I feared that John would die from the effects of the blow; but I also knew from experience that a man's head may receive very hard knocks and life still remain.

Should John recover and should Sir George learn his name, I was sure that my violent cousin would again attempt the personal administration of justice and would hang him, under the old Saxon law.

In that event Parliament would not be so easily pacified as upon the occasion of the former hanging at Haddon; and I knew that if John should die by my cousin's hand, Sir George would pay for the act with his life and his estates.

Fearing that Sir George might learn through Dawson of John's identity, I started out in search of Will to have a word with him before he could see his master.

I felt sure that for many reasons Will would be inclined to save John; but to what extent his fidelity to the cause of his master might counteract his resentment of Sir George's act, I did not know.