was no longer a mighty blaze, and he knew that the dew of the night was acting as his protector.  The harm that had been as yet done was trifling, if only he could protect himself from further harm.  After leaving the fire, he had still a ride of seven or eight miles through the gloom of the forest—­all alone.  Not only was he weary, but his horse was so tired that he could hardly get him to canter for a furlong.  He regretted that he had not brought the boy with him, knowing well the service of companionship to a tired beast.  He was used to such troubles, and could always tell himself that his back was broad enough to bear them; but his desolation among enemies oppressed him.  Medlicot, however, was no longer an enemy.  Then there came across his mind for the first time an idea that Medlicot might marry his sister-in-law, and become his fast friend.  If he could have but one true friend, he thought that he could bear the enmity of all the Brownbies.  Hitherto he had been entirely alone in his anxiety.  It was between three and four when he reached Gangoil, and he found that the party of horsemen had just entered the yard before him.  The sugar planter was so weak that he could hardly get off his horse.

The two ladies were still watching when the cavalcade arrived, though it was then between three and four in the morning.  It was Harry’s custom on such occasions to ride up to the little gate close to the veranda, and there to hang his bridle till some one should take his horse away; but on this occasion he and the others rode into the yard.  Seeing this, Mrs. Heathcote and her sister went through the house, and soon learned how things were.  Mr. Medlicot, from the mill, had come with a bone broken, and it was their duty to nurse him till a doctor could be procured from Maryborough.  Now Maryborough was thirty miles distant.  Some one must be dispatched at once.  Jacko volunteered, but in such a service Jacko was hardly to be trusted.  He might fall asleep on his horse, and continue his slumbers on the ground.  Mickey and the German both offered; but the men were so beaten by their work that Heathcote did not dare to take their offer.

“I’ll tell you what it is, Mary,” he said to his wife, “there is nothing for it but for me to go for Jackson.”  Jackson was the doctor.  “And I can see the police at the same time.”

“You sha’n’t go, Harry.  Yon are so tired already you can hardly stand this moment.”

“Get me some strong coffee—­at once.  You don’t know what that man has done for us.  I’ll tell you all another time.  I owe him more than a ride into Maryborough.  I’ll make the men get Yorkie up”—­Yorkie was a favorite horse he had—­“while you make the coffee; and I’ll lead Colonel”—­Colonel was another horse, well esteemed at Gangoil.  “Jackson will come quicker on him than on any animal he can get at Maryborough.”  And so it was arranged, in spite of the wife’s tears and entreaties.  Harry had his coffee and some food, and started, with his two horses, for the doctor.