Jungle and Stream: or, The Adventures of Two Boys in Siam. Fenn George Manville

at hitting the happy medium."

      "I suppose that's the unhappy medium for the boy, isn't it?"

      "Not at all, my lad; it's the way to be happy. Leave it to Nature; she will set that right. Don't be too boyish, and don't aim at being an imitation man – in other words a prig. Be natural."

      "Yes," said Mr. Kenyon; "the doctor's right, Hal. Be natural, and you will not be far wrong there."

      "I always am as natural as I can be," said Harry, throwing himself into action, and looking as gloomy and discontented as a boy could look; "but no one gets to be so disappointed and sat upon as I am."

      Mr. Kenyon's brow clouded over, but he said nothing.

      "So sure as I set my mind upon anything I'm sure to be balked."

      "Poor fellow!" said the doctor gravely.

      "Yes, Doctor, it's all very well for you to make fun of me. You can do just as you like."

      "Of course," said the doctor gravely, "and I see that does make a difference. One sees things from such a different point of view."

      "Yes, that you do," said Harry.

      "Exactly," continued the doctor slowly, "and you see, as you say, I do exactly as I like, have everything I wish for, never suffer the slightest trouble, enjoy the most robust health, am as rich as a man need wish to be; in fact, I am the happiest man under the sun."

      "Are you, Doctor?" said Harry. "I'm glad of it. I didn't know it was so good as that."

      "And, of course, that is about how you'd like to be, eh, Hal?"

      "Well," said the boy, hesitating, "something like that – I – er – I – I don't want to be greedy."

      "Don't want to be greedy?" cried the doctor, changing his manner, as he sprang up and began to pace the museum. "Why, you miserable, discontented young cub! There is not one boy in a thousand leads such a life as you do: a good home, surrounded by friends, with plenty of time for study, and plenty of time for the necessary amusement. Yours, sir, is an ideal life; but it has spoilt you, and I'm afraid it is from having a too indulgent father."

      "Oh, come, Cameron, I must speak in my own defence," said Mr. Kenyon.

      "And you ought to speak in mine too, father," cried Harry indignantly, as he gazed at the doctor with blazing eyes and flaming cheeks.

      "I can't, Hal," said his father, smiling; "there's so much truth in what he says, my boy, and your words were uncalled for – unjust."

      "I beg your pardon, Kenyon," said the doctor; "I had no business to speak as I did. I had no right. But I'm such a hot-headed Scotsman, and Master Hal here put me out."

      "There is no begging pardon needed," said Mr. Kenyon quietly.

      "You see, I could not help comparing Hal's lot with mine – a poor, raw lad on the west coast who lived on potatoes and porridge, with a broiled herring or haddie once in a way for a treat. But there, once more, I had no right to interfere."

      "I say, granted, and thanks."

      "Then I shan't beg your pardon, Hal, boy," cried the doctor, "for I honestly believe what I say is the truth. Take it all as so many pills, and if you'll come along the river to my place to-morrow morning I'll give you a draught as well – to do you good, my dear boy – to do you good."

      "I think I've had physic enough," said Harry sulkily.

      "And you don't seem to like the taste, eh?" said the doctor, laughing. "Never mind; it will, as people say, do you good. You will be sure to have some bit of luck to take the taste out of your mouth – a bit of sugary pleasure, my lad. Aha! and here it comes in the shape of friend, Phra, the prince, who, king's son as he is, does not enjoy a single advantage more than you."

      "Doctor!" cried Harry indignantly. "He has only to speak to have everything he wants. No one could be better off than he is. Look, he's in a hurry to tell us all about the expedition for to-morrow. Oh, it is so disappointing, for I wanted so badly to shoot a tiger. It set me longing when Phra and I looked at those skins to-day."

      "Dear me! what a thirst for blood you are developing, Hal!" said the doctor, as Mr. Kenyon still sat back in his chair, looking pained, while his son carefully avoided gazing in his direction. "I should have thought you had killed enough for one day."

      "Well, Phra?" cried Harry, as his companion came straight in.

      "Well?" said the boy, with a mocking smile.

      "What did your father say?"

      Phra was silent for a few moments, and then he spoke quietly.

      "That I was too much of a boy yet to think of going after tigers," said the lad slowly, and then he started and frowned. For the doctor had thrown himself back in one of the cane chairs, which gave vent to a peculiar squeaking noise, while its occupier rocked himself to and fro, literally roaring with laughter.

      "I am very sorry if I have said some ridiculous thing, sir," said Phra gravely. "I speak English as well as I can."

      "Ridiculous thing!" cried the doctor, springing up and seizing the young Siamese by the shoulders; "why, it was splendid. Look at him," he cried, half-choking with laughter, "look at Hal! Oh, dear me, how you have made my sides ache!"

      "But I don't understand," said Phra.

      "Then you soon shall," cried the doctor. "My lord there has been in a tantrum because – because – oh, dear me, I shall be able to speak directly."

      Phra looked in a puzzled way from the laughing doctor to his friend, who sat frowning and biting his lips.

      "Because," continued the doctor, "Mr. Kenyon here has told him that he should not like him to go to the tiger hunt."

      "Mr. Kenyon told him so?" cried Phra quickly.

      "Yes, because he is too young."

      "Oh, I am so glad," cried Phra, showing his white teeth.

      Harry started as if he had received a blow.

      "What!" he cried fiercely.

      "I say I am so glad, because that is just what my father said to me."

      "And very wisely too, Phra, my boy," said Mr. Kenyon, rising. "You lads had better wait a bit longer before you indulge in a sport which is very risky even to one mounted upon an elephant, especially if the elephant is timid. I have known several bad accidents occur through the poor creature becoming unmanageable from a wounded beast's charge."

      "It's disappointing, sir," said Phra; "but I suppose father's right."

      "Of course he is, and I'm glad to see you take it so wisely."

      The speaker laid his hand on the doctor's arm, and they went out into the verandah.

      "Ah, Kenyon, you spoil that boy with indulgence."

      "Think so?"

      "Yes; I don't like to hear a lad like that speak as he did to you. It was that made me fire up. But there, I'm sorry if I've done wrong."

      "You have not done wrong," said Mr. Kenyon, "and I am rather glad you spoke as you did. But you do not understand Hal so well as I do."

      "Naturally I do not."

      "He is a queer boy, with a good many things about him that I don't like; but he has some oddities that I do like. I dare say he will display one of them before you go."

      "He will have to be quick about it, then," said the doctor, smiling, "for I have not much longer to stay."

      "Plenty of time for him to show the stuff he is made of. I'm sorry to disappoint the boys, though."

      "And ourselves too, for I should have liked the jaunt, and the more of those savage beasts we can destroy the better. What do you say to going over to the palace and asking the old gentleman to let us have the use of the elephants and beaters?"

      "No," said Mr. Kenyon, "I could not do that under the circumstances.

      It would be too hard upon the boys. Yes, Michael?"

      "There is a man from – one of the gentlemen from the King