Harold, with a ready move, chucked the bag round to his back, and shouted lustily in hopes that there might be a keeper in the woods, ‘Help!  Thieves!  He’s robbing the post!’

Dick’s hoarse laugh was all the answer.  ‘That’ll do, my dear,’ he said; ‘now you’d best be quiet; I’d be loath to hurt you.’

For all answer, Harold, shouting all the time, dealt him a stroke right over the eyes and nose with his riding-switch, and made a great effort to force the pony on in hopes the blow might have made him slacken his hold.  But though one moment Dick’s arm was thrown over his watering eyes, the other hand held the bridle as firmly as ever, and the next instant his fist dealt Harold such a blow, as nearly knocked out all his breath.  Setting his teeth, and swearing an oath, Dick was pouncing on the boy’s arm, when from the road before them came bursting a meagre thing darting like a wild cat, which fell upon him, hallooing as loud as Harold.

Dick turned in fury, and let go the bridle.  The pony backed in alarm.  The new-comer was grappling with the thief, and trying to drag him aside.  ‘On, on; go on, Har’ld!’ he shouted, but his strength was far from equal to Dick’s, who threw him aside on the hand-rail.  Old rotten rail that it was, it crashed under the weight, and fell with both the boys into the water.  Peggy dashed forward to the other side, where Harold pulled her up with much difficulty, and turned round to look at the robber and the champion.  The fall was not far, nor the water deep, and they had both risen, and were ready to seize one another again in their rage.  And now Harold saw that he who had come to his help was no other than Paul Blackthorn, who shouted loudly, ‘On, go on!  I’ll keep him.’

‘He’ll kill you!’ screamed Harold, in despair, ready to push in between them with his horse; but at that moment cart-wheels were heard in the road, and Dick, shaking his fist, and swearing at them both, shook off Paul as if he had been a feather, and splashing out of the ford on the other side, leapt over the hedge, and was off through the plantations.

Paul more slowly crept up towards Harold, dripping from head to foot.

‘Paul!  Paul!  I’m glad I’ve found you!’ cried Harold.  ’You’ve saved the letters, man, and one was registered!  Come along with me, up to the school.’

‘Nay, I’ll not do that,’ said Paul.

‘Then you’ll stay till I come back,’ said Harold earnestly; ’I’ve got so much to tell you!  My Lady sent for you.  Our Ellen told her all about you, and you’re to go to her.  Ellen was in such a way when she found you were off.’

‘Then she didn’t think I’d taken the eggs?’ said Paul.

‘She’d as soon think that I had,’ said Harold.  ’Why, don’t we all know that you’re one of the parson’s own sort?  But what made you go off without a word to nobody?’

‘I don’t know.  Every one was against me,’ said Paul; ’and I thought I’d just go out of the way, and you’d forget all about me.  But I never touched those eggs, and you may tell Mr. Cope so, and thank him for all his kindness to me.’