"That is true. I will go with you in the forenoon, and in the afternoon I will call on Mr. Sinclair." Bowman shrugged his shoulders. "It is a rash promise. You will be sorry for having made it." "I will risk that," answered Fred. Sinclair gave him a grateful glance. The promise cheered him, and kindled hopes in his breast. Now he would have a chance of learning, when alone with Fred, whether he came as a messenger from Mr. Wainwright. If so, and through his means he could make restitution and regain his place and lost character, he would still have something to live for. He execrated his folly in weakly submitting to the guidance of Paul Bowman, and for having taken that first step in crime, which is so difficult to retrace. "Don't forget your promise," he said earnestly as Fred rose to go. "I won't fail you," replied Fred quietly. "You're in for it now," remarked Bowman, as they started to walk home. "You might as well turn sick nurse at once as give up your time to Sinclair." "I might be sick sometime myself," said Fred, "and in that case I should be sorry to be left alone." "Oh, well, suit yourself," said Bowman carelessly. "I'd rather it would be you than me, for that matter. I shall expect you to go out to the woods with me in the forenoon." "All right!" "Well," thought Fred, as he slipped into bed at ten o'clock, "I've made a beginning. I have formed the acquaintance of both parties to the robbery. The next step will be more difficult." CHAPTER XXX. A HUNTING EXCURSION. Fred did not rise till eight o'clock the next morning. He was fatigued by his long journey, and slept late. When he descended, he found Bowman seated at the breakfast-table. "I got ahead of you," said Bowman. "How long have you been down-stairs?" "About ten minutes." "Are we likely to have a good day for hunting?" "Good enough," answered Bowman, indifferently. "I am not an enthusiastic sportsman. I only take to it to fill up a part of my time. It is about the only thing I can do in this dull hole." "You might read. I brought two or three novels in my valise, and will lend yon one if you care for it." "I don't care for reading. Stories tire me. I used to read the daily papers in New York, but can't get hold of any here New York dailies, I mean. I don't care for Canadian papers unless they contain news from New York." "I have with me the _Tribune, World,_ and _Sun,_ of day before yesterday." "I should like to see them," said Bowman, eagerly. "If you will bring them down, I will look over them in the woods." "All right! I am glad I saved them. I had a mind to throw them away, or leave them in the car." The breakfast was plain, but Fred and Bowman, who were the only guests, were not difficult to suit.