Alas for his hopes! Wild animals do not usually wear clean white collars, and in this instance two snowy spots gleamed clearly and distinctly through the thick screen of fern. In another moment Robin felt his arm suddenly seized, and glanced hastily up into the face that bent above him, anxious to read his fate. It was a reassuring sight, for the blue eyes that looked down upon him were full of sparkle, and a merry smile was stealing round the corners of the mouth. "I’m afraid I’ve been trespassing," was his captor’s remark, as he held the boy with a firm but gentle grip, "and worse than trespassing--actually taking possession of a man’s house during his absence and making use of it as if it were my own." Julius had bolted like a hare at the sight of his comrade’s capture, but seeing that a friendly conference was evidently taking place, he gradually drew nearer to hear what was being said, being very careful, nevertheless, to keep well out of harm’s way. "I’m glad you used our house, sir," answered Robin, gaining confidence by the kindly tone. "I hope you found it comfortable." "Most luxurious," responded the stranger. "Indeed I must confess to having spent most of the night there. I fell asleep yesterday evening on that delicious carpet of moss, and when I at last awoke it was actually morning and broad daylight." "Were you really there all night?" exclaimed Robin delightedly, "just as if it was a proper house! I rather wish it had rained a little though." "I’m very glad it didn’t," was the reply. "I hardly think that is a charitable desire of yours!" "I only mean that it would have been so jolly to hear the rain outside, and yet to know you had such a good roof over your head that it couldn’t get through," explained Robin. "I am glad to learn that you had no worse motive than that for your wish," laughed the stranger. "Now, my little chap, can you tell me which direction I must take to get to the high-road, as I haven’t had my breakfast yet and I’m growing hungrier every moment. I don’t want to go back to the village, but to strike out for the next hamlet, as I’m tramping to London and don’t want to spend more time than I can help upon the way." "You _are_ a tramp, then?" exclaimed Julius, who was now standing near, "even though you haven’t got holes in your boots." "Well, I suppose I am," was the reply. "Perhaps it would sound better if you said I was on a walking tour. It comes to much the same thing." "I thought you were a poor man just arrived at Sunbury to get sea-air after you had been ill," remarked Robin. "You looked so frightfully thin."