"Oh, I'm all right. Only a little skin off my elbows and varnish off my toes. Which way did the brute go?" "Over the hill yonder," said Magnus. "Where he may go," said Artingale, "for hang me if I go after him to-day. Why, confound him, he's as strong as a bull. I couldn't have thought a man could be so powerful. But let's get back, old fellow. Can you walk?" "Oh yes, I'm better now," said Magnus feebly; "but I shall never forgive myself for failing you at such a pinch." "Never mind the failing, Jemmy: but pinch it was; the blackguard nearly broke my ribs. One moment: let me look down." He walked to the edge and looked over the cliff, realising more plainly now the terrible risk he had run, for his escape had been narrow indeed, and in spite of his attempt to preserve his composure, he could not help feeling a peculiar moisture gathering in the palms of his hands. But he laughed it off as he took Magnus's arm, and drew it through his own, saying,-- "It's a great blessing, my dear boy, that I took off this coat. It would have been completely spoiled." "You had an awfully narrow escape." "Yes; and it is almost a pity the brute did not kill me," said Artingale, coolly. "Harry!" "Well, if he had, the police would have hunted the scoundrel down, then he would have been hung, and little Julie could have rested in peace." "And Cynthia?" said Magnus, with a sad smile. "Ah, yes! poor little darling, she would have broken her heart. But I say, old fellow, it's a pity the scoundrel got away. What are we to do?" "He must be taken," exclaimed Magnus, "at any cost. It was a murderous attempt on your life." "Humph! yes, but he might swear that I tried to throw him over first. It was a fight, old fellow, and I got the worst of it." "But he must be taken." "No," said Artingale, "I think not, old fellow; his is a peculiar case, and we can't be going into witness-boxes and answering all sorts of questions. After to-day's adventure down below on the beach, I don't see that we can move. No, Magnus, there are things that must be hushed up, and this is one of them. But we must do something. I declare I'll mount a revolver, and have a shot at the brute if he annoys them again, legal or illegal." "Impossible," said Magnus, bitterly. "By Jove; if he'd only go down home again and get up to some of his poaching tricks. I tell you what, Magnus, old man," he said, setting his teeth, "I hope fate will never place me with my men down at Gatley, going to meet a poaching party led by Jock Morrison. If she does-- well--" "Well what?" "I hope I sha'n't have a gun in my hand." "You must persuade Mr Mallow to leave here." "What I just as he has come down for Julia's health. No, my dear fellow, you might just as well try to move a rock. But I say, our first attempt at playing detectives don't seem to have been much of a success." "No," said Magnus, dreamily. "Let's get back."