Rover, who had been lying quietly at our feet, watching the movements of the stranger with distrust, yet apparently determined to give the man a fair hearing before he made up his mind in regard to his character, uttered a yell when he saw our visitor turn to fly, and before he reached the door the faithful dog had seized a portion of his garments on that section of his body where the strain is supposed to be the strongest, and, with defiant growls, held him fast.

“Call off your dog,” shouted Follet, with an oath, “or I’ll send a ball through his lean carcass.”

“If you but offer to lay your hand upon a pistol you are a dead man!” exclaimed Fred; “remain quiet, and you are safe.”

“Why should I obey you?” demanded Follet, with a sudden jerk of his body, for the purpose of freeing himself from the jaws of the dog, in which he was unsuccessful, for Rover took a double grip, and I think that his teeth grazed the forger’s flesh, for he attempted to apply his hands to the spot, but was not able, and therefore they once more sought the formidable pistols which his pockets contained.

“Curse you and your dog!  Do you think I’m a bullock, to be thus dragged down, and make no resistance?”

He was in the act of cocking the pistol when a slight blow upon his arm, near the elbow, with the butt of a stock-whip, made him drop it as suddenly as though his limb had been paralyzed from wrist to shoulder.

“Do you mean to rob or to assassinate me?” cried Follet, rubbing his arm, and looking dangerous.

“Neither,” we replied; “but we require you to be patient, and to make atonement for some of the wrong that you have done.  This you shall do, or be lodged in a prison and returned to England.”

“Do you take me for a child, that I should be thus lectured by boys and a gray-headed idiot?  You don’t know me yet!”

The desperate man suddenly turned, while talking, and with one of his heavy boots kicked the hound upon his head; but the noble brute did not even utter a whimper, although the blow brought blood upon his glossy coat.  But dearly did the fellow pay for his cruelty, for, as he dashed towards the door, for the purpose of escaping, Rover sprang upon him, seized him by his neck, and bore him headlong to the floor, where he held him, despite of his struggles and cries.

We let them fight it out without interference, but a few minutes were sufficient to produce cries for quarter from Follet, although before we listened to them we disarmed him of his knife and remaining pistol.

“Get up,” I said, addressing the prostrate man, “and remember that acts of cruelty sometimes bring immediate punishment.”

He arose, sullen and angry, yet not daring to manifest it by deeds and words.  I motioned him to a place near the stove, where Mr. Critchet was seated, and from whence he had witnessed all that had transpired, without remark or interference.