alter's scheme before
him; but at first he would not hear of it. "The boy must be crazy," he
said; "why, he's not fit to be out all by himself on such an errand as
this. That scoundrel of a man might be getting hold of him, and no one
knows what might happen then. It's absurd,--it's really quite out of
the question."

"Don't you think, Walter," replied his sister calmly, "that God, who has
put such a loving thought into the heart of Walter, will keep him from
harm? Would it be right to check him when he is bent on such a work?
Besides, as to the wretched and unhappy man who has caused all this
trouble, are not such characters, with all their bluster, commonly
arrant cowards when they find themselves firmly confronted?"

"Perhaps so, Kate. Well, send Walter to me."

"My boy," exclaimed the squire, when Walter made his appearance, "what
wild scheme is this? Why, surely you can't be serious?"

"Indeed I am, father. You needn't be afraid for me. It was not my own
thought,--I'm sure it was put into my mind; besides, it will be capital
fun just having to look after myself for a night or two, and a little
roughing it will do me good."

"And where do you intend to sleep and to put up, I should like to know?"
asked Mr Huntingdon, half seriously and half amused.

"Oh, I'll find a shakedown somewhere; and I'm sure to be able to get
lots of eggs and bacon and coffee, and I could live on them for a week."

"And I suppose I am to be paymaster," said his father, laughing.

"Oh no, father, not unless you like. I've a sovereign still left; I'll
make that pay all, and I must do without things till I get my next
quarter's allowance."

"Very well, my boy; but hadn't you better take Harry or Dick with you?"

"O father! take old Harry! why, I might as well take the town-crier. Oh
no, let me go alone. I know what Amos would say if it were he that was
in my place; he would say that we may trust to be taken care of while we
are in the path of duty.--May I go, then, father?"

"Well--yes," said Mr Huntingdon, but rather reluctantly; and then he
said, "But how shall I be sure that you haven't got into any trouble?
for I understand from your aunt that you make it a point of honour not
to let us know where you are going to."

"All right, father: if I don't turn up some time to-morrow afternoon,
I'll manage to send a letter by some means or other."

After luncheon Walter set out on his self-imposed expedition, on his own
pon