d, and given
up to science. His experiments rarely succeeded, and when they did they
almost invariably landed him in disgrace. Still he persevered and hoped
some day to make a hit.

He explained to me, as we walked down the garden, that he had lately
been taking an interest in the pond.

It was all I could do to appear only moderately interested in this
announcement. Had not I an interest in the pond too? What followed was
even more uncomfortable.

"You know Lesseps and all those chaps?" said he.

"He left before I came, I think," said I.

Dicky laughed unfeelingly.

"I mean the chap who cut the Suez Canal," said he.

"Oh! I beg your pardon," said I. "No, I don't know him."

"Well, I've been having a go in at the same kind of job," continued
Dicky. "You know what a drop there is at the end of the pond, where you
saw me yesterday, in the shrubbery? Well, it struck me it wouldn't take
much engineering to empty it."

"What!" I exclaimed, "empty the pond! You'll get in an awful row,
Dicky. Don't think of it."

"Think--it's done, I tell you," said the man of science. "That was what
I was at when you saw me."

"I thought you were digging up primroses."

"Digging up grandmothers! I was letting in a pipe to drain it. It was
a rare job to shove it in from the bottom corner of the pond through the
bank into the shrubbery. But I managed it. It was coming through like
one o'clock when I left. I expect the pond will be empty by this time."

I quailed with horror. If so, I should be discovered. I was tempted to
turn tail: but that would be even worse. The only thing was to stay and
see it through.

I confronted myself with the reflection that Dicky's experiments so
rarely succeeded, that in all probability the pistol still lay safe
under four feet of water. If not--

"Hooray!" exclaimed Dicky, as we came in sight of the place; "it's done
the trick this time. See, Tom!"

I did see. In place of the water I left there in the morning was a
large empty basin of mud, with a few large puddles of water lying at the
bottom, and a few hillocks of mud denoting the places which had once
been shallows.

My quick eye hurriedly took in the dismal landscape. For a moment my
spirits rose, for I could nowhere discern the compromising object I
dreaded to see. It was no doubt buried in the mud, and as safe as if
the pond were full to the brim.

"Isn't it ripping?" said Dicky. "It wasn't easy to do, but i