llecting
birds' eggs. There's a boy here who has got
250 of them. I mean to find a sea gull's nest,
and then he'll swap twenty of his with me for
one gull's, because he has never got one yet.
There is a boy called 'Simple Simon,' he
thinks I am a wonder because I let him run
pins into my cork leg and never cry out. He
does not know it's a sham leg and I shan't tell
him. We should like another hamper very
soon, please. Cook's gingerbread was A1.
Give my love to granny, and tell her I take my
tonic when I go to bed every night. Give my
love to nurse. Tell old Principle Mr. Hawthorn
would like to know such a clever man
and see his cave. Send me Rob's letter
directly it comes, please. We do drill in the
gymnasium.

"Your loving nephew

"FITZ ROY BERTRAM."

DEAR AUNT JUDY:

"This is an awfully jolly school. I'd
like you to be one of the boys. We are going
to have a paper chase next Thursday, and I bet
I'll lick some of the chaps at running. Roy
and I sleep in the next beds to each other. I
look after him when he will let me, he is top
of his class and Tom Hunter says he is a plucky
chap. Hunter is captain of the eleven. We
go to bathe every morning down by the sea,
and Hunter says his father is going to give
him a boat of his own in the summer. There
is a jolly tuck shop in the town. We can go
to it every Saturday. There is a boy here
called 'Fishy,' he wants to be my chum but I
like one called 'Cheshire Cat' better, but I
have no chum but Roy. Old Hawthorn only
canes for lies. A boy got caned last night,
and blubbered like a baby before he went in.
I send my love to granny, and all of you. Roy
expects Rob's letter every day.

"Your loving nephew

"DUDLEY.

"P.S. Hunter says our cake has made his
mouth water for the next."

XVII

ROY'S BIG OPPORTUNITY

"Roy, Mrs. Hawthorn wants you. She has got some letters for you."

Dudley came up excitedly to Roy, directly after dinner was over one
Saturday afternoon.

"And I say," he continued; "bring them out and let us go down to the
beach to read them together. The tide will be out till the evening."

Roy hastened off, and wondered at Mrs. Hawthorn's grave look.

"Your aunt has sent me some letters to give you, Roy. She has only just
received them herself. They are about your friend in India."

"From Rob?" said Roy