entlemen were going up
the country, something seemed to say to me, try 'em, mate; it can't do
no harm. And when I see you two young gents I tried to speak, but
somehow I couldn't, and now I have--well, I have asked you, and you
can't, and I might have made sure of it before."

"But you see--" began Dean.

"Yes, sir, I understand," said the man. "Thank you all the same, and
good luck to you both."

He turned quickly and walked feebly away, the two boys watching him,
both feeling that they must call him back; but somehow no words came.

"Oh, Dean," cried Mark, at last, "how I do hate this place! Just as if
it wasn't miserable and disappointing enough before! If that poor
fellow were not so bad I feel as if I should like to kick him for coming
and telling us about how ill he had been. Just as if it was our fault!
It is enough to make one turn ill oneself. Here, let's go in out of
this broiling heat or you will be going and catching sunstroke just out
of spite."

"Likely!" said Dean bitterly.

"Now, don't you turn disagreeable. I know what you are thinking."

"What?" cried Dean, in surprise.

"You are thinking that I might ask father to go to the expense of taking
that poor fellow up the country. Why, he'd think I was mad."

"I'd take him if I had got the money," said Dean.

"So would I if I had got the money," retorted Mark, "but I haven't. Oh,
there are our two chaps again," cried the boy eagerly, as if glad to get
away from the unpleasant subject. "They can see us, and are coming."

The two gamekeepers came strolling up, and Dance saluted them with,
"Nice day, gentlemen! Pity we arn't got some of it at home. Shouldn't
want no coke for the old vinery."

"No," said Mark shortly. "Well, what do you think of an African port?"

"Don't think nothing on it, sir. Do you, mate?"

"Think it's a fine place to get away from," replied his companion
grinning uncomfortably. "Say, Mr Mark, don't you wish you was at
home?"

"Oh, don't talk nonsense!" cried Mark angrily. "What's the use of
saying things like that? We wanted to come, and we have come."

"But we are not going to stop here long, are we, Mr Mark, sir?"

"No, not long. Certainly not a week."

"That's a comfort, sir, because Peter Dance and me have been thinking
that we should like to go and ask the gov'nor if he would send us back."

"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourselves!" snapped out Dean, upon
whom the scorching sun seemed to ha