ance.'

'It is a great pity to quarrel with him,' said Marjorie, though she knew
the remark was not a wise one under the circumstances. 'He is an old
man, he's seen heaps of trouble, and he's soured. That is what Aunt
Betty says. I think it would be nicer--- more like what one would call
_noblesse oblige_--if we let him alone.'

'There's Father!' cried Georgie with a shout. 'We can ask him.'

(_Continued on page 50._)

[Illustration: "'It would have slammed if I hadn't thrown in the bit of
wood.'"]

[Illustration: "Alan intended to make the newts run races."]

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 47._)

Colonel De Bohun, strolling along smoking his cigar, was at once beset
by the whole party. He was good-natured and kind-hearted; the children
were seldom afraid to take him into their councils. His appearance was
always hailed with delight, and confidences and requests of all kinds
were poured into his ears. In the holidays especially he was a willing
victim, and could be counted on to grant all but the most impossible
demands.

'What are you young monkeys plotting now?' he exclaimed as they ran up
to him.

'Oh, Father!' cried Marjorie, laughing, 'you can't say we are not
reasonable. I heard Mademoiselle telling Miss Leigh so. It was one day
when she was out of temper, and we didn't deserve it.'

'Never mind Miss Leigh,' broke in Georgie. 'I hate her name out of the
schoolroom.'

'Sh--sh!' said his father. 'I can't allow that. Miss Leigh is to be
pitied for having you _in_ the schoolroom.'

'Tell us about the ruined summer-house, Dad,' went on Georgie, eagerly.
'The door was open just now, and we all peeped in. Oh, wasn't Peet
angry.'

'Hullo!' remarked the Colonel. 'Whose fault was that?'

'We found it open upon our return from boating,' Marjorie hastened to
say.

'I don't like that. It shows great carelessness on the part of somebody.
I hope none of you went inside?'

'It wasn't for want of the wish to,' replied Alan; 'but the door nearly
banged on the top of us, so we had to scuttle as fast as we could. Peet
was very rude about it. It was not our fault that the door was open, but
we have every right to go in if it is.'

'No right at all,' answered the Colonel, somewhat sternly. 'The place
belongs to the Moat property, and it is Aunt Betty's desire, as well as
mine, that none of you children should go in. The building is very old,
and every year its condition becomes