y
longer for fear of being caught."

"Then it was no one over our side of the fen," said Dick thoughtfully.
"Perhaps you are right. Well, I'm going to have a good long day in the
bog to-morrow. It's wonderfully dry now, and I mean to have a good
wander. What time shall you be ready?"

"Can't go," said Tom. "I've promised to ride with father over to the
town."

"What a pity! Well, never mind; we'll go again the next day and have a
good long day then."

"Will Mr Marston go with us?"

"No. I asked him, and he said he should be too busy at present, but he
would go in a fortnight's time. He said he should not want either of us
for a week, so we can go twice if we like."

Tom smiled as if, in spite of his many wanderings, the idea of a ramble
in the fen would be agreeable.

"Shall you fish?" he said.

"N-no, I don't think I shall. I mean to have a long wander through the
flats away west of the fir island."

"You can't," said Tom; "it's too boggy."

"Not it. Only got to pick your way. Do you think I don't know what I'm
about?"

"Better take old Solomon with you, and ride him till he sinks in, and
then you can walk along his back into a safe place."

"Then I'd better take another donkey too, and get him to lie down when I
come to another soft place."

"Ah, I would!" said Tom.

"I shall," said Dick. "Will you come?"

"Do you mean by that to say that I am a donkey?" cried Tom half angrily.

"Yes, when you talk such stupid nonsense. Just as if I couldn't get
through any bog out here in the fen. Anyone would think I was a child."

"Well, don't get lost," said Tom; "but I must go now."

The boys parted, with the promise that Tom was to come over from Grimsey
to breakfast the next morning but one, well provided with lunch; that in
the interim Dick was to arrange with Hickathrift about his punt, and
that then they were to have a thoroughly good long exploring day, right
into some of the mysterious parts of the fen, Dick's first journey being
so much scouting ready for the following day's advance.

As soon as Dick was left alone he strolled down to the wheelwright's,
having certain plans of his own to exploit.

"Well, Hicky, nearly got all right?" he said.

"Nay, nay, lad, and sha'n't be for a twelvemonth," replied the great
bluff fellow, staring at his newly-erected cottage. "Taks a deal o'
doing to get that streight. How is it you're not over at the works?"

"Not wanted for a bit. I say, H