The question made the girl's blood seem to boil; and ere he could place another kiss upon her lips Mary had forgotten brother, friend, the trial everything but the fact that James Armstrong, Mistress Armstrong's husband, had clasped her in his arms; and in return she clasped him tightly in hers. They swayed here for a moment, then there, and the next the captain was lifted completely from the shingle and literally jerked sideways, to fall with a crash and strike his head against a piece of rock. Then a sickening sensation came over him and all seemed dark, while, when he recovered a few minutes later, his head was bleeding and he was alone, and afraid with his swimming head to clamber up the rough cliff path. "The cursed jade!" he muttered, as he recovered after a time, and went cautiously back after tying up his head, "I wish I could lay her alongside her brother in the gaol." "Yes; I'll save him," he said with a mocking laugh, as he reached the top of the cliff and looked down at the faint light seen in the old wrecker's cottage. "I'll save him; and, in spite of all, it'll be a strange thing if Mary Dell isn't lost. "Curse her, how strong she is!" he said after a pause. "What shall I say! Humph! a slip on the path and a fall. I'm weak yet after the assault. Some one will have to plaster her dearest Jemmy's head--a sickly fool!" CHAPTER NINE. BEHIND PRISON BARS. Mary Dell went again and again to the prison in the county town, tramping till she was footsore; but she did not see Abel, for she had to encounter double difficulties--to wit, the regulations of the authorities, and her brother's refusal to see her. At last, though, she compassed an interview with Bart Wrigley, and the big fellow listened to her stolidly, as he enjoyed the sound of her voice, sighing heavily from time to time. "But even you seem at times, Bart, as if you did not believe a word I say," she cried passionately. "Who says I don't?" said Bart, in a low growl. "You telled me you didn't, my lass, and of course you didn't. Why, I'd believe anything you told me; but as for Abel, he's dead-set on it that you told the captain, and there's no moving him." "But tell him, Bart, tell him I was angry with him for what he did--" "What _we_ did," said Bart, who was too loyal to shirk his share. "Well, what you both did, Bart; but that I would sooner have died than betray my own brother." "Haw, haw! That's a wunner," said Bart, with a hoarse laugh. "That's just what I did tell him." "You did, Bart?" "Ay, my lass, I did; but he--" Bart stopped. "Yes, Bart, what did he say?" "Said I was a blind, thick-headed fool." "Oh, Bart, Bart, Bart! you are the best, and truest friend we ever had." "Say that again, lass, will you?" said the rough fellow. Mary said it again with greater emphasis, and big Bart rubbed the corner of one eye with the back of his hand. "Tell him, dear Bart, that his sister was true to him all through, and that he must believe me."