"I sank down at his feet, utterly overcome, and I saw a look of pity in his somewhat stern face and eyes.
"'You are an escaped convict,' he said.
"I acknowledged it and pleaded my innocence.
"He smiled as he said: 'They are always innocent.'
"I asked him to come and see what I had done.
"'Here, put this coat on,' he said.
"He wore a long coat, almost to his heels, and it covered me. We walked to where the hound lay. I explained what had happened, that I had wrestled [with] the brute and after a long struggle throttled him. He was amazed and said I was a good plucked 'un. There was no one in the house but himself, he said; the others had gone to Torquay; would I come with him and tell my story? I went, and made such an impression upon him that he said he believed my tale and would help me. He gave me some old clothes, food and drink, then hurried me on my way. He advised me to go to Torquay and try and communicate with some friends. He promised to put the searchers off the scent if they made inquiries. I said he would reap a reward for what he had done, but he did not seem to care about this. He urged me to get off the moor as quickly as possible.
"Before I left he filled my pockets with cheese, meat, and bread, and gave me an old cap, and worn-out boots. I said I should never forget him; he answered that he hoped he had done right in helping me.
"I tramped to Torquay, I—" he hesitated. No, he would not tell them of the gracious lady who assisted him and treated him as a man, not a tramp.
"I found Brack. He took me to his home, concealed me there until he contrived to smuggle me on board the Sea-mew," said Hector, as he finished his story.