he slowly opened
and took from within, neatly folded up, the canvas wallet. "Belong to
you gentlemen, don't they?"

"Yes," said Uncle Paul slowly; "those are ours. Well?"

Rodd's heart now seemed to stand quite still till the sergeant replied
to his uncle's query.

"That's all, sir; that's all," said the sergeant, and Rodd's heart went
on again. "You had left them behind, and I thought I'd bring them on."

"Thank you," said Uncle Paul quietly. "Very good of you, and I am much
obliged."

"Don't name it, sir. Going to have another fine day, and hope the young
gentleman here will have plenty more sport. There's a lot of trout up
there, only they are terrible small. Good-morning, gentlemen."

"Good-morning, sergeant," said Uncle Paul quietly, and Rodd's mouth
opened a little and then shut, but no sound came. "Wait a moment,
sergeant," continued Uncle Paul, thrusting his hand into his pocket and
feeling about amongst some five-and-twenty or thirty coins, all of which
felt too small, for he wanted a larger one; but feeling that, he took
hold of three together, when something made him stop short with his hand
half out of his pocket, and he thrust it back again. "Dear me," he
said, quickly now, "I really have no change."

"Oh, there's no need for that, sir," said the sergeant.

"Yes, yes," said Uncle Paul. "Rodd, my boy, have you half-a-crown in
your pocket?"

"I think so, uncle," said the boy quickly; and then his face looked
blank. "No, uncle; I haven't anything at all," he cried in dismay.

"Oh, pray don't mind, sir," said the sergeant, moving to the door.
"Good-morning, sir; good-morning. I don't want paying for a little
thing like that."

"Stop, please," said Uncle Paul hurriedly. "Rodd, my boy, go and ask
Mrs Champernowne if she'll be kind enough to lend me half-a-crown."

Rodd hurried out, feeling exceedingly hot, and with a peculiar moisture
in the palms of his hands, returning directly afterwards with the
required coin, though the unexpected demand had made their landlady open
her eyes rather widely.

"There, that's right, sergeant," said Uncle Paul, "and I am sure my
nephew is much obliged. He wouldn't have liked to lose that creel."

"Thank you, sir. Very glad I found it. Good-morning once more."

The man saluted both, giving Rodd a very peculiar look which seemed to
go through him, and then turning upon his heels, he marched out of the
room and shut the door, while Uncle Paul sank