Year: 1875

he went like the wind he felt in another
instant he would be dashed to atoms his
only chance was to throw himself back
wards This he barely accomplished, for
he was almost powcrless. but his heel
catching in u small tuft of grass at the
same moment, he spun round like top,
and after turning a few somersaults, he
only came to an anchor by laying hold of
another tult. He felt himself terribly
bruised and out of breath and perceiving
a warm something gushing down his
cheek and neck, he found by putting up
his hand that the hard rock had inflicted
fearful wound on his scalp he had large
cash, too, upon his forehead. Billy. from
above, scarcely observed al this before,
with the swoop of an eagle, he rushed
upon his prey the other two men evi-
IDENTIFY feared Il like catastrophe with that
of Vernon, if they showed too much haste,
and they felt that the matter was secure
in Billy's hands. On looking mp Harry
| saw that he must arouse himself, or all
| would soon be over. 4 DASH


The ground was here smoother, and he
tried the sliding down again, directing his
course towards his gun, which had been
hurled from his grasp by the fall. Scarce
had he seized it as he swept quickly by,
|
bled pell-mell past him and upon him. he
knew Billy in another second or two would
reach him. o Harry, you have struggled
nobly; do not give in now! But Hary'ss
progress not only becomes slower he sud.
denly stops, comes to a regular standstill
as he crouches on a little patch Of flrze
He must be lost. Billy. excited, furious,
triumphant, comes like a thunderbolt upon
him. Why, the very shock Of a heavy
man like that would simply smash him.
At the very moment that Billy, with the
spring Of a tiger, actually launches him
self in the air in his furious downward
course upon the very spot, Harry, BY .
slight movement to one side is saved.
Billy makes a convulsive clutch at linn as
he goes crashing by. and then, after A.
couple of sonersaults in the air, comes
| down with heavy thud, and lies notion
less and STILL Harry is upon him In y
second and with upraised stock, is about
| to give him his quietus, sufficient at any
rate to put an end to the pursuit, when,
starting from the fallen form. he continues
a headlong course to the bottom Of the fell.
The man S face had been towards him, and
in the staring eyes and open mouth, from
which blood was pouring fast, he saw
death, death


How he reached his uncle's house, he
knew not; faint, dizzy, and covered with
blood, he had confused idea that two
men were hard after him. As a matter Of
fact, he had been pursued for quite half
mile by Biliy's companions, now eager to
dispatch him, and to give them time TO
quietly leave the country, for a moments
inspection had assured them of their lead
ers fearful end, they dreaded the conse-
quence of immediate discovery. Poor
Harry! he FASTENED through the shrub
berries; and then leaning against a little
iron gate leading through the garden, he
paused for moment to collect himself.
and thought of his miraculous preserva.
ton. AS he passed his hands through his
matted and blood-stained hair. the fright
| full appearance he must present occurred
to his mind, and the necessity of gaining
his room before any alarm should be given
to the house. He therefore bethought him
of the easiest by-path that would conduct
him most quickly and secretly round, not
through the open grounds.


| With wary eye and anxious breast, he
sped along. and on sharply turning COR
ner he nearly ran into Maud's arms. There
was one dreadful scream; it was heard all
over the place. MY darling, it's noth-
ing, it's nothing" he cried: I'm all right
bat as he advanced his face turned as into
stone with open eyes, parted and blanch-
ed lips. Maud seemedt to repeal him with
her hand, and then, with another piercing
and heart-rendDg shrek, she fell sense
less on the ground. At that instance
there appeared upon the scene the garden
er, a hOnsemaid, Harrv's uncle and the
butler. OF course the house-maid went
off into Mysteries. They bore poor Maud
indoors. In less than an hour she awoke
to consciousness, but not to reason. Day
after day she would lie and murmur


Poor Harry poor Harry !" Harry, poor
fellow, returned that week to town. His
uncle had heard his explanation; in his
grief had pitied, reproached him; had
kissed and cursed him. But when, on
sending body of servants to the fell no
trace OF the dead man was to be found, he
broke out in bitter words of grief and in
vective hard to be borne. Nothing was
| to be heard of the three Williams at all ; the
scramble for lite must have been an hall
unciation or an invention of Vernon's own
brain, after meeting with accident which
had left such severe marks upon him.
Such man as Billy. had. indeed, been no.
ticed in the neighborhood, and now most
of all when dead, he might have been ex-
peCteu to remain IOr Il IL" HoutS Oh tne
fell, until he was discovered; but he was
nowhere to be found. Harry returned to
his sympathizing but perplexed and dis
tracted father. Billy preceded him TO
town by three days, accompanied by his
allies. without having accomplished much
during their poaching expeditions in the
country. He bore such mark upon his
visage as made him look more ruffianly
than before the adventure, which had
caused the breakage OF blood vessel and
temporary insensibility. 1t is satisfactory
to know that he not long afterwards paid
the penalty for being concerned in some
| fresh misdemeanor against the laws ofthe
land in which he lived. A certain deep
scar upon his face gave conclusive evi-
dence as to his identity. and he was trans
ported for life. Harry yearned for the
good news which never came; Maud con-
tinued in the same wretched state. Be-
fore the year was out to crown his misery
which prayed upon poor Harry, his uncle
died he had never recovered from the


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