Shameless Wayne squared his jaw, after a fashion that brought back his father to Nell’s mind. "I’ve said nay once and for all to what thou hast in mind," he answered. "What, leave Marsh and show the white rabbit-scut to Nicholas Ratcliffe?" "Show that thou hast sense enough to know when the odds are all against thee. I tell thee, ye Marsh Waynes would never learn when to give ground. There’s fresh trouble brewing, Ned—and ’tis aimed all at thee." "How, at me? Has the Lean Man, then, vowed friendship with Cranshaw and with Hill House?" "Nay, but his hate is hottest against thee. He thought thee a fool, and he found thee somewhat different; and he blames thee altogether for their defeat in the kirkyard." "How dost learn all this, Rolf?" "The Lean Man makes a boast of it up and down, and only to-night as I came through Marshcotes, they told me he had sworn to pin thy right hand to thy own door." "Why, that was what Mistress Wayne said just now," cried Nell. Her eyes were fixed on her brother, and there was grief and something near to terror in them. "Ay, her wandering talk hit straightish to the truth," said Wayne of Cranshaw. "Whether ’twas guess-work on her part, or whether she did meet Nicholas in the road, I cannot say—but any village yokel will tell thee what the Lean Man’s purpose is. See, Ned, there are eight of us at Cranshaw; come and bring all thy folk with thee." Shameless Wayne shook his head, and would have spoken, but the door was burst open suddenly and his brothers stood on the threshold, an unwonted gravity in their mien. "The dogs are poisoned, Ned," said Griff. "Poisoned? What, all of them?" "All. When we went into the courtyard we found Rover stretched by the well, his muzzle half in the water, and his body twisted all out of shape." "Hemlock," muttered Ned. "’Twas grown on Wildwater soil, I’ll warrant." "Then we went to the kennels, and found the doors open, and all the dogs but one laid here and there. The white bitch was missing, but she has gone to some quiet corner, likely, to die." "God’s curse on them!" cried Shameless Wayne, getting to his feet. "Why should they fight with the poor brutes when they dare not face their master?" "’Tis but one more argument," said Rolf quietly. "Come to Cranshaw, Ned; it is witless to forego a plain chance of safety." "Take Nell and the women-folk, if they will go—but the lads and I stay here while there’s a roof to the four walls. Dost think I have not smirched the Marsh pride enough in times past?" "That’s done with, Ned; none doubts thee now, and thou’lt lose naught by seeking a safer dwelling." "The Lean Man wants me. Well, he knows where to find me. Did father play hide-and-seek, leaving the old place to be burned to the ground, when the feud was up aforetime?" "He stayed—as thou wilt do," said Nell, her pride undaunted by any ebb and flow of danger. "But, Nell, ’tis stubbornness—’tis folly—" began Wayne of Cranshaw.