The Lair of the White Worm

thaniel and Mr. Salton were seated wh

sked his uncl

ou

" asked Sir

, helping himself t

s. I don't

dded explanatorily: "I was out wi

o many on the Brow"-the local name for the western cliff. "I

ir. But no

e Lambton worm, did you? Why, a mongoose, to tackle a monster lik

snakes, about as bi

tle. That is a good mongoose, I am sure; he'll cle

le had arranged for him. Both Sir Nathaniel and Mr. Salton took it that he wanted to be by himself, so as to avoid any questioning or talk of the visit that he was to make that afternoon. Th

aiting. We had better get it

ake things easier for hi

this. He stammered a little at first, but

t to Mer

gerly. The old diplo

le, because you are my uncle and the nearest of my own kin, and, moreover, you couldn't have been more kind to me or made me more welcome if you had been my own father." Mr. Salton said nothing. He simply held out his hand, a

softly, laying his hand

at it. And I may tell you that we old men, who have no children of o

g with a rush, as if he wante

or, attended by the negro. Lilla opened the door herself. The window of the living-room at the farm is a large one, and from within you cannot help seeing anyone coming. Mr. Caswall said he had ventured to call, as he wished to make the acquainta

e you, Adam," said

fire his uncle had seen there died out. Likewise

happiness, I fear, is not for me-o

ays yet!" cried Sir

him his eyes, which had

ould have given me new hope-new courage;

human heart, did not attem

to give i

realise a truth. And when a man, though he is young, feels as I do-as I have felt ever since yes

ich the twilight stole on imperceptibly.

if we have any second

I ever heard

ve a conviction which seems to answe

ed the old man,

n heard of second sight-we have many western Scots in Australia; but I have realised more of its true inwardness in an instant of this afternoon than I did in the whole of my life

aniel broke in, smoot

fight for it? There

do. There will be-must be-a fight. When and where and how I know not, b

n looked at his old friend as he spo

s," he said, an

haniel endeavoured to get back to le

e all pledged to this. It is a fight à l'outrance,

one, such as he had used when he spoke of the coming to the farm of Edgar Caswall: "When Mr. Caswall came in, the negro went a short distance away and there remained. It

were you all quite friendly?"

e went on, with a slight hardening of the voice, "except that he kept his eyes fixe

did he look?" as

elf offensive; but no one

and Mr. Caswall, who was the offender, are out of ra

flamed with anger

admiring, or what? Was it the look of a love

should of course notice. It would be part of my prepara

y, was it threatening?

kindly at

nly have I been taught to fight fair, but by nature I believe I am just. I would be as tolerant of and as liberal to a rival as I should expect him to be to me. No, the look

re

t on, "the eyes of a bird of prey when he is following his instincts

, "I don't know that I e

ing of that kind-yet it was, it struck me, more da

nce, which Sir Nathani

ll thought over this by ourselves