The boy looked up at him with eyes of twinkling comprehension. He had
plainly forgotten the despair that had so nearly overwhelmed him.

"Oh, I'll be very good, sir," he promised. "I won't get you into trouble
anyhow, sir."

"You--imp!" said Saltash, pulling his ear. "Think I'll put up with your
impudence, do you? You'll play that game once too often if you're not
careful."

Toby hastened to adjust his features to a becoming expression of gravity.
"I won't, sir. No, I won't. I'll be a good servant to you--the best
you've ever had. I'll never forget your goodness to me, and I'll pay back
somehow--that I will, sir."

His boyish voice suddenly throbbed with emotion, and he stopped. Again
for a moment he had the forlorn look of a small animal astray from its
own.

Saltash patted his shoulder kindly. "All right. That'll do. Don't be
tragic about it! Come along to your burrow and have a good square sleep!"

He led him away without further words, and Toby went, gratefully and
submissively.

A few minutes later Saltash came back with a smile on his ugly face,
half-quizzical, and half-compassionate.

"Rum little devil!" he commented again as he began to undress. "So the