'It 'ud suit me fust rate,' said the Raven, respectfully saluting his employers. 'Well,' laughed Mr. Elliott, 'I don't know about that. I'm afraid there'd be trouble with your headmaster and with Mr. Malins, who has rather missed Slynn.' The Raven saluted again, blushing with pleasure to find that the manager had missed his services. 'You look uncommonly fit, the pair of you,' said Mr. Jim Elliott, marking the brown faces, the lean, lithe look of the hardy, toughened scouts. 'Yes, uncle, we feel up to the work all round, and we've had a grand time.' 'Have you had plenty to eat?' asked Dick's father. 'Plenty, father,' cried Dick;' and we've had the jolliest times sleeping. Three nights we camped, one we slept in a hayloft, and one in the cabin of a barge.' 'Lodgings have been cheap, then?' chuckled Mr. Elliott; 'but how much of the second half-sovereign have you spent for food?' Dick laughed in triumph, and fetched out the bit of gold. 'Not a stiver,' he said; 'and there's the best part of the other half-sovereign too.' And he laid a heap of silver and copper in his father's hand. Mr. Elliott counted it in surprise. 'Why, there's seventeen and fourpence farthing here,' he said. 'Do you mean to say you two have been out for a week, and only spent two and sevenpence three-farthings all told?' 'We do,' cried Dick. 'We've won and earned fairly all the rest of our food. I'll tell you everything, and you shall judge for yourself, father. But it's too long a tale to go into now.' Mr. Elliott stared through his goggles in wonder at the money. 'Well, Jim,' he said at last to his brother, 'these scouts of yours can look after themselves, it seems.' 'That's the chief thing that Baden-Powell's scouts are expected to learn,' said the instructor, smiling; 'it is quite clear that Dick and Slynn have picked up the art in great form.' 'Done the whole thing on two and sevenpence three-farthings!' repeated Mr. Elliott, his wonder growing as he thought it over. 'Dick, you'd better come into the business straight away. You'd be able, I should say, to give your uncle and myself most valuable advice on the subject of cutting down expenses.' Dick laughed, for his father's surprise filled him with the utmost delight. Chippy, too, was on the broad grin. 'Here,' said Mr. Elliott suddenly, 'take it; it's yours. Share it up between you.' He poured gold, silver, and copper into the hat which Dick promptly held out for the money. 'I'm not going to say "no" to that offer, father,' said Dick; 'for I've a use for my half of the money.' 'Same here,' murmured Chippy; 'the party's name is Joseph Thatcher, Little Eston.' 'Now, Chippy,' cried Dick, 'how in the world did you know what was in my mind?' The Raven chuckled. 'I knowed,' he murmured, and would say no more. Dick explained who Joseph Thatcher was, and what misfortune had befallen him.