ad come to a footing strangely fraternal, set there by a
common despair of satisfying the strict code of Lois.

Again Christian shook his head. Giles reached up a kindly hand to his
shoulder.

'What's amiss, boy? It's new for you to show a cross grain. A poor spirit
it is that can't take blame that is due.'

Christian laughed, angry and sore.

'O Dad!' he said, 'I must blame myself most of all. Have your say. Give
me a taste of the sort of stuff I may have to swallow. But ask nothing.'

Giles rubbed his grey locks in perplexity, and stared at the perverse
boy.

'It can't be a venture--no,' he thought aloud. 'Nor none hinted that.

'Well, then; you've been and taken her between the Tortoises, and bungled
in the narrows.'

Christian opened his mouth to shout derision at the charge, gasped, and
kept silence.

'There's one pretty guess to go abroad. Here's another: You've gone for
the Land's End, sheared within the Sinister buoys, and got right payment.
That you can't let pass.'

'Why not that?' Christian said, hoping his countenance showed no guilt.

'Trouble will come if you don't turn that off.'

'Trouble! Let them prate at will.'

'Well,' complained Giles, 'I won't say I am past work, but I will own
that for a while gone I had counted on the near days when I might lie by
for a bit.'

'But, Dad, that's so, all agreed, so soon as I should have earned a boat
of my own, you should have earned holiday for good.'

'Then, you fool, speak clear, and fend off word of the Sinister buoys, or
not a soul but me will you get aboard for love or money.'

Eager pride wanted to speak. Giles would not let it.

'You think a mere breath would drive none so far. Ay, but you are not one
of us, and that can't be forgot with your outlandish hair and eyes. Then
your strength outdoes every man's; then you came by the sea, whence none
know, speaking an unknown tongue; and then----' Giles paused.

The heart of the alien swelled and shrank. He said very low: 'So I have
no friends!'

'Well,' Giles admitted, 'you would be better liked but for a way you have
sometimes of holding your head and shutting your mouth.'

He mimicked till Christian went red.

'Do I so? Well,' he said, with a vexed laugh, 'here's a penance ready
against conceit. The Tortoises! I indeed! and I must go humble and dumb.'

'Such tomfoolery!' cried Giles, exasperated. 'And why? why? There's
something behind; you've let out as much. I don't ask--there, kee