First in the Field Part 53

The convict saw it, and his lips quivered for a few moments. Then he stood up with his head erect, gazing straight before him.

"Mr Dillon!" cried Mrs Braydon.

"Your servant, my dear madam," said the new arrival, raising his hat as he rode forward. "Young ladies, yours. Don't be alarmed, Miss Braydon: there is no danger now. I am very sorry that this outrage has taken place in the doctor's absence. Your poor man rode over, and I came instantly.--Too glad to have been of service."

Mrs Braydon's lips moved, but no word was heard.

"Where is the young squire?" continued the visitor.

"My brother has gone out on a round, I suppose, Mr Dillon," said Hilda quickly. "But--but what are you going to do?"

"What a neighbour should, my dear young lady. What your father would do for me or any of our friends. See that wives and daughters are protected in every way."

Then, turning quickly, he rode back a few yards.

"Go on, my lads," he said to his followers. "I'll overtake you directly."

The man who had handcuffed Leather loosened one end of a hide rope from his saddle-bow, and secured it to the irons on the convict's wrists.

"Say, Mr Dillon, sir," said old Sam, who had been dividing his time between scowling at Brookes and watching what was going on. "That there poor chap can't walk ten mile over to your place. He's only just come out of a swound."

"Indeed!" said the visitor, with a laugh. "We shall see. Now forward!"

The little procession moved off; Belton first, with his prisoner, and the two others with their guns across their saddle-bows following.

Then Mr Dillon rode back to the ladies.

"I am very sorry, Mrs Braydon. I wish you had kept away from this painful scene."

"Yes, it is very terrible," said the trembling woman. "But--it was in a fit of pa.s.sion, I suppose, Mr Dillon. You will not be very severe?"

"I have a duty as a magistrate to perform, ladies, and I must be just.

Your man has been barbarously attacked; and living as we do with these convict servants about, more in number in places than we are ourselves, any hesitation would be stamped by them as weakness, and our very existence would be at stake."

"But he has always been a good, hard-working man, Mr Dillon," pleaded Janet.

"And so long as he behaved, my dear Miss Braydon, the government said, 'You can have almost your freedom.' He and other a.s.signed servants know the bargain with the government. Good behaviour--liberty; bad behaviour--punishment."

"But till my husband returns," faltered Mrs Braydon, "you will wait?"

"These things cannot wait, madam. The law here must be administered firmly and sharply."

"But you will investigate the case?"

"It has been investigated, Mrs Braydon," said Mr Dillon stiffly.

"Your man came to me, with witnesses who cannot lie, branded upon his face. Ladies, I respect your gentle, merciful feelings; but if you had the governance here, in a short time the Crown Colony would be a pandemonium, ruled over by a president too vile to live."

"Hear him!" growled Brookes.

"D'yer want me to kick yer?" whispered old Samson savagely.

"But you will wait? Keep him a prisoner for a time, Mr Dillon,"

pleaded Mrs Braydon, as she saw her elder daughter's agonised look.

"My dear madam, I must study your husband and the commonweal of this colony," said the magistrate firmly. "Good morning."

"But--you wish refreshments?" faltered Mrs Braydon.

"Some other time, madam. My visit now must be very painful to you all."

He raised his hat, spurred his horse, and galloped off after his men; while, as Mrs Braydon stood gazing after him, Janet uttered a low wail, flung her arms about her sister's neck, and whispered, "Take me in, dear. I cannot bear it, take me in."

"Janet, my child!" cried Mrs Braydon; and in an agony of suffering she helped to lead the agitated girl into the house, while old Sam trotted off into the stable, and came back with a halter in his hand to where Brookes stood, shading his swollen-up eyes with one hand, holding the rein of his horse with the other.

"Thank ye, mate," he said, as he saw the halter, "but I dunno as I want it. Take the horse in for me; I want a wash. Don't s'pose Mr Leatherhead'll hit at me again."

"Yes," said old Sam in a husky voice, "I'll take the poor horse. Here, ketch hold. How are you a-going to face Master Nic when, he comes back?"

"Face him!" cried Brookes savagely: "I'll face him and show him what his fav'rite has done. He shall see my face, and then he may go and look at his convict's back and see how he likes that."

"Here, ketch hold," cried old Sam, shaking the rope.

"Tell you I don't want it," cried Brookes savagely.

"And I tell you you do," said the old man fiercely. "Take it and go right off to the first big green bough in the bush."

"What for?" cried Brookes, with his swollen eyelids opening wide.

"To use it--on yourself; for such a man as you ain't fit to live."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

AND ALL IN VAIN.

"Cooey--cooey!" shouted Nic, as he came cantering up over the soft, fine gra.s.s a couple of hours later toward the house; but no one was in sight, and he turned off toward the stables just as Brookes came out of the wool-shed.

"Why, hullo! What's the matter? Had a fall?"

"Had a fall!" cried the man savagely. "Look here." But old Sam had been watching for his young master's return, and he hurried up.

"Won't you listen to me, Master Nic?" he cried. "Let me tell the tale."

"Nic! Nic! come here quick!" cried Hilda, running from the house.

The boy looked wildly from one to the other, threw the rein to old Sam, and ran to his sister.