Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net [Illustration: "Two steps took him up to the waist, and he had trouble in finding solid bottom at the next." (Chap, xvii.)] THE PROTECTOR BY HAROLD BINDLOSS Author of "The Impostor," "Hawtrey's Deputy," "The Pioneer," etc., etc. WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO 1918 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A FRIEND IN NEED 5 II. A BREEZE OF WIND 14 III. AN AFTERNOON ASHORE 24 IV. A CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT 31 V. THE OLD COUNTRY 39 VI. UPON THE HEIGHTS 46 VII. STORM-STAYED 54 VIII. LUCY VANE 62 IX. CHISHOLM PROVES AMENABLE 69 X. WITH THE OTTER HOUNDS 75 XI. VANE WITHDRAWS 85 XII. VANE GROWS RESTLESS 95 XIII. A NEW PROJECT 101 XIV. VANE SAILS NORTH 109 XV. THE FIRST MISADVENTURE 114 XVI. THE BUSH 120 XVII. VANE POSTPONES THE SEARCH 127 XVIII. JESSIE CONFERS A FAVOUR 132 XIX. VANE FORESEES TROUBLE 140 XX. THE FLOOD 146 XXI. VANE YIELDS A POINT 151 XXII. EVELYN GOES FOR A SAIL 161 XXIII. VANE PROVES OBDURATE 169 XXIV. JESSIE STRIKES 177 XXV. THE INTERCEPTED LETTER 187 XXVI. ON THE TRAIL 196 XXVII. THE END OF THE SEARCH 201 XXVIII. CARROLL SEEKS HELP 212 XXIX. JESSIE'S CONTRITION 222 XXX. CONVINCING TESTIMONY 234 XXXI. VANE IS REINSTATED 243 THE PROTECTOR CHAPTER I A FRIEND IN NEED.