“There’s no room here,” the young man said brutally.

“For God’s sake!”

“Hardly room for one.”

The merchant was hanging with the lower portion of his body in the water.  It was but a few instants, but the old man had time to think of many an incident in his past life.  Once more he saw the darkened sick-room, and his own form standing by the bed of the dying man.  What are these words which ring in his ears above the crash of the surf?  “May your flesh and blood treat you as you treat her.”  He looked up appealing at his son.  Ezra saw that the next wave would lift him right up on to the ledge.  In that case he might be hustled off.

“Leave go!” he cried.

“Help me, Ezra.”

His son brought down his heavy heel upon the bloodless hands.  The old African trader gave a wild shriek and fell back into the sea.  Looking down, Ezra saw his despairing face gazing at him through the water.  Slowly it sank until it was but a flickering white patch far down in the green depths.  At the same instant a thick rope came dangling down the face of the cliff, and the young man knew that he was saved.

CHAPTER L.

WINDS UP THE THREAD AND TIES TWO KNOTS AT THE END.

Great was the excitement of the worthy couple at Phillimore Gardens when Kate Harston was brought back to them.  Good Mrs. Dimsdale pressed her to her ample bosom and kissed her, and scolded her, and wept over her, while the doctor was so moved that it was only by assuming an expression of portentous severity and by bellowing and stamping about that he was able to keep himself in decent control.

“And you really thought we had forgotten you because we were insane enough to stop writing at that villain’s request?” he said, patting Kate’s pale cheeks tenderly and kissing her.

“I was very foolish,” she said, blushing prettily and rearranging her hair, which had been somewhat tumbled by her numerous caresses.

“Oh, that scoundrel—­that pair of scoundrels!” roared the doctor, shaking his fist and dancing about on the hearth-rug.  “Pray God they may catch ’em before the trial comes off!”

The good physician’s prayer was not answered in this case, for Burt was the only criminal who appeared in the dock.  Our friends all went down to the Winchester Assizes to give evidence, and the navvy was duly convicted of the death of Rebecca Taylforth and condemned to death.  He was executed some three weeks afterwards, dying as he had lived, stolid and unrepenting.