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The projection looks like a kind of elaborate summer-house, and yet seems more than that by its size, stateliness, and its connection with the rest of the pile.

The bank is high above the water, and will conceal the boat. So Hector fastens it to a treetrunk, and ascends to the top of the bank.

He follows the curve of the base of the mound, and finds, as he expected, a slope leading up to the top. With jealous care he shrouds himself as much as possible by moving wherever the shadows are deepest, until he reaches the level of one of the windows, and ventures to look in.

His first glance through that window took away his breath and every bit of colour out of his face. As he clung, feverish yet shivering, to the window-sill, he saw the passionate desire of his heart for the last three months was realised. There, within a yard of his own, was the face of his enemy.

Kennedy was writing. A row of letters freshly

addressed lay on his desk. It struck Hector instantly that so much letter-writing showed he was preparing for the voyage, of which he had heard from his comrade.

"Another day," he thought, "and I might have been too late."

Suddenly the form his eyes were fastened upon rose, and went out of the room. Hector sprang

on to the window-sill, seized the framework, forced it open, and leaped into the room.

His eyes,

glancing wildly about, fell upon an object, the sight of which brought sudden intelligence into them.

It was the poacher's gun which had been taken by Kennedy, and which Hector guessed to be loaded with a death-dealing charge.

He scarcely had time to seize it, and find by the ramrod it was loaded, before he heard the returning steps of Kennedy; who entered the room with a slow step, and his eyes looking down upon the carpet. When he was some yards from

the door he suddenly found himself in total darkness. Hector had put out the lamp.

Kennedy turned to go back, but stood as if rooted to the spot, when he heard a heavy step cross the room, the door slammed, and the key turned.

Quick as thought he went to the fireplace, seized the bell-rope in one hand and a pistol from the mantelpiece in the other.

The click of the pistol served to guide his adversary's aim, and was of no other use, for it was unloaded. There was a blinding flash, a thundering report, and Captain Kennedy fell his length upon the carpet, with the words, “For her sake!" ringing in his ears.

The servants came battering at the door, and calling on their master, who answered not. They forced it, and found him stretched on the hearth-rug, which was soaked with his blood.

A few went out in search of the supposed poacher who had done the deed; but the real culprit was again in his little boat drifting down the stream, he knew not whither.

CHAPTER VII.

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IN COUNCIL AT THE TRANSOM ARMS."

ONE morning when Margaret came down, about an hour after Elizabeth Vandereck had risen, she was surprised to hear a man's voice in the little parlour.

The young widow, who was there also, did not hear her step; but Margaret, as she passed the door, intending to wait in the kitchen till the early visitor was gone, saw her sitting bending over her work with a grave, pale face.

She knew directly that something had happened. Her heart grew sick. She tried to go up-stairs again, as being in the kitchen was almost as bad as being in the same room with Elizabeth and her visitor, only a very thin partition dividing the two rooms. But her limbs failed her it was as much as she could manage

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