SIXTEEN TO TWENTY. 53 



being doubtless a new tiling with him roused 

 so much suspicion in the mind of the pawn- 

 broker that he actually gave the lad into 

 custody. Happily, the superintendent of 

 police believed his story probably a telegram 

 to Swindon strengthened his faith ; he him- 

 self advanced them the money, keeping the 

 watches as security, and sent them home after 

 an expedition which lasted a fortnight alto- 

 gether. There is no doubt as to the facts of 

 the case. The boys did actually start, with 

 intent to march all the way across Europe as 

 far as Kussia and back again. But how they 

 began, how they raised the money to pay the 

 preliminary expenses, wants more light. Also, 

 there is no record as to their reception after they 

 got home again. One suspects somehow that 

 on this occasion the fatted calf was allowed to 

 go on growing. 



It must have been about this time that the lad 

 began to have his bookish learning remarked 

 and respected, if not encouraged. One of the 

 upper rooms of the farmhouse the other was 

 the cheese-room was set apart for him alone. 

 Here he had his books, his table, his desk, and 



