"My name is Fellows. What do you want with me?"
"You see who I am, Mr. Fellows; not always the most welcome of visitors?"
"That's true, sir, no doubt; but I have no reason to regard you as unwelcome."
"Nor will you," added Puffey, "when you learn the object of my visit."
The men who were working with Fellows had ceased their labours, and were crowding round to hear what the detective had to say.
"I am commissioned by the Major," said Puffey, "who commanded the force which recently made that successful raid, ending in the capture of Red Dick, to return you his thanks for the very valuable aid rendered him on that occasion, in the promptness with which his orders were carried out, and for the precision with which the duties you undertook were discharged. He fully recognises that the success of that enterprise was in no small measure due to the alertness and cohesion of your force, as well as to the able way in which that force was handled by you."
"Many of these men," replied Fellows, "standing round me, were present on the occasion referred to, and in their name, as well as my own, you may tell the Major that, whilst warmly thanking him for the flattering words addressed to us, we were all only too pleased to serve with so brave a force as the men he brought to lead us."
"That ends my mission with you," said Puffey. "Not a very terrifying one, you must admit."
Presently he added, as if a new idea had suddenly struck him, "Are you satisfied with your present occupation?"
"Yes; don't I look as if I was?" he asked.