For the next few days Bob lived in happy dreamland. It is true he did not see Nancy much alone, and no suggestion of their betrothal was made known. But he found an excuse for going to Penwennack every day, and Admiral Tresize, never imagining what was in his mind, always gave him a hearty welcome. Nancy had two brothers nearly of Bob's age, one of whom had been to Clifton with him; and although he was on the military side of the college, they saw much of each other. Dick Tresize was fond of Bob, in spite of the dissimilarity in their tastes, and as Bob evinced a sudden love and efficiency for tennis, he became in great demand. He also raised himself in the Admiral's estimation by challenging Captain Trevanion, who was a scratch man at golf, to a match on the Leiant Links.
"How many strokes do you expect me to give you?" rather scornfully demanded Trevanion, who had not been at all pleased at Nancy's constant disinclination for his society and her sudden preference for Bob's.
"Oh, we'll play level!" was Bob's reply.
"I like a game when I play," said the Captain who joined heartily in the laugh at Bob's expense.
"I'll try to give you a game," was Bob's reply.
"Good old Bob," cried Dick Tresize, "and the loser shall stand tea at the Club House for the whole bally lot of us. And it must be a good tea too. We'll have a dish of cream and all sorts of cakes. We can easily arrange it, for Thursday is a quiet day, and the crowds of visitors haven't made their appearance yet. Have you plenty of money with you, Bob."
"Oceans," replied Bob, pulling out a handful of change. "I'm only thinking about the state of Trevanion's finances."
"They are all right," replied Trevanion. "And I propose that we play for a box of balls into the bargain."
"How many of you are going?" asked Bob quietly.
Several hands went up, including that of the Admiral, who had become enthusiastic about forming what he called "a gallery."
"Good, Admiral. I'm glad you are going. That'll make twelve altogether. No, Trevanion, we won't play for the balls. The tea will be enough for you to pay for. I am told that the Army pays junior officers very badly."
"That's why I want to play for a box of balls. My stock is running low, and I want to get some on the cheap."
"Come, let's be off!" cried Dick. "I'll tell the men to bring out the cars, and we'll start right away. Where are your clubs, Bob?"
"They are in my locker at the Club. I haven't seen them since the
Easter Vac."
"But you've played at Oxford?"
"No; been too busy."
Dick held up his hands in mock horror, at which several of the party laughed.
"Trevanion will wipe the floor with you," he said woefully. "He's on the links at least three days a week, and he plays a good scratch game."
"Aren't you in practice, Bob?" asked Nancy, when they had a few seconds alone together.
"Scarcely played for a year."
"Then why did you challenge Captain Trevanion?"
"Because I was mad," replied Bob. "He's been trying to raise a laugh against me all the morning and so—well, there it is."
"But he'll be sure to beat you?"
"No, he won't," and there was a confident ring in his voice.
Half an hour later they had reached the Club House, and much laughter and many pleasantries were exchanged as they teed their balls. Captain Trevanion's clubs were shining, while Bob's were rusty through disuse.
"They 'a'an't a bin clained for months," said the caddy, who was vigorously rubbing them with emery paper.
Captain Trevanion won the toss, and took the honour. He was a tall, athletic fellow, and showed by his practice swing that he was master of his tools. He hit his ball straight and clean, and it fell a few yards behind the great grass mound which guards the first green. Bob, on the other hand, felt nervous and awkward. He was out of practice, and knew his disadvantage. He played the ball badly, and while it cleared the rough, he had an awkward stance for his second. In playing the odd, too, he miscalculated the distance, and found himself in the rough, on the offside of the green. Captain Trevanion holed out in four and although Bob got a five, he lost the hole.
"One up to the Army," laughed the Admiral.
The second hole, which can easily be reached by a good iron shot, Captain Trevanion played perfectly. His ball soared over a high mountain of sand, and plumped down comfortably a few yards from the hole. Bob topped his ball, and it landed half way up the sand-hill in a bad place. Again it took him five to hole out, while Trevanion was down in three.
At the third the Captain drove a perfect ball, while Bob, who though he got just as far, landed in the churchyard, out of bounds. The result was that he lost this hole also.
"This is what I call a grand procession," remarked some one.
"Come, Bob," laughed the Admiral, "this looks as though you will have to pay for the tea."
"I hope it'll be a good one anyhow," replied Bob quietly. "I'm working up a fine appetite."
At the next hole Captain Trevanion drove short, and landed in the bunker guarding the green. Bob, on the other hand, sent his ball straight and true over the guiding-post.
"Fine shot," was the general remark.
"Too far," said Dick Tresize. "That ball's over the green and gone down the cliff. I'd rather be where Trevanion is."
He proved to be right. Bob had got into a well-nigh impossible place and lost another hole.
"Beastly luck," remarked Dick. "That's not a fair hole."
"Rub of the green," was all Bob said.
"Yes, but it makes you four down," said the Admiral. "Trevanion has done every hole in bogey so far, and he's not likely to make mistakes."
It seemed as though Bob were destined to bad luck, for although he seemed to play the next hole perfectly, he made too much allowance for the wind, and his second shot went over a high bank which guarded the green, and fell among the shingle, near which some old boats were lying.
"Five up to the Military," shouted the Admiral.
"The same grand procession," giggled a girl who was a great admirer of
Trevanion.
"I say, Bob, I thought you were going to give Trevanion a game," said
George Tresize, Nancy's younger brother.
Captain Trevanion laughed confidently. He felt certain of victory now, and regarded the match as a walk over.
"Five down is a big handicap," said Bob. "Still the match is young yet."
"He's had beastly luck at the last two holes," grumbled Dick Tresize, who was evidently deeply chagrined.
The next hole was halved in bogey. Bob got his four easily, but
Trevanion only halved his by a long and uncertain putt.
"Five up at the sixth," shouted the Admiral. "Come, Bob, that's better, you've halved a hole at last."
Bob said nothing, but cast a look at Nancy, who was pale with excitement. He could see how anxious she was, and noted the confident air with which Trevanion approached the next tee. Although his position seemed almost hopeless, a feeling of confidence came into his heart. He had measured his opponent by this time, and he knew he had got to his old mastery of his clubs. He felt sure, too, that he could play the stronger game, even although he had lost hole after hole in succession.
Trevanion again drove, but this time his ball was off the line and landed in a huge basin