plied:

"Threepence."

"Howling cram!" observed Gosse. "I know you've more than that."

"Ah! you've been putting your hands in my pockets then?"

Whereat there was a mighty cheer, and the Den was called to order to
hear the joke, which it did with genuine merriment; and then and there
passed a resolution unanimously, requesting Mr Gosse once more to
comply with Rule 5. That young gentleman got out of it this time by
making a public apology, and in no way abashed by the incident,
proceeded to attend the treasurers during the remainder of their
business circuit. Culver stayed behind, and said to Dick:--

"Awfully well you shut him up. I say, by the way, I suppose you don't
want a knife, do you?"

"Yes, I do. Have you got one?"

"Rather! but I'd sooner have a dog's-head pin instead. I suppose you've
not got one."

Considering that Dick's dog's-head pin, the gift of his particular aunt,
was all this time within a few inches of Culver's nose, the inquiry was
decidedly artless.

"Yes, I have," said Dick, pointing to his scarf; "a jolly one, too."

"How'd you like to swop?"

"Let's see the knife," replied the business-like Dick.

Culver produced the knife. Rather a sorry weapon, as regarded its chief
blades. But it had a saw, and a gouge to remove stones from one's boot.

"It's a jolly fine knife," said Culver, seeing that it was already
making an impression; "and I'd be sorry to part with it."

Dick mused on the weapon, and lightly rubbed his chin against his aunt's
dog's-head.

"All right," said he, putting the knife into his pocket, and slowly
pulling out the pin. His conscience half smote him, as he saw his
treasure being transferred to Culver's scarf. But he was too proud to
try to revoke his bargain, and consoled himself as best he could by
fondling the knife in his pocket, and thinking how useful the gouge
would be.

Before the evening was over he made the discovery that "swopping" was a
favourite pastime of the leisure hours of the Den. He was startled at
one period of the evening to notice Heathcote's steel chain adorning the
waistcoat of Gosse, and an hour later to find it in the possession of
Raggles, who came over to Dick with it, and asked casually.

"I suppose you wouldn't care to swop a knife for this?"

Dick was proof against the temptation. He didn't want a steel chain.
But he wished Culver would be moved to transfer the dog's-head to some
one who wanted a knife. That, howev