An idea crossed his brain that they might be going to accuse him of putting Rachel into the pond, and he began to cry.

With a good deal of trouble on Mr.Verner's part, owing to the young gentleman's timidity, and some circumlocution on his own, the facts, so far as Dan was cognisant of them, were drawn forth.

It appeared that after he had emerged from the field when he made that slight diversion in pursuit of the running animal, he continued his road, and had gained the lonely part near where the pond was situated, when young Broom, the son of Mr.Verner's gamekeeper, ran up and asked him what was the matter, and whether anybody was in the pond.

Broom did not wait for an answer, but went on to the pond, and Dan Duff followed him.

Sure enough, Rachel Frost was in it.