at he was getting through his business quicker
than he had expected, and he should only now wait for Miss Chase's
boat from England, because she would need an escort up country.

This cheered every one immensely. It was something to look forward
to, and the days began to go quicker and more brightly.

Then Nesta and Peter came home full of all their doings at the
Highlands, and this made a great difference to the house. Eustace
did not know he could have been so glad to see his brother and
sister; it was not till they came back that he realized how dull he
had really been without them.

The Robertsons still stayed. Nesta slept with her mother, and the
three boys were in the next room.

Nesta knew a good deal about the excitements that had been taking
place at home. It was thought useless to try and hush the matter
up. Something was bound to slip out in the course of conversation,
and so she was given the lightest possible version of the theft,
ending with an amusing account of Sinkum Fung's visit.

Of course Bob brought the children over, and to Eustace's intense
gratitude, when it came to the story of the bogus scare, and Nesta
seemed inclined to giggle, Bob said gravely, "Older people have
made worse mistakes," and then proceeded to tell the story against
himself about the tree stump and the pigs.

There was something so big and nice about Bob's nature that,
without meaning to, he always made people ashamed of being petty
and ill-natured when he was present.

"You made a good shot at the dingo, old man," he said. "It won't be
long before you are out shooting with me, at this rate."

Of course no one could laugh at Eustace after that. Bob saw nothing
funny about what he had done--Bob actually praised him--and when
Bob praised it meant something.

"I say," Nesta asked when the twins were alone together, "weren't
you most awfully scared?"

"Well, I guess I was rather," Eustace admitted; "but of course it
was silly to be. Mother thinks it was only one of the plantation
hands now, and not a black-fellow at all, you see."

"But a plantation hand might have knifed somebody," Nesta said,
with a shudder. "I hope he won't come again. I know I should scream
like anything."

"I believe it would be the worst thing you could do," Eustace said
gravely. "He would be sure to try and shut you up if you made a
row--any thief would, if he wasn't such a coward as that one. But I
wouldn't think about it if I were you, or yo