The Wireless Officer Part 47

Trot back and see; I'll wait here."

Another five minutes and Davis rejoined his wife. Deliberately he dismounted, charged a pipe, and lit it.

"There's no hurry," he reported. "They're quite all right. I saw from a distance that I was _de trop_, so I beat a strategic retreat."

Davis finished his pipe, filled up and lit another.

At length the sound of the now walking ponies' hoofs upon the soft ground announced the arrival of the laggards. Then into the glade rode Peter and Olive, both looking radiantly happy.

"Congratulate me, old man!" said Peter excitedly He did not need to explain.

Davis rammed his still-burning pipe into his pocket--he had good cause to remember it later--and extended a sun-burnt hand.

"You lucky dog!" he exclaimed.