ker muttered, watching him as
he disappeared between the trees.

"I remarked it, too," assented Captain Runacles, who understood the
allusion at once. "I'd no notion there was such another pair of eyes
in the world."

"We'd better adopt him, Jerry," the little man went on, with a wry
and hopeless smile; "for it's little chance we have of finding the
other one." He gulped as he uttered the last three words, and
blinked at the broad sunshine behind the awning.

"The fact is, Jack, the doctor let you out too soon."

"Eh?"

"You're not fit to travel, but ought to be between the blankets at
this moment."

"Jerry, that's false, and you know it."

"Oh, do I? Then you'd best give over talking nonsense, or by the
Lord I'll take you off and put you to bed this instant! And, what's
more, I'll call in a Dutch doctor."

Captain Barker could not deny that the rest beneath the awning was
welcome. The road from Scheveningen had been hot and dusty, and his
illness had left him weaker than even his comrade imagined. They sat
sipping their beer and gazing at the crowd till the town chimes rang
out and announced half-past four. At the first note they saw their
young friend advancing from the Buitenhof.

"Here I am, you see. But I have taken a liberty, I fear, since
leaving you."

"Eh? What have you been doing?" Captain Runacles inquired.

"Why, sir, perceiving that your friend was but lately recovered from
an illness, and remembering that though the distance to the House in
the Wood is but two miles or less, the distance there and back is
almost four, I have brought him a litter. Perhaps I did wrong?"

He pointed to the litter, which two men in blue blouses were bringing
across the road.

"Not at all, sir. On the contrary, your thoughtfulness puts me to
shame," answered Captain Runacles, with something like a blush.

Captain Barker also thanked him, and added, "Decidedly, it might be
Tristram's very self"--a remark which the young officer did not
understand in the least. But he smiled happily. The mere pleasure
of doing a kindness and finding it appreciated was so strong in this
youth that he almost regretted he had not sacrificed a fortnight's
pay and hired a chariot and six horses.

Captain Barker climbed into the litter, and the party set out at a
leisurely pace, which brought them to the park gates in a little more
than half an hour. A couple of sentries kept guard here, and within
the lodge a dozen ot