d. I'll see Winter after chapel about you, and if it's all square
we'll start directly after breakfast."

Dick went into raptures over the making of those sandwiches. Fishing
was one of his great weaknesses, and a day of it, in such lovely weather
as this, and in such distinguished company, was a treat out of the
ordinary. The one drawback was that neither Heathcote nor Coote was in
it. That, however, could not be helped; and he decided that, under the
circumstances, it would be kindest not to tell them about it or raise
their regrets.

After chapel he made straight for Cresswell's study and waited with some
anxiety the result of his senior's application to the Head Master.

In due time Cresswell returned.

"All serene," said he. "He didn't much fancy it, I think; but I
undertook to be responsible for you."

It occurred to Dick that he didn't see why he couldn't be responsible
for himself; but he was too anxious not to mar the expedition, to raise
any protest on behalf of his own independence.

"Take this can," said Cresswell, "and go down as quick as you can to
Green's, next door to the 'Dolphin,' and tell him to fill it with worms
for me, and bring them down to the beach. We're going to have Tug's
boat, and we'll be there in half-an-hour, so look alive."

Dick, rather thankful to be able to get off unobserved, hurried off on
his savoury errand. He had scarcely once gone down town since the
affair of Tom White's boat, and certainly not since the alarming
paragraphs in the _Observer_ had taken to appearing. But he comforted
himself with the reflection that Tom was at present on the high seas,
and that no one else appeared to have any suspicion which would connect
him (Dick) with the mysterious lad who had been seen on the Strand on
the eventful night last June.

For all that, he dawdled not a moment longer than he could help. Green
had the worms ready.

"So you're going for a day's sport, are you?" said he. "It's a good
day, too, and the whiting ought to be plentiful off the rock."

"I hope they will," said Dick.

"They've been let alone the last week or two," said the bait merchant,
"since our chaps have been out in the deep, so you've a fair chance."

"When will the boats be back?" asked Dick, rather nervously.

"We should have seen some of them this morning, but the wind's dropped.
Maybe it will be afternoon before they come in."

"It's always a great day when they come in, isn't it?" asked