"No; I was told to be careful about it, and give it only to you, sir." "What kind of man was it who gave it to you?" "It was the Honourable Cec--" "Hush! I am satisfied. It is all right. Do not say any more." He went over to the fire, and after reading it carefully, he put it amongst the logs, and watched it burn; then he stirred the ashes with his foot, and turned once more to Ned. "You have done a great service in giving me this so promptly, and I shall be happy if I can serve you in return." "I was too proud to be entrusted with it, sir." "Then you are one of the writer's many admirers, I presume?" "Yes, sir. There is no man I admire so much or would like to serve more." Mr Martin looked at Ned keenly for some time without speaking, then he said-- "The writer of that note tells me I may trust you and your companions. He is seldom wrong in his reading of character, and in this instance my own opinion agrees with his, respecting you at least. I haven't seen your chums yet." "You may safely trust us all to the death, sir, in anything honourable. We have sworn to stick together." "To the death, you say! Well, I may even want as desperate a pledge as that. But can I trust your temper and discretion?" Ned blushed as he remembered his afternoon fit of passion, but he replied firmly-- "I hope so, sir." "Had you that note on you this afternoon when you assaulted those two Boers?" Ned hung his head guiltily. Yet he answered truthfully-- "Yes, sir. The sight of the fort made me lose my head for a moment, but it shall not occur again." "You ran a frightful risk," answered Mr Martin, severely. "The incident took place just opposite my window, and I saw it all, and expected you to be taken in charge. If you had been, that paper would have been discovered, and more damage done to the cause of freedom and federation than you at present could imagine. There, I shall not lecture you any more; only remember that to provoke a street row is not the way to qualify for a patriot. Say no more about this now, but after dinner I shall take you and your friends for a walk, show you some of the town by night, and perhaps also let you see how you may help the Uitlanders and--you know who else." He pressed our hero's hand warmly, as a token of his forgiveness, and at once began to ask him questions about his journey up the country. Mr Raybold came back while they were conversing, and then shortly afterwards Clarence and Fred. Almost at the same moment the dinner-gong sounded, and together they went in to dinner. In the lobby Mr Martin whispered something in the ear of Mr Raybold, who at once turned and looked with interest at Ned. That look cleared up the doubts of Ned like magic, so that he laid hold of Clarence, and said to him tenderly-- "Cheer up, old chappy; your dad is all right!" "Do you think so, Ned? Fred is of the same opinion."