much dismayed, and coming up beside me, slipped his hand into mine, and I promptly pocketed it. 

 "Sweet master Sheriff," I said, sweeping off my cap in true outlaw fashion, "the way is long and something lonely; methinks—we will therefore e'en accompany you, and may perchance lighten the tedium with quip and quirk and a merry stave or so." 

 Seeing the angry rejoinder upon Mr. Selwyn's lips, I burst forth incontinent into the following ditty, the words extemporised to the tune of "Bonnie Dundee": 

   There lived a sheriff in Nottinghamshire, With a hey derry down and a down; He was fond of good beef, but was fonder of beer, With a hey derry down and a down 

 By the time we reached the Shrubbery gate the imp was in an ecstasy and Mr. Selwyn once more reduced to speechless indignation and astonishment. Here our ways diverged, Mr. Selwyn turning toward the house, while the Imp and I made our way to the orchard at the rear. 

 "Uncle Dick," he said, halting suddenly, "do you think he will tell—really?" 

 "My dear Imp," I answered, "a man who wears points on his moustache is capable of anything." 

 "Then I shall be sent to bed for it, I know I shall!" 

 "To run into a thread tied across the path must have been very annoying," I said, shaking my head thoughtfully, "especially with a brand-new hat!" 

 "They were only 'ambushes,' you know, Uncle Dick." 

 "To be sure," I nodded.  "Now, observe, my Imp, here is a shilling; go and buy that spring-pistol you were speaking of, and take your time about it; I'll see what can be done in the meanwhile." 

 The Imp was reduced to incoherent thanks. 

 "That's all right." I said, "but you'd better hurry off." 

 He obeyed with alacrity, disappearing in the direction of the village, while I went on toward the orchard to find Lisbeth. And presently, sure enough, I did find her—that is to say, part of her, for the foliage of that particular tree happened to be very thick and I could see nothing of her but a foot. 

 A positively delicious foot it was, too, small and shapely, that swung audaciously to and fro; a foot in a ridiculously out-of-place little 

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