"But they have done it, Sir Hampton," said Humphrey. "There they are; there's their footmarks right across the field; and they're always at it, and breaking down the bushes." "Hold your tongue, Humphrey," said Trevor. "I beg your pardon--Sir Hampton Rea, I believe?" The wasp sting, kept back so long, now came out. "And pray, sir, why are you trespassing on my grounds?" exclaimed the knight, furiously. "Excuse me, I am on my own," said Trevor. "Your own! I never heard such insolence in my life. Who are you, sir? What the devil are you? Where do you come from?" "Well," said Trevor, with a red spot coming into each cheek, but speaking quite coolly, "my name is Trevor. I am the owner of Penreife, and I have lately returned from sea." "Then--then--go back to sea, sir, or get off my grounds; or, by gad, sir, my labourers shall kick you off." The men advanced menacingly; but, with a face like fire, Humphrey rolled up his cuffs. "Humphrey! Stop; how dare you!" exclaimed Trevor, angrily. The young keeper drew back, grinding his teeth; for the others continued to advance, and the rat-trap-mouthed man, finding Juno, the dog, smelling about him, gave the poor brute a kick, which produced a loud yelp. "Excuse me, Sir Hampton, but--" "Get off my grounds, sir, this instant!" roared the knight. Wasp sting again. "Look here," said Pratt, "if it's a question of boundary, any solicitor will look through the deeds, and a surveyor measure, and put it all right in--" "Who the devil is this little cad?" exclaimed Sir Hampton. "Cad?" cried Pratt. "Yes, sir, cad. Oh! I thought I knew you again. Yes; you are one of that gang on the omnibus who insulted me the other day. And--and--" he stammered in his rage, turning to Trevor, "you were another of the party. Get off my grounds, sir--this instant, sir. Darley, Sanders, Kelynack--drive these fellows off!" The three men advanced, and Sir Hampton took the general's place in the rear, quivering still with rage and the poison of the wasp. Trevor was now flushed and angry, and Humphrey evidently ripe for any amount of assault or resistance, when Pratt stepped forward and laid his hand upon the arm of the angry knight. Volume 1, Chapter XII. HEBE. "Stand back, sir--get off my ground, sir!" cried Sir Hampton, furiously. "Look here, men, this is--er-rum--an assault." "No, it is not, Sir Hampton," said Pratt, coolly. "Look here, my good man." "Your good man, sir?" "Yes," said Pratt, quietly; and there was something in the little fellow that enforced attention. "You are, I believe, a magistrate here--for the county?" "Yes, sir; I am, sir; and--er-rum--" "Be cool--be cool," said Pratt, "You called me a cad just now." "I did, sir; and--" "Well, I am a barrister--of the Temple. There is my card." He stuck the little piece of pasteboard into the magistrate's hand. "Confound your card, sir! I--"