Crime or Calamity

           ITwasnotwithoutapprehensionthattheMajorsawAyrtonquittheWimerracamptogoandlookforablacksmithattheBlackPointStation.Buthedidnotbreatheawordofhisprivatemisgivings,andcontentedhimselfwithwatchingtheneighborhoodoftheriver;nothingdisturbedthereposeofthosetranquilglades,andafterashortnightthesunreappearedonthehorizon.

           AstoGlenarvan,hisonlyfearwaslestAyrtonshouldreturnalone.Iftheyfailtofindaworkman,thewagoncouldnotresumethejourney.Thismightendinadelayofmanydays,andGlenarvan,impatienttosucceed,couldbrooknodelay,inhiseagernesstoattainhisobject.

           Ayrtonluckilyhadlostneitherhistimenorhistrouble.Heappearednextmorningatdaybreak,accompaniedbyamanwhogavehimselfoutastheblacksmithfromBlackPointStation.Hewasapowerfulfellow,andtall,buthisfeatureswereofalow,brutaltype,whichdidnotprepossessanyoneinhisfavor.Butthatwasnothing,providedheknewhisbusiness.Hescarcelyspoke,andcertainlyhedidnotwastehisbreathinuselesswords.

           "Isheagoodworkman?"saidJohnManglestothequartermaster.

           "Iknownomoreabouthimthanyoudo,captain,"saidAyrton."Butweshallsee."

           Theblacksmithsettowork.Evidentlythatwashistrade,astheycouldplainlyseefromthewayhesetaboutrepairingtheforepartofthewagon.Heworkedskilfullyandwithuncommonenergy.TheMajorobservedthatthefleshofhiswristswasdeeplyfurrowed,showingaringofextravasatedblood.