ee side of the high mound. Dick Tresize turned
towards the green.

"You are on, old chap," he said, as his friend came up. "It's at the
corner of the green, but you should do it."

Trevanion played a good approach shot, and then Bob laid his approach
putt dead. His three was safe. If Trevanion could not hole out, there
would be but one hole between them. Trevanion did his best, but the
ball did not reach the hole by a few inches, and was not quite straight.

"The Army down to one," said the Admiral.

By this time several people had been attracted by the news of the
match, and among the new spectators was an amiable-looking gentleman
who wore large, round spectacles. He had been seemingly much impressed
by Bob's last drive, and had loudly expressed himself to that effect.

"I tell you," he said, "I haf seen Vardon, and Braid, and all ze rest
of zem play, but I neffer saw a finer shot, neffer. It vas great."

He spoke so loudly that, when they were walking to the fourteenth tee,
Trevanion, who was slightly ruffled, said:

"Excuse me, sir, but if you knew the etiquette of golf, you would know
that it is bad form to talk while people are playing."

The stranger lifted his hat, and bowed profoundly. "I apologise, sir,"
he said; "nothing was further from my mind than to interfere with your
play. I vill take much care not to offend again. I hope I did not
offend you, sir," he added, bowing to Bob.

"Not the slightest," replied Bob.

The stranger bowed again, and from that time was silent, although he
followed the party at a distance.

The next three holes were halved, and there remained but two more to
play. Bob was very quiet, Trevanion looked grim and determined, the
colour came and went on Nancy's face. It seemed to her as though Bob's
future and her own depended on the result of the next few minutes.

"One up to the Military, and two to play," cried the Admiral.

"If you halve this, you'll be dormy, Captain Trevanion," said George
Tresize, who seemed very anxious for him to win.

The Captain did not reply. Evidently he was in no mood for talk; as
for the rest of the crowd, a deadly silence rested on it.

Like nearly all the holes on the Leiant Links, the seventeenth is
blind, although it is just possible to see the top of the flag. It is
not an easy hole to play, as I know to my cost. The green is guarded
on the right by a hedge, which if you get over it, makes your case
desperate. If you g