CONTENTS. Chap. I. II. HOW PAUL BORE IT. III. IV. THE REWARD OF OVER-CONFIDENCE. V. THE RESCUE. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. RUMOUR AND APPREHENSION. XI. A TEST OF BRAVERY. XII. XIII. PAUL CONFESSES. CHAPTER I. No river, no sea, no mountains,
or anything. "Paul, do not talk any more now. You understand, dear. "But I want to help now," said Paul, dolefully. "You will be able to, dear, at once, too. You can help by giving up
cheerfully," said his mother. "Very good," said Mr. Anketell, encouragingly. "You can learn to work in
the garden, too. He could not believe but that there was some mistake, that his
ears were deceiving him. "What did you say, mother?" he cried. "Father, we _must_ go!" he cried. This is the first trial, my boy. Here was another grievance to add to his list. CHAPTER II. HOW PAUL BORE IT. "We are playing at being in Norway," he shouted, when he caught sight of
his elder brother. Here Stella banged her box against the wall, and rebounded again. "As if they could. Why, if they
were to try to I'd refuse to go." "Do tell me, Paul, what is it! Stella was four years older
than her younger brother, and there was a great deal of the little mother
in the way she cared for him. "What is it, Paul? cried Stella, in an accent almost of relief. "Oh, is that all? she cried, in great distress. You can't
care, so don't put it on. "But, Paul, why can't we go?" asked Stella, her brother's injustice fading
at once from her mind. "Yes, I know. Father told me all about it. "Promise, honour bright. "Be quiet, Paul. You are not to frighten him like that,"
cried Stella indignantly. He felt ashamed of himself, and did
not like the feeling at all. "Is mother--is mother unhappy about it, Paul?" I don't want to go for a cruise. she cried, flinging herself into her arms, and clasping her
round the neck. CHAPTER III. At first Paul, too, felt very miserable, and out of spirits. exclaimed Paul, as he thrust the letter into his pocket. And he sniffed
scornfully, and went about all day in a bad temper. "The convict prison," he cried eagerly. Oh, I do hope we go quite close to it. I should just think so. asked Paul, full of curiosity. "Some of them were pretty bad-looking, but the rest were just like
ordinary people. I say, did any escape while
you were there?" "No, 'twas hard luck. You _are_ in
luck's way, old chap. But my people are set on it, so I suppose I've got to go. I don't want
to, a bit." "No, sir, that there is Crockern Tor. asked Paul, more humbly. he asked excitedly. Gee, wug, Lion," he called to the lazy horse. After all, Dartmoor wasn't such a bad
place, he admitted already. CHAPTER IV. THE REWARD OF OVER CONFIDENCE. "What do they look like, Paul? "I don't see any, do you, Paul?" asked Stella, nervously. "No, he did not tell me any such thing. I should like to
see him dare to order me about. "But, Paul, you won't go?" pleaded Stella, anxiously. "Don't go, Paul! "I am not," said Stella proudly. Paul grew more and more nettled, and defiant. reached her. "Keep back'" he shrieked, as she came close. Help, help,
help!" Paul is in the bog, and it is
sucking him down." "Help, help!" It was strong and wide. Their condition now was truly appalling. "Pick yourself up, Stella, or crawl to the edge; you
are quite close." "They are coming," he
shouted. Stella could only hear their voices, and do as they bade her. Stella was safe. Her face was as white as the clouds above, her eyes
were closed. "Stella, Stella," he called
in agony. "Stella, speak! "Thank God, Paul. She has fainted, that is all, dear. Act like a
man now, and be ready to comfort her when she recovers. And you, can you walk, do you think?" he added, kindly, to Mrs.
Anketell. "Take my arm, please, if it would be any support to you." For many days she was very, very ill, and it was
some time before she was quite her old merry self again. "You cannot expect Michael to look up to you," said his father sternly. "So he could." Paul laughed contemptuously. "Why, any stupid could do that!" Paul laughed derisively. Muggridge, too, was alarmed. Besides, the mud was too wet as yet to be
cleaned off. But, luckily he
thought, when they got back to the house there was no one about. But he went on without
answering, though he felt very mean for doing so, and soon gained his own
room. I did not know you were in the house, and I was
quite anxious about you." asked his mother, standing
by him, and looking over his shoulder. Father was afraid you did not care for it, as you never
looked at it. We will have tea there, and walk home in the
evening." "Well, Paul, what do you say?" he asked, wondering at the boy's silence. "I hurt my foot, and couldn't walk to Four Bridges,
but it isn't much." "Oh, I--I--" and then he stopped. I'm awfully sorry," he added with genuine
regret. "Never mind, sir, you can come another time. He could not get back to the
house again; he peeped out and saw people moving about in the yard and at
the doorway; it was impossible to get past unobserved. He looked about the garden eagerly for a spot
in which to hide them, but a high stone wall surrounded the place, and the
garden itself was so neat and tidy there was no chance of hiding anything
there without the risk of being found out. And Mrs. Minards, he
remembered, was always pottering about in her garden. Outside the walls lay the moor, the big
brown old moor. "Paul, Pau--aul." You should not have gone out, you
know." "It is not so very bad now, thank you. "No--o," he answered. she asked. He could not rest. He could not sleep, his mind was in such a turmoil, and he
felt himself in such a terrible situation. Here was a way out of his troubles, if he could but carry it through. It was locked too, and the key taken
away. there were his boots, his poor old boots, the
source of all his trouble. He grabbed them delightedly, and rose. CHAPTER IX. In his shame he made himself
look all about him, he made himself stay quietly where he was and try to
fathom the mystery. Why, what a sleepy boy you are! "Is it late, mother? Were you disturbed in the
night, dear?" "No, I don't
think so. "They were all right when I came to bed," stammered Paul. "Some one must have walked about in them on
grass, and wet grass too." "My dear child, these are all
muddy too!" she asked, puzzled and
amazed; "can't you give me any explanation?" "No," said Paul faintly. she asked, with a sudden
thought. But don't worry, or
frighten yourself. he asked. "I think you had all better come
in now," she said. They had been down to the hind's cottage, gossiping
with his wife. A TEST OF BRAVERY. Yes, there was no doubt there was someone down there. He grew sick with terror at the thought, and flew on faster. Luckily it was the right one. he groaned. "Plenty of time," he said, and Paul groaned with anguish. "Plenty of
time, sir. he snarled, and with the same he whipped a revolver from
his pocket. Frantic and desperate, the man turned from Paul to her. So they stayed on. Stella was delighted. It was a weird, neglected spot
she had got into. A sense of importance filled her, and a good
deal of curiosity. She looked at the names in some of the mouldy hymn
books lying in the pews, and mounted the pulpit to see how the church
looked from there. he asked, in a low, gruff voice. He looked so ferocious, that Stella began to cry. "I won't tell, of
course not," she said, earnestly. They are too sharp, and there
are too many of 'em. he asked suddenly. Paul is my brother, the one you shot." The man looked at her sharply, "Did I--did I hurt him much?" "I'm starving," he said a second later. "No, I haven't. "Very well," said Stella. Good-bye," and she held out her hand to shake hands with him. PAUL CONFESSES. he asked Mr. Anketell, one day. It must be his mind;
his body is sound enough, and the wound is healing nicely. It was Stella's, they
knew. "No," whispered back his father. asked Stella's voice, and then, opening the
door, "Oh, you are in the dark. "Oh, no," said Paul simply, "father is here." "Oh, no," cried Michael, excitedly. "Yes," said Paul, laughing ruefully, "and I provided most of them."