The Prelude to Adventure

ars ago and now the widow and young Craven's sister lived in Cambridge. Craven had tried, during his first term, to make a friend of Olva, but his happy, eage

unforced. Olva had discovered also that Craven's devotion to his mother and sister was the boy's leading motive in life. Olva had only seen the girl, Margaret, once; she had been finishing her education in Dresden, and he rememb

and vulgarity. He was still young enough to have the Public School code-the most amazing thing in the history of the British nation-and because Carfax bruised his way as a forward through many football matches, and fought a policeman on Parker's Piece one summ

urbed, unhappy, anxiou

hope I'm not d

a b

." Craven came in and sat d

rri

id he went without an exeat. Thompson saw him go out about two-thirty yesterday afternoon--was going to Gran

o be all right,"

up in

ter. There's some woman he's been getting in a mess with I know-d

. He used to get tips from them, he always said, and he's had awful rows with some of them before now. You know what a temper he's got, espec

himself all right. He's use

e smoke of his pipe, d

e him," Craven

hair and looked at him. "Wh

his place who hates me like poison-always has hated me.' I asked him who it was. He said it was you. I was immensely surprised, because I'd alw

nk I've made a mistake

ught myself so damned su

ong. We've been friend

ally--at heart, you know. I do hope things are all right. I sent off a wire to his uncle in town half an hour ago

g about my disliking Car

's about time I came of

take up Rug

d! Will you play agains

e like anything if you

and they want a fourt

plendid. We'll have y

te for that,

he isn't down against the Harlequins on Saturday, and mighty sick he is about it." Craven got up to

the Dune arms stamped upon it, that his father had given to him. He had it, he remembered, yesterday when he set out on his walk. He felt in all his pocket

ave you

thi

elt in the overcoat that he had

ox of mine-must have dr

will turn up. Wel

suddenly put his hea

t. Home I mean. My sister's back from Dresden, and

ire, the colour. His body was frozen with horror-already his throat was choking, his eyes burning. The room swung slowly round him, turning, turning. "They shan't take me. . . . They shan't take me." His face was cruel, his mouth twisted. He saw the little silver box lying there, open, exposed, upon the grass, glittering against the dull green. He turned to the