self knew very little of what happened until he found
himself back on the grass with Helen's arms round his neck.

"I thought you couldn't climb," said Jack, a minute later.

"It's possible to do most things when it comes to a case like that,"
answered the other quietly. "Besides, I remembered not to look down."

That sort of answer didn't suit Fenleigh J.; he caught hold of the
speaker, and smacked him on the back.

"Look here, Valentine, the truth is you're a jolly fine fellow, and I
never knew it until this moment."

The party strolled on across the field.

"It's precious hot still," said Raymond; "let's go and sit under that
hayrick and rest."

"We mustn't stay very long," Helen remarked as they seated themselves
with their backs against the rick. "We want to be home in time for
supper."

"We can stay long enough for a smoke, I suppose," said Fosberton,
producing a cigarette case. "Have one. What! don't you chaps smoke?
Well," continued the speaker patronizingly, "you're quite right; it's a
bad habit to get into. Leave it till you've left school."

"And then, when you smoke before ladies," added Helen, "ask their
permission first."

"Oh, we haven't come here to learn manners," said Raymond, with a snort.

"So it appears," returned the lady icily.

Fenleigh J., who had been smarting under that "Leave it till you've
left school," chuckled with delight, and began to think that he liked
Helen quite as much as Barbara.

At length, when Raymond had finished his cigarette, the voyagers rose
to return to the boat. Jack enlivened the descent of the cliff by
every dozen yards or so pretending to fall, and starting avalanches of
stones and earth, which were very disconcerting to those who went
before. On arriving at the shingly beach, he proposed a trial of skill
at ducks and drakes, and made flat pebbles go hopping right across the
river, until Valentine put an end to the performance by saying it was
time to embark. The girls were just stepping into the boat when Helen
gave an exclamation of surprise.

"Look!" she cried, pointing towards the top of the cliff, "where can
all that smoke be coming from?"

"It's a heap of rubbish burning in one of the fields," said Raymond.

"There's too much smoke for that," said Jack. "It may be a barn or a
house. Wait a moment; I'll run up and see. I shan't be more than five
or six minutes." He started off, jumping and scrambling up the path;
but almost immediat