meal down here," said Chris wistfully.

"He shall be looked after," said the doctor, "and I don't want you to do
much climbing about yet. You must rest."

Chris was silent, and took an opportunity to have a word or two with Ned
before he started to climb up the narrow ways.

"That was very good of you, old chap," whispered Ned, gripping his
comrade by the left arm, with the result that Chris groaned and ground
his teeth.

"Oh, you brute!" he said sharply.

"Chris!--I am sorry."

"What's the good of being sorry? That's the sorest place I've got."

"I didn't know, old chap."

"I did; and I do now," replied Chris, rubbing the spot softly. "Never
mind."

"But I do mind. I ought to have thought. Just too when you'd offered
to do my work for me so that I could stop down to breakfast."

"Don't say any more about it," said Chris, with a grin of pain in his
face dying out before a rather malicious smile. "They won't let me help
you one way, so I will in another. I'm precious hungry, and I won't let
your breakfast grow cold."

"Oh, thank you, old chap. That's very good of you, for I'm precious
hungry too."

"I thought you were," continued Chris, looking quite solemn now. "I'll
eat your lot for you."

For a few moments Ned's face was a study. It was so full of dismay.
Then there was a look of doubt, and directly after he had read the
truth.

"Get out!" he cried, and his hand was raised to give his comrade a heavy
slap on the back; but Chris cried "Murder!" and shrank away.

"Oh, I forgot again," cried Ned hurriedly.

"You'd better be off up now, my boy," said Bourne. "Don't forget the
glass."

"No, father. All right," cried the boy, and exchanging glances with
Chris and following up his own with a clench of the fist, he took the
binocular and hurried up to the lookout, while the rest applied
themselves to the needed meal, but half-expecting to be alarmed, and
impressed always by the expectation of attack, every one's weapons being
kept ready to hand.

Chris ate, as his father said laughingly, like an impostor, a remark
which Griggs, who did not join them till the meal had been going on for
some minutes, readily endorsed.

Chris laughed, and the remarks did not spoil his appetite; but his
thoughts were busy all through, and he looked anxiously for the
termination of the meal, and when all was over he turned uneasily to
Griggs.

"I say," he whispered, "oughtn't some one to go and relieve Ned?"