s running from a wound in its flank, and Paul k

ver wittingly have done an act of cruelty, least of all to one of God's dumb creatures. It touched him to the quick to see the poor horse dying. He knelt by its side,

for you, old fello

up to its head. It soothed the horse. For a minute it lay perfectly still, and then, as though in that brief interval of rest it had been collecting its strength for a last great effort, it tried to rise to its f

of death, he scarcely knew how to act. Suddenly the sound of distant voices roused him from the stupor into which he had fallen. For t

rest from him the letter with which he had been entrusted. Falcon was dead. He could do no good by remaining. T

gether, resolved to go

fortune had befallen him. The injury to his leg prevented him from running. It was only with an effor

o keenly pursuing him? Instinctively came to his memory the words he had so often heard in the village church-"The w

avest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee. Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings from the wick

ss for him to evade his pursuers unless he could find some hiding-place. He looked around. There was no house near. But just a little ah

he ruins. But he had not gone more than a few paces through w

you? What are

the dusk, Paul recognized him. He was one of the senior boys of St. Bede's-the scholars of which were the deadly rivals of Paul's school. There had been a perpetual feud between St. Bede's and Garside for many years. Sometimes it would be patched up for a week or two; then it would break out with greater violence th

e bounders of Gar

aren't you? I haven't time to talk. There's some one after me. Can

contemptuously, without moving.

n, and in quick, earnest tones: "I'm not sneaking-on my word of honour. I'm the bearer of an important paper, belonging to a chum's father. Two me

es of Paul appe

of any hiding-

rly, as he again caught the so

old w

ow is it possibl

if you care to run the risk. I've been do

side fellow" was not capable of doin

k! I can near them com

rom where they were stand

you up again directly the men have gone-tha

. I feel sure of it, and

nd don't make a sound. They won't t

wered Paul a short distance, he made firm the chain; so that he was suspended half-way between the water and the top. It wasn't a very pleasant situation. A dan

ly just finished when a man darted u

t, have I? A nice c

my collar when you've don

ver tha

t pa

taking to Redmead.

llar, was enjoying the joke. He could see what had happened. T

I really don't know what you're t

rp, ferrety eyes, which-like the eyes of a cat-seemed capable

re you doing? You have go

ed the man addressed as

Where are

s, Mr. Zuker, I know; but I made su

s he trembled so that he nearly over-balanced himself and fell into the water below. It was not with fear. Zuker! That name was one

ctively Paul felt that it was the same, instinctively he felt that the man who had been in pursuit of him was the man whom hi

Seems to me you're a little too hasty with your hands! The next time you take any

eply. Zuker was about to follow his exampl

about your size-no, not quite so tall," as

tall? Let me see." Wyndham pau

iently. "We haven't any time to

are a good number of boys pass

the daytime-within the l

f an hour. L

blockhead, sir!" cried Brockma

e confessed that he required all his coolness and self-possession at that moment. He was fearful lest Zuker might catch a glimpse of Paul d

You will set the Thames

ut instead of doing so he gave a vicious twist to the well-handle-to the n

in the bucket to the bottom! He seized the handle in his hand and held on to it with all his strength. It vibrated as

ied below. "Are

e to the boy clinging to the handle of the windlass; then, to

t-but it's bee

I'm going to

ll; and, with an inexpressible feeling of

gone?" he a

ing, you said;

ater, and the sudden jerk nearly pitched me out o

it of you. They little dreamt you were down that

sty and uncomfortable! I'm much obliged to you, all the

iven by the Garside boys

the melancholy, deserted ruin. He co

le." (Gargoyle was the nickname given by the St. Bede

you amongst the other Beetles; but

oice. "You can see, it's a ruin; but before it was a ruin I lived

on

brother was dead; but he wondered what his death could have to do with t

id you were goi

e, that's the

o do with the defences of the Medway and the Thames, so I've heard. He designs things, to

ld put up for once with a Beetle if th

Wyndham told Paul by the way t

r the birth of Archie, God visited upon them a great misfortune by calling to Himself Mr. Wyndham. Gilbert had by this time started on his school career

. Wyndham awoke with a feeling of suffocation. On looking, half dazed, around the bedroom, she found it full of smoke. Her first thought was of Archie. She made her way to his bed. It was empt

er would have entered the burning house again to search for him, but she was held back. It was a merciful thing that she became unconscious, and did not see the end of the

olen out of bed that fatal morning and tried to light the fire in the kitchen on his own account. The lighted match

am, when he had finished his painful story. "Y

ave been sad," sa

er. After that we lived in a house about a mile from here. The ruins of the old house still remain

fascination that fire has for children. Unfortunately they do not understand its danger. When, therefore, my dear boy or girl, you are tempted

coat-pocket. Absorbed in Wyndham's story, he had forgotten

matter?" a

an ashen hue. His hand was

er!" he e

-well, what

s go

dham scarce able t