you mean? You said you did not put the advertisement
in; so it must be a hoax."

"I will explain it," said his son in a subdued voice. "The other day,
young Saunders, Gregson, and myself were discussing which of us was the
best shot, and best at a race and a jump. `Well,' said I, `we can
easily put it to the test. Let us meet to-morrow on Marley Heath and
have it out.' So we brought our guns with us next day; and Saunders and
Gregson brought a few other fellows with them to look on and see all
fair. We three fired at a mark, and leapt over a rod hung across two
poles, and tried who was best runner over a hundred yards; and I won the
day in all three things. So, as we were sitting down in the little
roadside inn, where we all had some eggs and bacon and bread and cheese
together for lunch, Gregson said to the other fellows, `Why, our friend
Walter here might challenge the whole county.' `That he might; and win
too,' said more than one of them. `I don't know,' I said; `but I
shouldn't mind offering a sovereign to any working-man in the
neighbourhood who would beat me.' `Good,' said Saunders; `there's many
a working-man that would like to have a try for your sovereign; and it
would be capital fun to see the match come off.' `What do you say to
putting an advertisement in the county paper to that effect?' said
Gregson. `Not I,' I said; `I shall do nothing of the sort.' `Ah, he's
backing out,' said Saunders. `Indeed, I'm not,' I cried; `I meant what
I said.' `Well, will you let me put the advertisement in in your name?
Don't be modest, man; you're sure to win,' said Gregson. `You can do so
if you like,' I replied; `I have no intention to go back from my word.'
I said this half in joke and half in earnest, and no doubt we were all a
little excited with the sport and with the lunch; but I never dreamed
that Gregson was serious when he talked about putting in the
advertisement in my name, and I shall not soon forgive him for getting
me into such a fix. So, father, that's just all about it."

Mr Huntingdon listened to this explanation with much surprise and
vexation, and then was silent.

"And what do you mean to do about it, Walter?" asked his aunt. "You
surely won't let the matter go on."

"I don't see how I can help it," was her nephew's reply; "the challenge
has been publicly given in my name."

"It can't be--it mustn't be," exclaimed his father angrily; "it's
perfectly preposterous. We shall be the