s foggy, and that helped him, of
course. Then there is otter-hunting in some of the rivers," went on
Dennis, tiring of the subject of the convicts. "Oh, it's an awfully fine
place! There are wild cattle on the moor too, and they are no end of
excitement; they go for you like anything if you rile them. You _are_ in
luck's way, old chap. I wish I was going too, instead of to some silly
place in Norway where there's nothing to do when you get there but walk.
I hate being shut up in a stuffy steamer too. I'm ill all the time--so
are most of the people--and I don't see where the fun comes in.
But my people are set on it, so I suppose I've got to go. I don't want
to, a bit."

"Don't you!" said Paul sarcastically, all his old disappointment
returning. "I wish we could change places then. I think Dartmoor is
awfully tame compared with Norway."

And then a hot discussion followed, each boy sticking up, of course, for
his own favourite place.

But when, three weeks later, Paul travelled homewards, his disappointment
was quite forgotten, and he was in the best of spirits, for it is beyond
the power of any ordinary boy to feel morose and sulky the day his school
breaks up and he goes home for his summer holiday; and when the family
joined him at Slewbury station,--all except his father, who was to follow
later,--and they journeyed on together, he was the life of the whole merry
party.

"Mother," he exclaimed with sudden recollection, after the home news had
been listened to and school news told, "what is the name of the place we
are going to? Shall we be near the convict prison?"

"Oh, I hope not," cried Stella, her pretty blue eyes becoming round with
dismay, "I should hate to be near convicts, I should be afraid of them.
Supposing any of them run away, and come to Moor Farm, whatever shall we
do?"

"We are not any very great distance from the prison, I am afraid,"
Mrs. Anketell answered, "though it is further than either of us could
walk. But you know, dear, the poor creatures are well guarded and we
shall be well guarded; and I want you to feel nothing but pity for them,
my Stella. You must be a brave little woman. Many of the poor creatures
there are quiet and harmless, and would not hurt a little child."

"_I_ am jolly glad we are so near," said Paul delightedly; and he talked
so much about it that Stella soon began to share his excitement, and lose
much of her nervousness, while Michael sat very still and