pike
instead of an eel-spear against these villains. We shall none of us be
safe."

"Oh yes, we'll talk about that to-morrow," said Mark peevishly. "This
hurts horribly. I say, don't say anything to my father about my
fighting alongside that young Darley. I was obliged to, you see."

"Of course you were, my lad! We must all make common cause against such
an enemy. No, I will not say anything unless you wish me to."

"Thank ye. Father mightn't like it, you see."

"But you will tell him?"

"No, I think not--I don't know--well, there, not to-night. I'm giddy,
and feel sick. I didn't notice it so much when I was hot and all in the
fight, but it's very painful now. Would you mind putting your arm round
me? I feel as if I should fall off."

"My poor brave boy!" said the old man gently, as he supported the
wounded lad. "There, only a little farther. Ah! Hoi! Rugg! Dummy
Rugg! Here, quick!"

The lad, who was perched upon a block of stone half-way up the zigzag,
evidently watching for his young master's return, sprang down and came
running to them.

"What's the matter?" he cried hoarsely. "Don't say Master Mark's hurt!"

"Hush! Quiet, boy!" said Master Rayburn quic