Elgert felt anxious and angry. What right had the Head to suspect him of telling lies, or to doubt his honour? It is wonderful how dishonourable people will talk of their honour. And suppose the Head got Dobson, and began to question him. He must warn the fellow to be on guard against that. The man he expected did not come. Elgert was angry. He told himself that Dobson was taking double the time he need; and when at last his companion returned, he asked very shortly-- "Well, have you got it?" "Yes; here it is, all safe. It is delightful to feel that danger is past!" "A danger of your own making," retorted Elgert. "A danger that I have had to pay for, and that has cost you nothing. And you look here! The Head has been questioning me. He is suspicious, and preaches about false witnessing. Mind what you are at if he begins on you; for if you let anything out I will pay you out for it. You had better clear off now, to be out of his way." Dobson complied readily enough. The last thing he wanted was for the Head to carpet him. And then Horace Elgert, the note safe in his pocket-book, put on his hat and went out. He was enraged that his man had not been, and was going home to give him a good rating; and he, to take a short cut, must go past Becket Weir, where Tinkle and Green had gone to fish. CHAPTER XXIX WHAT TINKLE AND GREEN CAUGHT "There don't seem to be much sport," said Tinkle to Green, as they sat side by side on the river bank, casting longing glances at their floats. Tinkle's bobbed under, and he pulled up sharply--he had hooked a fine piece of weed, the tenth catch of the kind he had made. "Bother!" said Green, putting down the landing-net, which he had seized to be in readiness to help his friend. "I am jolly well sick of it. Let us drop it." Tinkle agreed; the rod was taken to pieces and the lines put away, and then the pair stood up. "Ugh--ah-r-r!" sighed Tinkle. "Don't it make you cramped, and---- I say, Green, there's a man coming, and by gum, I believe it's that Elgert's man--the chap we saw in the cake-shop!" "So it is," was Green's answer. "And look how he is sauntering. Perhaps he is going to meet some one." "Let us hide," suggested Tinkle eagerly, "in the old boathouse. We may hear some more secrets." Green made no objection on the score of eavesdropping; the two boys, bending low, darted across the towing-path, and into an old, dilapidated, wooden building, now fast falling to decay, that had once done duty as a boathouse. "Oh, I say, here comes Elgert himself!" said Green excitedly, peeping through a hole. "Don't make a sound. I believe----" "Oh," interrupted Tinkle, in consternation, "they are coming in here! Oh, what ever shall we do?" "Be quiet, you silly. Hide! Down you go flat under that old boat. Hold up the end while I creep under; and whatever you do, don't sneeze. Mind the net, and----"