Hunter was glad to see this man. He guessed that the fellow must
be very hard pressed to come again and ask for work after what had
happened.

`Any chance of a job, sir?'

Hunter appeared to reflect.

`I believe I have room for one,' he said at length. `But you're such
an uncertain kind of chap. You don't seem to care much whether you
work or not. You're too independent, you know; one can't say two
words to you but you must needs clear off.'

The man made no answer.

`We can't tolerate that kind of thing, you know,' Hunter added. `If
we were to encourage men of your stamp we should never know where we
are.'

So saying, Hunter moved away and again proceeded on his journey.

When he arrived within about three yards of the gate he noiselessly
laid his machine against the garden fence. The high evergreens that
grew inside still concealed him from the observation of anyone who
might be looking out of the windows of the house. Then he carefully
crept along till he came to the gate post, and bending down, he
cautiously peeped round to see if he could detect anyone idling, or
talking, or smoking. There was no one in sight except old Jack
Linden, who was rubbing down the lobby doors with pumice-stone and