Mike's Uncle John was a wanderer on the face of the earth. He had beenan army surgeon in the days of his youth, and, after an adventurouscareer, mainly in Afghanistan, had inherited enough money to keep himin comfort for the rest of his life. He had thereupon left theservice, and now spent most of his time flitting from one spot ofEurope to another. He had been dashing up to Scotland on the day whenMike first became a Wrykynian, but a few weeks in an uncomfortablehotel in Skye and a few days in a comfortable one in Edinburgh hadleft him with the impression that he had now seen all that there wasto be seen in North Britain and might reasonably shift his camp again.

　　Coming south, he had looked in on Mike's people for a brief space,and, at the request of Mike's mother, took the early express to Wrykynin order to pay a visit of inspection.

　　His telegram arrived during morning school. Mike went down to thestation to meet him after lunch.

　　Uncle John took command of the situation at once.

　　"School playing anybody to-day, Mike? I want to see a match.""They're playing Geddington. Only it's away. There's a second matchon.""Why aren't you--Hullo, I didn't see. What have you been doing toyourself?""Crocked my wrist a bit. It's nothing much.""How did you do that?""Slipped while I was changing after cricket.""Hurt?""Not much, thanks.""Doctor seen it?""No. But it's really nothing. Be all right by Monday.""H'm. Somebody ought to look at it. I'll have a look later on."Mike did not appear to relish this prospect.

　　"It isn't anything, Uncle John, really. It doesn't matter a bit.""Never mind. It won't do any harm having somebody examine it who knowsa bit about these things. Now, what shall we do. Go on the river?""I shouldn't be able to steer.""I could manage about that. Still, I think I should like to see theplace first. Your mother's sure to ask me if you showed me round. It'slike going over the stables when you're stopping at a country-house.

　　Got to be done, and better do it as soon as possible."It is never very interesting playing the part of showman at school.

　　Both Mike and his uncle were inclined to scamp the business. Mikepointed out the various landmarks without much enthusiasm--it is onlyafter one has left a few years that the school buildings take tothemselves romance--and Uncle John said, "Ah yes, I see. Very nice,"two or three times in an absent voice; and they passed on to thecricket field, where the second eleven were playing a neighbouringengineering school. It was a glorious day. The sun had never seemed toMike so bright or the grass so green. It was one of those days whenthe ball looks like a large vermilion-coloured football as it leavesthe bowler's hand. If ever there was a day when it seemed to Mike thata century would have been a certainty, it was this Saturday. A sudden,bitter realisation of all he had given up swept over him, but hechoked the feeling down. The thing was done, and it was no goodbrooding over the might-have-beens now. Still--And the Geddingtonground was supposed to be one of the easiest scoring grounds of allthe public schools!

　　"Well hit, by George!" remarked Uncle John, as Trevor, who had gone infirst wicket for the second eleven, swept a half-volley to leg roundto the bank where they were sitting.

　　"That's Trevor," said Mike. "Chap in Donaldson's. The fellow at theother end is Wilkins. He's in the School House. They look as if theywere getting set. By Jove," he said enviously, "pretty good funbatting on a day like this."Uncle John detected the envious note.

　　"I suppose you would have been playing here but for your wrist?""No, I was playing for the first.""For the first? For the school! My word, Mike, I didn't know that. Nowonder you're feeling badly treated. Of course, I remember your fathersaying you had played once for the school, and done well; but Ithought that was only as a substitute. I didn't know you were aregular member of the team. What bad luck. Will you get anotherchance?""Depends on Bob.""Has Bob got your place?"Mike nodded.

　　"If he does well to-day, they'll probably keep him in.""Isn't there room for both of you?""Such a lot of old colours. There are only three vacancies, andHenfrey got one of those a week ago. I expect they'll give one of theother two to a bowler, Neville-Smith, I should think, if he does wellagainst Geddington. Then there'll be only the last place left.""Rather awkward, that.""Still, it's Bob's last year. I've got plenty of time. But I wish Icould get in this year."After they had watched the match for an hour, Uncle John's restlessnature asserted itself.

　　"Suppose we go for a pull on the river now?" he suggested.

　　They got up.

　　"Let's just call at the shop," said Mike. "There ought to be atelegram from Geddin............