"Hadn't you better go and nurse the scoundrel, and read to him a bit? Bah! Come along, man. He has his second, and they can fetch help from the fishermen's cottages if they want it." Sir Harry followed him up the cliff steps and along the Down path without a word. "So, I shall not want a post-chaise," said Rockley, with a laugh. "No rushing up to town and hiding for a while in chambers in St. James's, or running over to Boulogne. Good job, too. Save the money. I'm fearfully short. Why, man, you look white." "Do I? It's cold. I'm glad that the affair has terminated so well." "Terminated?" cried the Major, grasping him by the arm, "It has only begun. I tell you there are other ways than bullets to touch a man's heart, and I'll pierce his, curse him! so that he shall rue the day he ever crossed my path." Sir Harry looked at him uneasily. "Payne," he continued, "I'm a firm friend to those who help me--and lend me money," he added, with a laugh--"but I never forgive an insult, or a woman's slight." Down on the beach, Colonel Mellersh was kneeling with the great drops of perspiration standing on his face, holding Richard Linnell's hand, while the surgeon was looking on anxiously at the returning signs of knowledge of his position on his patient's part. The other principal and second had been gone some minutes when footsteps were heard, and James Bell and Fisherman Dick came quickly down the cliff. "Is he much hurt, sir?" said the former, with real signs of trouble in his face. "No, my man: you may tell the Major that it was a narrow escape." "Poor lad!" muttered the soldier, going down on one knee, and making Colonel Mellersh look at him with surprise, as he took one cold hand, to hold it between his own for a few moments. "Can we carry him to my house, gen'lemen," said Fisherman Dick roughly. "'Taint very far." "No, my man, no," said the doctor; "he has only been stunned. Narrow escape, though. He'll walk home." "Do you mean it, sir?" cried James Bell. "Beg pardon, sir. Only glad the Major won't have to go. I'll get back to barracks now. He'll be wanting me." "All right, my man. Take those confounded pistols with you. There: be off." The soldier placed the pistols in the case, and, saluting both gentlemen, hurried away by the shore, while Fisherman Dick touched his hat again, and said in a whisper: "I've got a drop of right Nantes sperrit at my cottage, gentlemen, if you can bring him in there." "No, no," said the doctor. "There, he's coming round fast now," and he pointed to Linnell's staring eyes. The doctor was right. Half an hour later, with no worse trouble to combat than a fierce headache, and the wound smarting under its strapping, Richard Linnell was able to take the Colonel's arm and walk home, a warning to other young men not to attempt to climb up the cliff to the Downs, and risk falling and cutting their heads! For that was the version of Richard Linnell's mishap that ran through the town.