repeated the other, as Mr Rawlings paused for a
moment in his recital; "a fine silken string round his neck?"

"Yes; and on drawing out the end of it I found a small parchment parcel,
carefully sealed up with red sealing-wax, and an official kind of stamp
over it which had been before concealed in an inside pocket cunningly
secreted in the waist-part of the boy's flannel shirt."

"And this parcel contained?" said the young engineer with breathless
attention.

"Ah! that's what I just don't know," said Mr Rawlings with provoking
coolness.

STORY ONE, CHAPTER TEN.

A CONUNDRUM.

Ernest Wilton felt almost inclined to be vexed at first, thinking that
the speaker had deliberately led him on with the intention, finally, of
"selling" him, or perpetrating an April fool trick at his expense, it
just being about that time of year. But after one steadfast glance at
Mr Rawlings' unmoved face, which bore an expression of honest sincerity
that could not be doubted, he laughed off his annoyance, for he could
perceive that his companion was perfectly guiltless of any attempt at a
joke, and had said what he did in serious confidence.

"Did you not open the packet?" said he, when he had stifled his
laughter, which increased all the more from Mr Rawlings'
unconsciousness of having done or said anything to provoke it.

"No, I didn't do it at the time, thinking it might be some little
keepsake or love-token which the boy would not have liked any prying
eyes to look into if he were in the full possession of his faculties;
and afterwards, when I wanted to, thinking that it might disclose his
identity, Seth wouldn't allow it."

"Hullo!" said that worthy, coming up at the moment, with Sailor Bill in
close attendance behind him as usual, "what are you two chaps a
conspiring about? I guess," he continued, with the broad smile that
seemed to illumine the whole of his rugged countenance and give it such
a pleasant, cheery look, "you're up to some mischief about me, hey? I
kalkerlate I heard my name kinder mentioned."

"We were talking about the boy, Seth," said Mr Rawlings, smiling too.

"Speakin' 'bout my b'y, wer' yer?" said he, turning half round as he
spoke, to pat Sailor Bill's head kindly. "Poor feller! yer might ha'
sunthin' a sight worse ter talk about, I reckon! He's a chap as can't
do harm to none whatsomdever, if he can't do 'em no good, as he once did
to me, I guess."

"You can't forget that, Seth?" said Mr Rawlin