"I was sorry to have to kill him, but he shot me through the hat, for I felt it turn on my head, and his second bullet clipped my arm, but I guess did no harm," said Will.
"My boy, you are worth your weight in gold; let me see if you are hurt," and Kent Lomax turned his man over to Hercules, while he drew off the boy's jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve. There was a slight gash on the left arm that was not of much consequence, and Kent Lomax quickly bound a handkerchief about it, while he said:
"You will need no requisition for your man, Master Raymond, while this one we will give into the hands of the village constable.
"Hercules, mount my horse and ride back to the village for the constable and the coroner, and I will remain here with this young man."
The negro departed, while Will said: "My errand here, sir, was to see Mr. Rossmore upon an important matter, and I am anxious to catch the boat back to-night, so that I might drive on to his farm and get back here by the time the constable arrives, if you do not mind."
"Certainly not, and Mr. Rossmore lives on the road a mile from here.
"You will come to a bridge crossing a stream with a mill upon it, and the Rossmore place is just beyond on the hill in full view."
Thanking the farmer Will sprang into the buggy and drove on.
As he reached the bridge he came to a halt, while he said: "Why, this is the very scene that mother painted and gave to Colonel Ivey.
"How strange her painting should be so like a real scene way down here on the eastern shore of Maryland," and, wondering at the coincidence, Will drove on up to the handsome country home on the hillside.