he essayed to draw his sword as he hurried on; but the
sheer agony caused to the stiffened wound made him drop his hand at
once, and trust to getting out of the wood to where the ground was more
open, and he could reach the cliff, for he felt that now he could not be
many hundred yards from the way leading to the step-like path cut in the
stone.

Again there was a quick rustle, as if his pursuer had tried to diminish
the distance, and a minute later this sounded so near that, convinced of
his follower being one of the men who had attacked them that evening,
Ralph suddenly faced round--just when the sensation was strong that some
one was about to leap upon him and strike him down--and shouted aloud:

"Keep back, whoever you are. I am armed."

"Ralph! that you?" came from a short distance in his rear.

"Yes, yes, quick!" cried the lad faintly; and he staggered on now, to
find himself a minute later in his father's arms.

"Why, Ralph, boy, what does this mean? I have half-a-dozen men out
hunting for you."

"I'll--I'll tell you presently," panted the lad, who was bathed in
sweat. "Draw your sword, and be on your guard. Some one has been
following me this last half-hour."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Be on your guard."

"Not fancy, is it, my boy?" said Sir Morton, rather doubtfully.

There was a sharp rustling sound, and a foot kicked a stone, as its
owner was evidently retreating fast.

"Humph! Then some one has been following you.--Hallo, there! stop!"

"Hoi! hillo!" came from a distance in answer.

"Quick!" said Sir Morton. "This way, man. Found--found!"

The cliffs echoed the words, and Sir Morton took the lad's arm and
pressed it firmly--fortunately the left.

"I beg your pardon, Ralph. I thought you were scared by the darkness of
the wood. Some one was after you; but it would be folly to try and
catch him in this gloomy place. Why, what's the matter, boy? you are
reeling about. Feel faint?"

"Yes," panted the lad heavily. "I have been fighting--wounded. Help
me, please."

Sir Morton Darley passed his arm under his son's, and helped him quickly
along; a whistle brought Nick Garth and another man to his side; and the
former carried the lad right up the slope to the entrance of the castle,
where a little rest and refreshment recovered the sufferer sufficiently
to enable him to relate why he had brought back no fish, a task he had
hardly ended, when Master Rayburn entered to dress his second p