er--and sundries."

Thorne laughed again. "I wonder if you have forgotten the hog? You
see, Atkinson told us one night at mess, and I was inclined to fancy he
came near including you in the bag."

Alton's face was suspiciously grave, but his answer strengthened the
incipient friendship between the men.

"It is a little difficult for a stranger to distinguish things in the
bush."

Thorne nodded. "You had Deringham and Miss Deringham staying with you?"

"Yes," said Alton. "They are connections of mine, and Miss Deringham
did a good deal for me when I was sick a little while ago. You knew
them in the old country?"

There was, though he strove to suppress it, something in his voice
which caused the naval officer to glance at him sharply. "Oh, yes," he
said. "I knew them--rather well."

The men's eyes met, and both were conscious that the words might have
been amplified, while it was with a slight abruptness they returned to
the previous topic and discussed it until there was a rattle of wheels
in the drive. Then Forel, their host, came out upon the verandah, and
there was a hum of voices as several people descended from the vehicle
beneath.

Mrs. Forel came up the stairway first with Alice Deringham, and when a
blaze of light shone into the verandah from the open door Alton saw the
girl draw back for a second as her eyes rested upon his companion.
She, however, smiled next moment, and Alton did not miss the slight
flush of pleasure in the face of Commander Thorne. He was also to meet
with another astonishment, for Deringham and Seaforth came up the
stairway next together, and Thorne dropped his cigar when he and the
latter stood face to face.

"Charley! Is it you?" he said.

Seaforth stood quite still a moment looking at him, and then, being
possibly sensible that other eyes were upon him, shook hands.

"Yes," he said. "I heard the gunboat was at Esquimault, but did not
expect to see you."

Then there was a somewhat awkward silence, and Alton fancied that both
men were relieved when Mrs. Forel's voice broke in, "Jack, you will
look after the men, but don't keep them talking too long. We picked up
Mr. Seaforth, and there are one or two more of our friends coming."

Alton followed his host, wondering at what he had seen. It was evident
that Miss Deringham had not noticed him, and he fancied she had been
for a moment almost embarrassed by the encounter with Thorne. That and
what the man had told