The old man actually paid him the compliment of writing a letter about him later on, saying that it would be a good thing to prosecute--it would give Red Mick a good scare, even if it didn't get him into gaol.

Circumstances, no doubt, justified a prosecution, and it was hard to see bow Mick could make a counter-move.
But that gentleman was not without resource; an anonymous letter arrived for Hugh by the mailboy, a dirty, scrawled epistle, unsigned and undated, running as follows:-- "Mr.Gordon i herd you was gone to summons Michael Donohoe for sheep stealing.

You better bewar there is some seen you and that girl in the bush you will get a grate shown up and her two." This precious epistle was signed "A Friend," and on first reading it Hugh laughed heartily; but the more he thought it over the less he liked it.

It was all very well to put Red Mick in the dock, but it was evident that part of the defence would be, "How came you to be under the boughs of a fallen tree with an attractive young woman when Red Mick's dogs came up with the sheep ?" At the very least they would look ridiculous; and the unknown correspondent who promised them a "grate shown up" would probably take care that the story was as highly-coloured as possible.

He shuddered to think what the Donohoes would say, and heartily wished he had let Red Mick alone.
He fretted for some hours, and then decided to talk it over with the girl herself.