Rather! Look out, he's got his string taut."

Scarcely had Hal finished when Reg's chair collapsed, and he fell on the
broad of his back. Hal jumped up as if startled, and a violent peal of
laughter burst out in all directions, but still Reg lay motionless. Hal
went to his assistance, and in a scared voice, called out for the
doctor. That gentleman happened to be close at hand, and soon a crowd
gathered round.

"My back; it's broken," moaned Reg; and a litter was improvised, and he
was carried to the surgery.

"Poor fellow!--How could you do it?--What a shame!--He'll die"--and
similar expressions were hurled at the bishop's son, who became
seriously alarmed.

When they reached the surgery, the doctor ordered all to leave, except
Hal, and began to examine the wounded man.

"Stop," said Reg, pulling himself up. "It's all a joke. Keep it up,
doctor."

The doctor was amazed at first, but expressed himself as quite agreeable
to join in the plot. Hal left the cabin with a serious face, and met all
the anxious enquirers at the door with one stern remark:

"He's dying. I'm going for the Captain."

Mr. Wilson-Mainwaring became seriously alarmed, turned pale, wrung his
hands in despair, and gave vent to disjointed appeals and ejaculations.
"It was only a joke. Oh! you know it was only a joke. Oh, my poor
father! Why did I come? What shall I do?" until they were afraid he
would throw himself overboard.

Hal, who had been enjoying his dilemma, now thought the joke had gone
far enough, and opening the surgery door, pulled out Reg, smoking his
pipe, and looking as if nothing had happened.

The laugh was now turned against Mr. Hugh St. John Wilson-Mainwaring,
who disappeared below, and did not venture on deck for several days.

No one after this attempted to interfere with the two friends' mode of
passing their time, and they were left undisturbed, and remained
engrossed in each other's society. After an eventful voyage the ship
arrived in due time at Adelaide.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADELAIDE.

"That's Largs Bay over there," said the officer on duty to the small
group of passengers collected on deck to watch the approach of the
vessel to her anchorage at Adelaide.

To none did the news come with greater pleasure than to Reg and Hal, who
were impatient to get on to Wyck's track without delay. Reg had improved
in spirits considerably since he had taken Hal into his confidence, but
he remained as determined as ever t