made a low bow, and
with the words, "Good-evening, gentlemen; I wish you a safe and pleasant
journey home," turned round, and trotted briskly away.

"Did you notice that man's face?" asked Amos of his brother in a half
whisper. "Should you know it again?"--"Anywhere all the world over,"
was the reply.--"Ah, well," said the other, "I shall have strange things
to tell you about him." The next minute Harry and his party came in
sight, and, on arriving at the cottage, were astonished and not
altogether pleased to find the prisoner at liberty without their
assistance. However, the pleasure expressed by Harry, and a little
present from Walter, as a token of thankfulness for their prompt
appearance, sent them all home well content. And now Amos had to
prepare for his return.

"You shall have my pony," said Walter, "and Harry and I will ride
doublets on the old mare."

To this Amos having assented--"What has become of poor Prince?" he
asked. "Does any one know?"

"All right," said Walter; "Prince is safe at home in the stable. He
must have a sack of corn all to himself, for when he came in he was
ready to eat his head off. You shall hear all about it."

Having duly clothed himself, Amos was about to mount the pony, when,
bethinking himself, he turned back, and secured and brought away the
desk, believing that it might possibly be of use in the way of evidence
by-and-by. Then all set off, and in due time reached Flixworth Manor,
to the great joy of Mr Huntingdon and his sister, and also of many a
tenant and neighbour, who were lingering about, hoping for news of the
lost one. The first congratulations over, and dinner having been
partaken of, at which only a passing allusion was made to the trouble
which had terminated so happily, Mr Huntingdon, his sister, and the two
young men drew round the drawing-room fire, while Amos gave them a full
and minute account of his strange and distressing adventure.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

MORAL MARTYRDOM.

When Amos had finished the account of his singular and painful
imprisonment, while all united in an expression of their deep
thankfulness, there remained a heavy cloud on the face of Mr
Huntingdon. At last he said, slowly and sadly, "And this unmitigated
scamp calls our poor Julia wife."

"It is so, dear father," said Amos in reply; "but may we not hope that
he will take himself away to America or Australia before long? That
seems to be what he has in view, for clearly