_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ A BRIDE FROM THE BUSH. UNDER TWO SKIES. TINY LUTTRELL. THE BOSS OF TAROOMBA. THE UNBIDDEN GUEST. THE ROGUE'S MARCH. IRRALIE'S BUSHRANGER. MY LORD DUKE. YOUNG BLOOD BY E. W. HORNUNG "_When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, And every lass a queen; Then hey for boot and horse, lad, And round the world away; Young blood must have its course, lad, And every dog his day._" THE WATER BABIES. CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED _LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE_ 1898 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. THE OLD HOME 1 CHAPTER II. THE BREAKING OF THE NEWS 11 CHAPTER III. THE SIN OF THE FATHER 20 CHAPTER IV. THE NEW HOME 32 CHAPTER V. A WET BLANKET 40 CHAPTER VI. THE GAME OF BLUFF 57 CHAPTER VII. ON RICHMOND HILL 71 CHAPTER VIII. A MILLIONAIRE IN THE MAKING 85 CHAPTER IX. THE CITY OF LONDON 95 CHAPTER X. A FIRST OFFENCE 111 CHAPTER XI. BEGGAR AND CHOOSER 122 CHAPTER XII. THE CHAMPION OF THE GODS 135 CHAPTER XIII. THE DAY OF BATTLE 150 CHAPTER XIV. A CHANGE OF LUCK 165 CHAPTER XV. IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS 175 CHAPTER XVI. A DAME'S SCHOOL 183 CHAPTER XVII. AT FAULT 195 CHAPTER XVIII. MR. SCRAFTON 203 CHAPTER XIX. ASSAULT AND BATTERY 214 CHAPTER XX. BIDING HIS TIME 226 CHAPTER XXI. HAND TO HAND 234 CHAPTER XXII. MAN TO MAN 247 CHAPTER XXIII. THE END OF THE BEGINNING 259 CHAPTER XXIV. YOUNG INK 276 CHAPTER XXV. SCRAFTON'S STORY 287 CHAPTER XXVI. A MASTERSTROKE 304 CHAPTER XXVII.