THE ORDEAL 



" We shall have to leave it to her 

 to decide. But, look here, it is tea- 

 time over there ; we ought to be 

 going. I don't see any use in cutting 

 each other's throats over it ; but it is 

 a hat ! " 



A few minutes later they were 

 wending their way across to the 

 ladies' camp, when Austin, who had 

 been silent for some time, suddenly 

 stopped Calvert and excitedly began, 

 " Bloggs, I see a way ! I was think- 

 ing how evenly matched we are at 

 this new game, just as we are said to 

 be at polo and pig-sticking. If we 

 leave the settlement of the thing to 

 her we shall be working against each 

 other all the time, we shall both ask 

 her, which will be very uncomfort- 

 able for her, and she'll have to say 



102 



