“All right.  I see.  But, after all, what’s the rush?” The other was puzzled for the moment.

“I’m practising, sir,” he said unsteadily.  “How to mount on a run, demmit.  Can’t you see?”

“In case of fire, I imagine.  Well, you made excellent time.  By the way, what has this envelope to do with it?”

“Who are you, sir?”

“Shaw.  And you?”

“You’ll learn when you read that document.  Take it home with you.”

“Ah, yes, I see it’s for me.  Why don’t you untie that hitch rein?  And what the dickens do you mean by having a hitch rein, anyway?  No rider—­”

“Confound your impudence, sir, I did not come here to receive instructions from you, dem you,” cried his lordship defiantly.  He had succeeded at that moment in surreptitiously slashing the hitch rein in two with his pocket-knife.  There was nothing now to prevent him from giving the obtrusive young man a defiant farewell.  “I am Lord Bazelhurst.  Good day, sir!”

“Just a minute, your lordship,” called Shaw.  “No doubt you were timing yourself a bit ago, but that’s no reason why you should leave your watch on my land.  Of course, I’ve nothing against the watch, and, while I promise you faithfully that any human being from your side of the log who ventures over on my side shall be ejected in one way or another, it would seem senseless for me to kick this timepiece into the middle of next week.”

“Don’t you dare kick that watch.  It’s a hundred years old.”

“Far be it from me to take advantage of anything so old.  Don’t you want it any longer?”

“Certainly, sir.  I wouldn’t part from it.”

“Then why don’t you come over and get it?  Do you expect me to break the rule by coming over on to your land to hand it to you?”

“I shouldn’t call that trespassing, don’t you know,” began his lordship.

“Ah?  Nevertheless, if you want this watch you’ll have to come over and get it.”

“By Jove, now, that’s a demmed mean trick.  I’m mounted.  Beastly annoying.  I say, would you mind tossing it up to me?”

“I wouldn’t touch it for ten dollars.  By the way, I’ll just read this note of yours.”  Lord Bazelhurst nervously watched him as he read; his heart lightened perceptibly as he saw a good-humored smile struggle to the tall young man’s face.  It was, however, with some misgiving that he studied the broad shoulders and powerful frame of the erstwhile poacher.  “Very good of you, I’m sure, to warn me.”

“Good of me?  It was imperative, let me tell you, sir.  No man can abuse my servants and trample all over my land and disturb my fish—­”

“Excuse me, but I haven’t time to listen to all that.  The note’s sufficient.  You’ve been practising the running mount until it looks well nigh perfect to me, so I’ll tell you what I’ll do.  I’ll step back thirty paces and then you come over and get the watch—­if you’re not afraid of me—­and I’ll promise—­”