Mr Winthorpe grew rapidly better after the first fortnight, and Dick watched his convalescence with no little anxiety, for he expected to hear him accuse Farmer Tallington of being his attempted murderer. But Dick had no cause for fear. The squire told Mr Marston that he had seen a light on the mere, and dreading that it might mean an attempt to burn down some barn, he had gone out to watch, and he had just made out the shape of a punt on the water when he saw a flash, felt the shock, and fell helpless and insensible among the reeds.
This was as near an account as he could give of the affair, for the injury seemed to have confused him, and he knew little of what had taken place before, nothing of what had since occurred.
“But your life has been spared, Mr Winthorpe,” said Marston; “and some day I hope we shall know that your assailant and mine has received his due.”
“Ay,” said the squire; “we must find him out, for fear he should spoil our plans, for we are not beaten yet.”
“Beaten! no, squire,” said the engineer; “we are getting on faster than ever, and the success of the project is assured.”
Chapter Twenty Two.
After a Space.
The time rolled on. The drain-making progressed, and for a while there was no further trouble. Mr Winthorpe improved in health, but always seemed to avoid any allusion to the outrage; and after the constables had been a few times and found out nothing, and the magistrates of the neighbourhood had held consultation, the trouble once more dropped.