"Oh, that's a long story," replied Tim Reardon; "I can't tell you all about it. Witham used to keep the hotel down to Southport, and he was always against the boys, and now and then somebody played a joke on him. Then, when his hotel burned, he thought the boys were to blame; but Jack Harvey found the man that set the fire, and so made the colonel look foolish in court." But at this moment a yawn that sounded like a subdued roar indicated that Colonel Witham was rousing from his nap. He stretched himself, opened his eyes blankly, and perceived the boy and girl. "Well," he exclaimed, "you're here, eh? Wonder you didn't come in like a wild Indian, too. What's the matter?" "Got a puncture," said Little Tim. The colonel, having had the refreshment of his sleep, was in a better humour. He was a little interested in the bicycle. "Queer what new-fangled ideas they get," he said. "That's not much like what I used to ride." Little Tim looked up, surprised. "Why, did you use to ride a wheel?" he asked. "Did I!" exclaimed Colonel Witham, reviving old recollections, with a touch of pride in his voice. "Well, now I reckon you wouldn't believe I used to be the crack velocipede rider in the town I came from, eh?" Little Tim, regarding the colonel's swelling waist-band and fat, puffy cheeks, betrayed his skepticism in looks rather than in speech. Colonel Witham continued. "Yes, sir," said he, "there weren't any of them could beat me in those days. Why, I've got four medals now somewhere around, that I won at county fairs in races. 'Twasn't any of these wire whirligigs, either, that we used to ride. Old bone-shakers, they were; wooden wheels and a solid wrought iron backbone. You had to have the strength to make that run. Guess some of these spindle-legged city chaps wouldn't make much of a go at that. I've got the old machine out in the shed there, somewhere. Like to see it?" "I know where it is," said Bess Thornton. "I can ride it." "You ride it!" exclaimed Colonel Witham, staring at her in amazement. "What?" "Yes," replied the girl; "but only down hill, though. It's too hard to push on the level. I'll go and get it." "Well, I vum!" exclaimed Colonel Witham, as the girl started for the shed. "That girl beats me." "Look out, I'm coming," called a childish voice, presently.