"Oh, it's too cruel! what savage has done this!" As he held down the light the boys hardly realised what had happened.
All they could make out was that the light gleamed horribly on the horses' hind-legs, and Dick exclaimed: "Why, they must have been kicking, father, terribly!" "Kicking, my boy!" groaned the squire.

"I wish they had kicked the monster to death who has done this." "Done this! Has anybody done this ?" faltered Dick, while Tom turned quite white.
"Yes; don't you understand ?" "No, father," cried Dick, looking at him vacantly.
"The poor beasts have been houghed--hamstrung by some cruel wretch.
Here, quick!" He hurried across to the lodge where a favourite cow and the bull were tethered, and as he saw that these poor beasts had been treated in the same barbarous way-- "Did you hear or see anyone, Dick ?" he cried, turning sharply on his son.
"No, father.

I was asleep till Tom woke me, and told me that the beasts were uneasy." "It is too cruel, too cruel," groaned the squire huskily.

"What is to happen next?
Here, go and call up the men.

You, Tom Tallington, go and rouse up Hickathrift.