e her goodnight with unwonted decision of manner, and went
straight to the amphibious hut of his friend Bluenose, whom he found
taking a one-eyed survey of the Downs through a telescope, from mere
force of habit.

The Captain's name was more appropriate that day than it had been for
many years. He was looking uncommonly "blue" indeed. He had just heard
of the disappearance of Bax, for the news soon spread among the men on
Deal beach. Being ignorant of the cause of his friend's sudden
departure, and knowing his deliberate, sensible nature, the whole
subject was involved in a degree of mystery which his philosophy utterly
failed to clear up. Being a bachelor, and never having been in love, or
met with any striking incidents of a tender nature in his career, it did
not occur to him that woman could be at the bottom of it!

"Uncle," said Tommy, "Bax is gone!"

"Tommy, I knows it," was the brief reply, and the telescope was shut up
with a bang, as the seaman sat down on a little chest, and stared
vacantly in the boy's face.

"Why did he do it?" asked Tommy.

"Dun' know. Who knows? S'pose he must ha' gone mad, though it don't
seem likely. If it wasn't Guy as told me I'd not believe it."

"Does Guy not know why he's gone?"

"Apperiently he does, but he says he's bound not to tell. Hope Bax
han't bin and done somethin' not 'xactly right--"

"_Bax_ do anything not exactly right!" cried Tommy, with a look and tone
of amazed indignation.

"Right, lad, you're right," said Bluenose apologetically. "I've no
doubt myself he could explain it all quite clear if he wos here for to
do so. That's my opinion; and I've no doubt either that the first
letter he sends home will make all straight an' snug, depend on it."

"Uncle," said Tommy, "_I_ am going to Australia."

Bluenose, who had just lighted his pipe, looked at the boy through the
smoke, smiled, and said, "No, Tommy, you ain't."

"Uncle," repeated Tommy, "I am. I once heard Bax say he'd rather go
there than anywhere else, if he was to go abroad; so I'm certain he has
gone there, and I'm going to seek for him."

"Wery good, my lad," said the Captain coolly; "d'ye go by steamer
to-night, or by rail to-morrow mornin'? P'raps you'd better go by
telegraph; it's quicker, I'm told."

"You think I'm jokin', Uncle, but I'm not, as you'll very soon find
out."

So saying, Tommy rose and left the hut. This was all he said on the
subject. He was a strong-minded lit