“No; I haven’t brought my glasses. Here, Joe, what does this say?”
Joe, who had been all eagerness to begin, caught at the book, and tried to decipher the roughly-written words, but got on no better than the rest.
“Let me try again,” cried Gwyn.
“No, no; I haven’t done yet,” said Joe; “but it looks all rubbish. No one can make this out.”
“Spell it over,” said his father, and the boy began.
“H-o-r-s-i-m-s-p-o-o-t-e-t-y-de-b-i-t-h-e-t-o-p-e.”
“What does that spell? It’s all one word.”
“Read it again,” said Gwyn, excitedly; and Joe repeated the letters.
“I know. Can’t you see?” cried Gwyn, laughing.
Joe shook his head, and the two old officers looked nonplussed.