other. Captain's quarters, and the barracks.

My father's house was the Captain's quarters, where I lived with my
mother and sister. The next door, where my uncles were, they called the
barracks, where they had their bedrooms and sitting-room; but they took
all their meals at our table.

As I said before things had gone on very happily till I was sixteen--a
big sturdy ugly boy.

Uncle Dick said I was the ugliest boy he knew.

Uncle Jack said I was the most stupid.

Uncle Bob said I was the most ignorant.

But we were the best of friends all the same.

And now after a great deal of discussion with my father, and several
visits, my three uncles were seated at the table, and I had asked them
about Arrowfield, and you have read their answers.

I attacked them again.

"Oh, I say," I cried, "don't talk to a fellow as if he were a little
boy! Come, Uncle Dick, what sort of a place is Arrowfield?"

"Land of fire."

"Oh!" I cried. "Is it, Uncle Jack?"

"Land of smoke."

"Land of fire and smoke!" I cried excitedly. "Uncle Bob, are they
making fun of me?"

"Land of noise, and gloom, and fog," said Uncle Bob. "A horrible place
in a hole."

"And are we going there?"

"Don't know," said Uncle Bob. "Wait and see."

They went on with their drawings and calculations, and I sat by the fire
in the barrack room, that is, in their sitting-room, trying to read, but
with my head in a whirl of excitement about Arrowfield, when my father
came in, laid his hand on my head, and turned to my uncles.

"Well, boys," he said, "how do you bring it in? What's to be done?"

"Sit down, and let's settle it, Alick," said Uncle Dick, leaning back
and spreading his big beard all over his chest.

"Ah, do!" cried Uncle Jack, rubbing his curly head.

"Once and for all," said Uncle Bob, drawing his chair forward, stooping
down, taking up his left leg and holding it across his right knee.

My father drew forward an easy-chair, looking very serious, and resting
his hand on the back before sitting down, he said without looking at me:

"Go to your mother and sister, Jacob."

I rose quickly, but with my forehead wrinkling all over, and I turned a
pitiful look on my three uncles.

"What are you going to send him away for?" said Uncle Dick.

"Because this is not boys' business."

"Oh, nonsense!" said Uncle Jack. "He'll be as interested in it as we
are."

"Yes, let him stop and hear," said Uncle Bob.

"Very good. I'm ag