that if ever that money came and you went on that
expedition, you'd play fair."

"What do you mean, sir, by your playing fair?"

"You said, uncle," cried the boy, sawing the collar he held to and fro,
"that I should be very useful to you, and could help you no end over the
netting and dredging and bottling specimens, and that you'd take me with
you."

"Ah," cried Uncle Paul, "that was when you were a nice, good, obedient
boy, and hadn't learnt to say sharp impertinent things, and didn't go
about setting free escaped prisoners and getting your uncle robbed."

"Gammon, uncle! I see through you, and--I say, what does that sergeant
want?" For there was the tramp of heavy feet, and the non-commissioned
officer who had been at the head of the squad of men they had met,
marched past the cottage window.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

HE SAYS.

"Eh? What?" exclaimed Uncle Paul excitedly.

"You don't mean that he is coming here?"

"He is, uncle," replied the boy nervously, and his colour began to go
and come.

"Tut, tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Uncle Paul. "This looks serious, my
boy. Well, I don't know. Perhaps he's only heard of the visit that has
been paid here."

"I beg pardon, sir; here is Mr Windell, one of the sergeants of the
prison guard. Could he see you for a few minutes?"

"Well, I'm rather--Yes, yes, show him in, Mrs Champernowne. Rodney, my
boy, you sit still and hold your tongue. I don't know what this man
wants; but you leave it to me."

Rodd nodded his head, and fancied that he felt relieved, but he did not,
for his heart was beating faster than usual, and he was suffering from a
strange kind of emotion.

"Good-morning, gentlemen," said the sergeant, saluting stiffly as he was
shown in.

"Good-morning," said Uncle Paul stiffly. "Do you wish to see me?"

"Yes, sir; only about a little matter upon the moor yesterday. After we
left you I did not feel satisfied about those prisoners."

"Indeed?" said Uncle Paul coldly.

"No, sir. The governor yonder likes to have things thoroughly done, so
about three hours afterwards I went over the ground again."

"Yes," said Uncle Paul, without taking his eyes from the sergeant's
face.

"And there I found out something else."

Uncle Paul was silent, and Rodd's heart went on now in a steady
_thump_--_thump_--_thump_--_thump_.

"Thought I'd come on, sir," said the sergeant, turning back to the door,
going outside, and returning with Rodd's creel, which