ROOKS AND PIGEONS. 161 



might be additionally sure. The Cappers and 

 their man were posted as usual on the day. I 

 was watching " 



" I scarcely like that ! " old Sir Herbert 

 interrupted, shaking his head. But his son was 

 not convinced that he had done ill. 



" My dear father, you must fight a rascal 

 like this with his own weapons," he replied. 

 " However, I was watching, and I'm not ashamed 

 of it, for Capper has ruined the most decent 

 young fellow in the village, and has done much 

 harm besides. I waited ; presently the first 

 gun went off, but the pigeon was out of range ; 

 he wheeled, however, and gave the second gun 

 a better chance. Down he came. It was one 

 of the birds marked as Hunter had explained it 

 would be. I got on my horse and galloped to 

 the Fox and Hounds. Capper arrived soon 

 after, and was so confident about Jupiter's win 

 that I knew, whatever else had won, it could 

 not be Jupiter. You know the rest. I bet 

 enough to get back for Frank Parker the 

 money out of which, in a way I need not 

 explain at present. Capper had swindled him. 

 I have returned him the money, and my father 

 has put him into a farm ; so that, besides 

 putting an end to Mr. Capper's source of income, 

 we have rescued pretty Kitty Lomax from a 



11 



