“As I know. Have I not found you here? Who else could have rolled down the rocks? Show me your hands. There, I said so!—there is blood on Kate’s hands; they are cut and bruised. She has been doing what she could; and you, her father, who ought to have known better, have encouraged her. Rascals! rogues!—rogues all!” “And oh, how honest am I!—eh, Pasco?” “Of course I’m an honest man. I don’t encourage burglars, and murderers, and incendiaries.” “I did not know that Redmore was a murderer or a burglar.” “Who can say but, having been an incendiary, he may go on to murder and plunder; these things run together. One who can commit arson is capable of doing the other crimes as well. I shall have to drive back to Ashburton alone.” “Kitty returns with you.” “What help is there in Kitty? That fellow Roger, full of rage and desire of revenge, is about the woods, and may shoot me.” “He has not a gun.” “He may spring upon me with his axe.” “He has thrown it away,” said Kate. “You mind your own concerns,” exclaimed the angry man, turning on his niece. “There are plenty of ways in which he may fall on me and murder me, and then he will pick my pockets and make off in my clothes, and Kitty will help him.” “You are talking nonsense, Pasco. Are you such a weakling that you cannot defend yourself? But, pshaw! the man will not injure you.” “He will steal by night to Coombe. His wife is there; his children are there. He knows where I am. He has sworn revenge against me.” “When? When he escaped?” “No; before I set the men after him.” “Before he knew you would hunt him? A probable story!” “Probable or improbable, it is true. I threatened him, and I would have arrested him, but could not. Kate knows I had him by the throat; but he was armed with his axe, and I could not retain him. Then he swore he would do me an evil turn, and he will keep his word.” “He cannot harm you; he is afraid for himself.” “He can harm me. He can do to my house, my stores, what he did to Pooke’s rick.” “Well, that would not hurt you greatly; you are insured over value.” “Not over value, with the wool in.” “You were a fool about that wool, Pasco. Why did you not consult me before dealing with Coaker? I knew of the fall.” “Oh, you know everything. You knew that the Brimpts oak bark was worth three times more than it is; and now you are felling, without considering that the bark at present is practically worthless.” “The sap doesn’t run.” “If the sap ran like the Dart, it would not make the bark sell for tan. You either knew nothing about the conditions, or you wilfully deceived me; and I dare be sworn it was the latter. I can believe even that of you now, a favourer of incendiaries.” “Come, do not be extravagant. What other criminals have I ever favoured?”