taken his gun, and said that he was going along
the shore to get a shot at a gull, but it was not as yet the season for
wild fowl to visit the coast. Still I could not help fancying that old
Roger knew more about Mark's intended proceedings than he thought fit to
tell me. It struck me that perhaps the smugglers had something to do
with the matter. Had I been alone I should have offered to have
accompanied him; but he didn't ask me, and indeed seemed to wish that we
should take our departure. Telling my sisters, therefore, that it was
time to go home, we wished the family good-bye, and set out on our
return. At tea that evening my sisters mentioned the disappearance of
Mark.

"Depend upon it that boy has got into mischief of some sort," observed
Aunt Deb; "though I never saw him that I know of, I am very sure from
the remarks Dick has made that he is a wild monkey, and a very unfit
companion for a young gentleman."

I defended Mark, and asserted that it was just as likely that he had met
with some accident.

"At all events, I intend to go over to-morrow morning, and inquire what
has happened to him," I said. "I don't remember making any remarks
which would lead you Aunt Deb, to suppose that he was otherwise than a
well-conducted fellow. He seems much attached to his family, and
they're evidently very fond of him."

"Perhaps his father spoils him as other parents are apt to do," remarked
Aunt Deb, glancing at the Vicar. "The sooner you break off your
intimacy with him the better in my opinion--and now you are aware of my
sentiments."

The latter was a remark Aunt Deb usually made at the conclusion of an
argument, by which she intended it to be understood that her opinion was
not to be disputed.

Next morning, without waiting for breakfast, taking only a crust of
bread and a cup of milk, I set off, anxious to learn what had happened
to my friend Mark. On nearing the cottage I saw Mary at the door.

"Oh! Master Dick, I'm so glad you're come," she exclaimed. "Father and
mother are in a great taking. Mark has got into trouble. When he went
out yesterday evening he met Jack Quilter and Tom Bass, and they
persuaded him to go shooting where he ought not to have gone, and all
three were caught by Sir Reginald's keepers. They had a fight for it,
and Quilter and Bass knocked one of the keepers down, and would have
treated him worse if Mark had not interfered. Three other keepers
coming up, they were all carr