CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
AFTER NATURE'S REMEDY.
Nic opened his eyes slowly, to gaze at a bright patch shining upon the floor, and he lay for some minutes gazing at it, thinking it very beautiful.
He knew it was the moon shining through flowers--a soft, mellow moonlight which came through a small window.
Then the full rush of thought came, and he started up.
"Awake, dear ?" "Mother!" cried Nic.

"Why, have I been to sleep ?" "Yes, my darling, a long time." "And the tea--dinner ?" "It's quite ready, my dear." "But--but what time is it ?" "The clock has just struck one, my boy." "Oh, what a shame!" "No, my dear; it was nature's great need." "But I slept like that! What news of father ?" "None, my love," said Mrs Braydon, with a piteous tremor in her voice.
"I ought to have gone," cried the boy angrily.
_Bang_! _crash_! like blows on the wooden sides of the house.
"What's that ?" cried Nic, starting to his feet.
"Hi! missus!" came in a harsh voice.

"Here they are.

What did I say ?" "Come ?" cried Mrs Braydon wildly.
"Ay, missus.

Our black's just run in to where I was watching beyond the gully.