CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
NIC TAKES THE HELM.
"Bad news," said the doctor, about a couple of months' shepherding and track riding later, as he held a letter out to his wife before coming to where a couple of men were carefully rubbing down the heated horses they had hitched up to the fence kept for the purpose.
"Come in, my lads," he said.

"I'll have your horses seen to.

They must have a couple of hours' rest.

There'll be a meal ready for you directly." "What is it, mother ?" said Janet and Hilda; and Nic looked at her eagerly.
"It is bad news indeed," said Mrs Braydon.

"The letter is from Lady O'Hara, who is in the deepest distress about Sir John.