. The missionaries and my friends don't cotton to one
another."

"But they are such good men!"

"That may be. Still, as I say, we don't somehow cotton. I'd like to set
my eyes upon your tutor."

"Well, you will. I think I see him on the beach now. I expect he has
been wondering what has become of me. I've never been out so long
before."

"Well, you're close home now, and as safe as eggs in a basket."

Another minute brought us into as shallow water as I cared to go.
Accordingly, heaving to, I brought the dinghy alongside, and we got into
her. Then casting off, I pulled my lord ashore. A small, clean-shaven,
parsonish-looking man, with the regulation white choker, stood by the
water waiting for us. As I beached the boat he came forward and said:

"My lord, we have been very anxious about you. We feared you had met
with an accident."

"I have been very nearly drowned, Mr. Baxter. Had it not been for this
gentleman's prompt assistance I should never have reached home again."

"You should really be more careful, my lord. I have warned you before.
Your father has been nearly beside himself with anxiety about you!"

"Eh?" said I to myself. "Somehow this does not sound quite right.
Anyhow, Mr. Baxter, I've seen your figure-head somewhere before--but you
were not a missionary then, I'll take my affidavit."

Turning to me, my young lord held out his hand.

"You have never told me your name," he said almost reproachfully.

"Dick Hatteras," I answered, "and very much at your service."

"Mr. Hatteras, I shall never forget what you have done for me. That I am
most grateful to you I hope you will believe. I know that I owe you my
life."

Here the tutor's voice chipped in again, as I thought, rather
impatiently. "Come, come, my lord. This delay will not do. Your father
will be growing still more nervous about you. We must be getting home!"

Then they went off up the cliff path together, and I returned to my
boat.

"Mr. Baxter," I said to myself again as I pulled off to the yacht, "I
want to know where I've seen your face before. I've taken a sudden
dislike to you. I don't trust you; and if your employer's the man they
say he is, well, he won't either."

Then, having brought the dinghy alongside, I made the painter fast,
clambered aboard, and we stood out of the bay once more.

CHAPTER V

MYSTERY

The following morning I was sitting in my room at the hotel idly
scanning the _Standard_, and wondering in