deeds begins also to contemplate consequences, reason is beginning to
resume her sway.

Then he heard heavy footsteps and voices. His father and Stephen Gard.

Another chance! Gard he hated. There was a bruise on his right jaw
still. And the old man!--he had cut him out of his inheritance by going
crazy over those cursed mines.

"I'm sorry you have gone so far," Gard was saying as they passed. "If
you had consulted me I should have advised against it. Mining is always
more or less of a speculation. I would never, if I could help it, let
any man put more into a mine than he can afford to lose."

"If you know a thing's a good thing you want all you can get out of
it," said old Tom stoutly.

"Yes, if--" and they passed into the house, while Tom in the hedge was
considering which of them he would soonest see dead.

Now they were all inside together. A full charge of small shot might do
considerable and satisfactory damage.

But thought of the certain consequences to himself welled coldly up in
him again, and he slunk noiselessly away, cursing himself for leaving
undone the work he had come out to do.

On the common above the Pot, a terrified white scut rose almost under
his feet and sped along in front of him. He blew it into rags, and was
so ashamed of his prowess that he kicked the remnants into the gorse and