"Yes, Edward, I believe you feel that it is. Well, Instow, he says he has been accustomed to outdoor life with his father from boyhood. His father was a gamekeeper and woodman. That he can shoot, fish, clean guns, manage nets, ride, sail boats, punt and row. Do everything, including building huts and cooking." "Don't want any cooking. I shall do that myself." "In addition, he can skin birds and beasts." "Ha!" ejaculated the doctor. "Well, if we engage a stranger, we don't know how he'll turn out, and it would be very awkward to have a man who would turn tail at the first bit of discomfort. Look here, sir, it will be a rough life." "If you only knew, doctor, how hungry I am for a bit of rough outdoor time, you'd put in a word for me," cried the man excitedly. "And suppose we get in a hot corner, and have to fight for our lives against black fellows?" There was a grim look in the man's face at once--a regular British bull-dog aspect, as he tightened his lips, and made wrinkles at the corners, as if putting his mouth in a parenthesis, and then he began to tuck up his cuffs and double his fists. "That will do, Edward," said the doctor quietly. "We know him, Meadows, for a steady, straightforward fellow, sound in wind and limb, who has never given me a job since he tried to cut his hand off with a bit of glass. What he don't know he'd soon learn; and I should say that we are not likely to get a more suitable fellow if we tried for six months." Edward's face was a study, as he glanced at Jack, and then turned to gaze imploringly at his master as if he were a judge about to utter words upon which his life depended. "That will do, Edward, you may leave the room." A look of despair came across the man's face, as in true servant fashion he turned to obey orders, and went straight to the door. "Stop," said Sir John. "That way of obeying orders has quite convinced me that you will be our man. You shall see about your outfit at once." "And go, Sir John?" faltered the man, as if he could not believe his luck. "Yes." "Hoo--" He was going to add "ray!" but he recollected himself, and went quickly and promptly out of the room. "The very fellow, Meadows," said the doctor. "Yes," said Sir John. "He'll do." "Then one knot is solved," cried the doctor. "I had come in to consult you upon that very point." "A man?" "Yes; and here he is ready-made and proved." "Not yet." "Oh," said the doctor, "I'll answer for that." CHAPTER FIVE. THE "SILVER STAR."