o money at all in my pocket. I have indeed once or
twice almost been tempted to sell even the jewel which the Princess gave
me. Now fortunately that will never be necessary."

"What part of Burnham Beeches do you wish me to drive to, sir?" asked
the coachman at this moment; "we're just coming to the village."

"Oh, you'd better put the horses up at the stables, and get a man to
help you with the hampers, and we'll walk on to the wood. You know where
I generally have luncheon."

"Very well, sir!" said the man, touching his hat with his whip and
stopping at the old-fashioned inn in the village.

We were all very glad to stretch our legs after the long ride, and
having had some lemonade and fruit at a little shop in the High Street,
we quite enjoyed the walk up to the wood.

Here under the trees in a beautiful spot we sat down to wait for the men
with the hampers.

After waiting for some time with growing impatience, our coachman turned
up with a rueful face.

"There ain't no hamper, sir," he said.

"What?" I exclaimed. "No hamper! What do you mean?"

"There ain't no hamper in the trap, sir. I didn't have it up in front,
so I thought you had it in with you. Do you think it's fallen out, sir?"

"By Jove, sir!" cried Lionel suddenly, "it's my fault. You told me to
see that the man put the hampers on in front, and I clean forgot all
about it."

If it hadn't been such a serious matter it would have been highly
amusing to watch the blank dismay depicted on every face on hearing this
disastrous news.

"What on earth are we to do?" exclaimed Dick, with almost tragic
concern.

"There's only one thing to be done, I suppose," said I resignedly, after
sending the man away; "we shall have to return to the village and have
our luncheon at the inn."

"It won't be a picnic at all then," pouted Lady Betty ruefully.

Shin Shira was the only one who did not seem distressed about the
matter. He had seated himself cross-legged on the ground under one of
the old Beeches, and was slowly turning over the leaves of the little
yellow book fastened to his belt with a golden chain, which he always
wore.

"I think I can be of some assistance to you here," said he, getting up
after a time and coming towards me. "Has anybody some paper and a
pencil?"

[Illustration]

This seemed a strange request at such a moment, but between us we
managed to find what he asked for.

The Dwarf suddenly tore the paper into seven parts, handing