"Thank you, dear auntie," said Walter. "Yes, you have hit the right nail on the head; for our dear hero Amos has been showing just such steady, persevering moral courage. I see it all. Well, I hope I shall be the better for what you have told us." At dinner-time Walter was nowhere to be found; all that was known was that he had gone off on his pony, and had left a message behind him that he had a little bit of business in hand, and that they must not wait dinner for him if he should happen to be late. The other members of the family were not particularly surprised at his absence, knowing that he would be leaving home for the sea-side next day, and that he might have some little matter to settle with some friend in the neighbourhood. But they became a little anxious when old Harry remarked, in reply to a question from his master, that he had seen Master Walter ride off two hours ago with his rifle and fishing-rod in front of him, and that it seemed to him a little late for catching a big fish and then blazing away at him. By nine o'clock, however, Walter had returned, his pony evidently having had a sharp gallop home. "Much sport, Master Walter?" asked the butler, who was standing in the stable-yard when he rode up. "Oh, pretty good," was the reply; "just a whale or two, and some half- dozen sharks." "They must have been tremendous big 'uns, I should say," remarked the old man, "for they seem to have swallowed your rifle and your rod." "Ah, they just were," replied Walter; and then he made his way rapidly into the house. That same night, as Amos was preparing for bed, Walter looked in, and walking up to his brother, said, "Here, Amos, take this; it's my little contribution towards the general expenses,"--saying which, he put ten sovereigns into his brother's hand. "Walter, Walter! what does this mean?" cried Amos, touched and greatly agitated. "It's all straightforward and above board," replied the other; "it means simply that I've been and sold my favourite rifle and fishing-rod, and one or two other trifles, and that's the money I got for them. Nay, don't look so astonished. What! you didn't think to have a monopoly of the self-denial, did you? You see I don't quite mean to let you." Amos Huntingdon--by Reverend T.P. Wilson CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. "BY THE SAD SEA-WAVES."