"A moment, one little moment!" cried Peter. "Sir--Mr. St. Clair--I did mean to take your favourite dog's life."
"And Miss St. Clair?"
"I am innocent. If--I am to be lynched--for--that--you have the blood of a guiltless man on your head."
Dick Temple had seen enough. He advanced now to Peter's side.
"Your crime deserves lynching," he said, "but I will intercede for you if you promise me sacredly you will never attempt revenge again. If you do, as sure as fate you shall swing."
"I promise--Oh--I promise!"
Dick retired, and after a few minutes' conversation with Roland, the wretched man was set free.
Entre nous, reader, Roland had never really meant to lynch the man. But so utterly nerveless and broken-down was Mr. Peter now, that as soon as he was released he threw himself on the ground, crying like a child.
Even Brawn pitied him, and ran forward and actually licked the hands of the man who would have cruelly done him to death.
So noble is the nature of our friend the dog.