eart.

"I have you, Frans, as one alive from the dead, and so I must talk to
you," said the colonel solemnly. "Don't answer me; don't speak a word,
Frans!--And you, boy," and he turned towards Knut, "keep quiet. No
excuses; no explanations from either of you!--I want to say to you,
Frans, what I should have longed to say to you if you had sunk in that
deep water. I have not watched over you as I should, my boy. I take
my share in the blame of what you have done. I have been too wrapped
up in my own sorrows, my own ill-health, and my own melancholy
reflections, to be to you what I ought to have been. I find I love you
most intensely, and your loss would have been a terrible blow to me.
Your bright face gone for ever from the home would have made it dreary
indeed. You have caused me great sorrow by running away, and have, I
fear, been guilty of that for which the law must punish you."

[Illustration: Frans admonished.]

Frans stirred as if about to speak.

"Silence!" said his father sternly. "The missing bank-notes were some
of them found in your coat pocket. You had no such money when you left
home; you will be called on to account for its being there."

Frans stared speechlessly at his father, and then looked at his
companion.

"He's been free with money since we were out," said Knut; "but I
supposed such high-fliers had always no end of cash on hand, and never
suspected anything more than the boys' frolic we started out for when
we found it had gone contrary for us at school."

"Papa!" began Frans eagerly.

At the moment an officer came in to say, "There is an old man
outside--old Pelle everybody calls him--who says he _must_ see the
boys; that it is most important for them." The magistrate and Pelle
and several other solemn-looking individuals entered the room.

Pelle looked first at Frans and then at his companion. The strange
gleam came again into his eyes as he bowed to all present and asked to
be allowed to tell his story. Permission to speak was authoritatively
given him, and he began,--

"About four hours ago I was standing by the bay, up at Trolleudden,
when I saw that young fellow," pointing at Knut, "come up to a chap who
had a sail-boat there to let to the summer villa people. The boy
wanted a boat for a trip down the bay. He was willing to pay
handsomely, he said, and he did, with a bank-note, though he didn't
look as if he were much used to handling that sort of thing. I somehow