soaked in oil, fired the sheds and the verandah.  But for the lawyer’s discovery of the spark under the latter, the fire might have been beyond control in a few minutes, and the end of the murderous gang accomplished.  The whole household was roused; indeed, save in the case of the children, it can hardly be said to have been asleep.  Mrs. Carruthers descended, and, sending Tryphosa to look after her young family, helped her father to bind up the wound of the grizzled incendiary, who refused to give any account of himself.  “I know him,” said the detective to the Squire; “his name is Newcome and he’s a bad lot.”  Soon the Captain and Mr. Errol brought their prisoner in.  The hospital and guard-room was the winter kitchen of the house, a spacious apartment almost unused during the summer months.  When the lad was brought into it, he seemed to recognize the place with his dull big grey eyes, and spoke the first words he had uttered since his capture.  “Bread and meat for Monty.”  “Why,” said Tryphena, “it’s the ijut boy.”  “So it is,” ejaculated Mrs. Carruthers, “What is your name, Monty?” With an idiotic smile on his face, but no light in those poor eyes, he answered:  “Monty Rawn, and mother’s in the water place.”  Mrs. Carruthers explained that the lad had been often in the kitchen in winter, and that she had told Tryphena to feed him well and be kind to him, so that it is no wonder he recognized the scene of his former enjoyment.  “Puir laddie,” said the Squire, “he’s no’ responsible, but the born deevil that set him on should be hanged, drawn, and quartered.”

“Squire,” answered Mr. Errol, “I’m aye on the side o’ maircy, but to yon I say Amen.”

“Come, come!” Carruthers cried hastily, regaining his natural speech; “we must take off these haverals, Sylvanus and Toner, and bring them in to guard the prisoners.  They are not fit for sentry duty.”  Leaving the Captain and the veteran as temporary guards, he sallied forth, followed by the lawyer and the two parsons.

To the Squire’s great delight, he found the dominie walking up and down the front of the house, humming “A charge to keep I have.”  “Mr. Wilkinson,” he said, “you’re a pairfec’ treasure,” and that so loud that the schoolmaster was sure it was heard by the occupants of the window over the porch.  He marched along with redoubled pride and devotion.  Mr. Perrowne took Toner’s place, and the lawyer that of Sylvanus.  Carruthers marched the two haverals to the kitchen, and placed the prisoners in their charge, after roundly abusing them for talking on guard.  This set free the Captain and Mr. Terry, who were posted together by the outbuildings, although the veteran was very anxious to go down to the bush for the purpose of potting the Lake Settlement haythens.  There being no post for the minister, he was appointed hospital chaplain and commander of the prisoners’ guard.  Mr. Nash, carrying Ben’s gun, was investigating the strip of bush and the clump of birches